The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-13
Plots FOR THEIR NOVELS.
-, COMMONPLACE hooks" USED
1hh nv DICKENS AND SIL1.

IL .nIa nj tlb ENNNNt s1N
inelus" rr,nsferrcd to These Book Regu.
~, from Memoranda Made on the
az Methods OF Keeping the Books
.,..o been keeping a commonplace book
u|So,csn years. and | ! have In II the plots
tr ~ than A thousand novels and short
lr INT never have been written. 20 my
~, Ia what Charles y. Rldeal. directing
IN - one Of the largest publishing houses
cav. ,', oltv and consulting editor for q promi-
phiI,delohia and a well-known London
nru' said 10 a Sun reporter the other day.
n"u' ,mo,nlsce book Is a volume in which
49, NAV set down plots for stories, with
sniInnts characters and the other details OF
wv. ,vorp. Dickens ieft several.books OF this
W. and the commonplace books OF the late
LUZ iupustus Sala were among his most
liable working utensils,
~ nv have bcen privileged to see the common
books OF Dickens. and / have a copy OF
p,"So, yr sala's," continued Mr.. Rideal, and
s.,rA of great value In studying the methods
1.,rt these two great writer's pursued. My
W" ~ book IL made on the same general plan.
ytI,h 7 believe is the one followed by most
WI vbo have q system for keeping their
= In tho first place. / carry with me q
~, memorandum book. IN (which l enter
- incident that strikes me during the
"a NJ the day. For instance. / so out to
,sa.heon and see an unusually Intelligent
~.,,.r who is apparently above his bustness.
". ..sms to anticipate the orders OF his Gus
.u,ors They are in doubt "a to what they
I'll choose. He suggests q dish. It is the
80 ana they wanted. Not only does he look
,S.r the tables under his charge. but he is
.rtrs ~ all the talk OF the place. He strikes me
- , character, and / write down in my
uomorandum b. OK what the waiter said.
Tbsn I describe the characteristics OF the
waiter.
IN leaving the place ! meet a shopgirl or a
,vrswriter crossing the street. l notice her
tim figure aud attractive dress. There Is
,o,nathinr very neat and fetching about her,
rt her down in my book. with q brief de-
,cription OF such charms as struck me that
m,r.nt, A blind beggar-an old woman
ats on A corner grinding out music In an al
most ~yoiceless hand organ. Ter men pass her
\, without notice. The eleventh drops a
coin into her tin cup. She murmurs a bless
Inc and | catch q glimpse OF recognition In her
apuarently sightless eyes. She is shamming.
I nut her down in my book under the head.
What the blind begRar saw
"A messenger boy dashes up the street In
nm unusual haste. Business and enterprise
arc written in his face. AT the corner he
meets another boy. h stops him and chats
with him. They take from both pockets their
NE n envelopes ticv are intrusted with and con-
pare them. Then they stand in a doorway
and earnestly discuss something Of rare in
i irnts' enc rolny north and the other south. ap-
RR%SotsboSk ' Under isf' he head I'D The Conference q
the messenger boys
NOW these incidents have no relevancy: to
any story that / am preparing. They are
simply actual occurrences which | have noted.
istruction. Later on / may lind these very use
full. frequently | enter in my book Dialogues
that | hear and descriptions OF odd bits OF
AIDES on the surface line. street fights and ac-
eidents. with as full detail as / need to keep
the impress live and fresh In my memory for
book and enter the items from 1t into my
commonplace book. which Is nothing more
nor less than a large commercial ledger; PROB
usually take such newspaper clippings. maya.
zinc clippings or stories that ] have conceived
or heard which are valuable as plots for short
pll in the names, OF the characters: Some
times they are real. sometimes fanciful.
At THE D mRtses Of d eamef his Is i 4 ys Z se eSscn eas;
Hled with names and dissertations Of charac-
, naSs og TicR PSf { iH This s0G IS REPEATED e g iat tSen nfs
.FskyeeS, .PiekveeAE, .Pickvick:' Peek
dsntly::wanted to know how the name would
sound when pronounced by the different char
aaters into whose lips he intended to place It.
isories. others he picked up on. the street.
For instance. 'Dombey & Son' is the name Of
tailoring firm H. Cheapside. piekens dig
come across a peculiar hat. o~ld-fashioned. out
g place. different from the ordinary hat Of
she day. He put 1t down In his hook, and
on the head of, some noted character. He
found his wardrobes that way. They are
sress himself for certain parts.
BOOK sketch the plot. Now. 1t is one Of the
4 novel. | don't mean to say that IL is easy to
STlIte q novel that will be accepted or one that
VII make a man great. But the securing Of
Inc newspapers every day contain, plots for
hlVels; Let this, serve as an example: L read
me other day q half-column news;paper story
ihg his child because his wife had abandoned
MIN Mn 70; another man; The deed was COM
bb ays q D ThIe IT. he 3 1 was trunk rink : N3E. there you
SEEsE,s ! %asi Ss builder; ne BEGAN iiie as 3
SSssIifs SsIsnd he IL fsR Rss t II fnls 4 .s smel5 sSsn liz IL
married a mill operator. His rival was the
younger son Of the mill owner: The brick
I'LL mp'u'i nis ldHllly 10 NEW 1Ofk.. ne was
HEfhiliy and he was prosperous. He became u
pHyea me same frugal lines that led TO his we'll
ihaf be owned. His money was all employed
u MS business. Meantime the mill owner
had JAILED. His sou had come to New York
anu catered upon that kim OF life which one
sees around midnight In the cafes of the Ten
ss,loih. One day on the street he meets his old
hSeethea.t. He renews his acquaintance with
ner, ne works upon her sympathy. He gets
LnDney from hor. The end comes when she
nv nome With him and all Of her husbands
fbSp,.T mat she can secure. The builder fails.
s 'aAes 20 drink. he goes back to his trade
nv ny gne DAY In u lit Of drunken rage he kills
~ Lnlu. There's your story.
"a another column / jot town the chapters.
; Tpsy0s tae messenger boys previously men
ihIaas,, possibly the waiter. II none NJ these.
tnh iNul ot1er incidents with which my book is
XXI b5eIi while ] an writing this novel ] study
~ especially at the noon hour as they
fe sailing their luncheon. | hear them talk,
Lny.ige one Intelligent fellow who has O par
Sm neItil sieal lunch pail. His food Is OF bette r.
~ LAZY than that OF the others. II IL not hard
wSs |tusg rom his clothing. his appearance and
h. ~, Ms character and the Kind of life that
ihronSshSs lie = my, bricklayer. In going
prsitv q croyt OF holiday shoppers / pick a
M, ,ci,L' 'IIy dressed woman, weak OF face.
cus.nnnn a certain charm. Ahe Is not so ac-
she is s ~ 10 grpsnerlty that Ii fits her easily.
q on Il 'c efrlh. vic. and there you are. This
the az nut rom newspaper clippings and how
tnyn vaSsnlaol incidents of everyday life may be
aIVp 70 advantage by n methoalcal observer.
~ nave. pad particular attantion IN tha