Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-06
ROMANCES WHILE YOU WAIT
Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady Takes the Belt
as a Story Writer,
DICTATES FICTION DIRECT TO TYPEWRITER
working Hours. but \ Day
without n LIne"-Thirteen Books
and Twenty-EiEht stories
in Four Years.

Philadelphias clergyman novelist never
ask him, Have you started another book
1t is, Have you written another book
They know that with him to begin is to
finish. A short story is a short days Work.
A hundred thousand-word novel Is a mere
matter Of a few weeks. Tho Grip OF
Honor was written in two. AS a result
Mr.. Brady is being looked upon today as
Americas most rapid writer of romance.
The preacher-author AYERS that his works
write themselves. when | get an idea
/ burn to put 1t on paper; I'm not contented
until IL is there Is his brief explanation
II is this enthusiastic love OF the pen that
has enabled him iu four years to put upon
the literary market six novels, three oiog-
raphies. two historical essays, two auto
Observation-Disclosures books in all-and
twenty-eisht short stories.
1t has enabled Mr.. Brady in the nine
months from July l to accomplish a liter
airy wonder. In this two-thirds OF a year
he produced Woven with the Ship a sea
story of 10000 words; The Southerners,
100. 600 words in length and shortly 10 be
published; Border Fights and Fighters,
another 100, 900 words; a boys story OF So
600 words, I'm the Wasp's Nest which Is
TO appear soon; several short stories ag-
sregating 10000 words more; two book re-
views a month, each containing 1000
words, and thirty sermons of 1850 words
apiece for the Sunday issue Of a daily
newspaper.
In addition, he completely rewrote
"Hohenzollern,' a 40,00O-word historical
romance, carried through the press
"Hohenzollern," 'The Quiberon Touch,
and Colonial Fights and Fighters as
siduously attended to a large and increas-
ing correspondence and preached twice
every Sunday. He also kept posted his
cash book, which on a moments examina-
ton tells him how his pen earns money
and how his books have sold. Mr.. Brady
takes a vast amount OF pride in this book
mot many authors run one" he says. and
invariably adds: ITS hard work, too, for
a literary man"
In fairness to Mr.. Brady, 1t should be
added that during August and September,
included In the nine months, he did not put
pen to paper at all. He has made 1t a rule
never to work while on vacation.
How Mr.. Brady COmpOses.
But even all this does not give an ade-
quate idea Of the rapidity with which Mr..
Brady works. Before he dictates a single
line or word he dissects hundreds OF ref
| erence books, many OF which he finds ready
to hand in his fine historical library OF over
1000 volumes. Then. when the first type
writtan copy Of the new book is ready, he
spends hours celebrating the spoken
thoughts that his stenographer, Miss Isabel
Paris, has caught while her employer
paced rapidly back and forth In his work.
shop and as rapidly spoke.
In this elaboration much attention is
given to the adjuncts OF the conversations
Mr.. Brady does not dictate, Kicking the
cat she yelled or she turned and
said" or smiling sweetly,' she added
He fires straight dialogue at his secretary
"I?' Yes, you and no other But
don't see how ] can do It," well, then
you're not the man I take you to be-" In
distinguishing between the speakers Miss
Paris says she is guided by intuition and
the infection OF Mr.. Brady's voice. Mr.
Brady contends that his secretary's best
guide for discrimination lies In the fact tina
a heroine never says damn" Be that as
IL may. when the stenogTaphic notes are
transcribed, the author finds the dialogue
properly paragraphed and spoken by the
right persons. All he has to do is to write
in the Said hes and said shes" BY this
method Mr.. Brady believes that he acts as
a sort Of human photograph for his char.
acters, with the result that their converse
tions are natural, because they have MOI
been carried on among literary impedi'
menta.
After the copy is worked over until the
accessions fill margins and spaces between
lines, often getting to the blank side OF the
pages. Miss Paris makes a revised copy
This is subject to painstaking e~xcisicn
When this process has been carried gu
until the author is satisfied that what Il
left is absolutely necessary to tell th'
story, a third copy is made. Usually thit
is a final copy, the one placed in the hands
of the publishers.
PainEtakinR Revision.
Besides dictation, addition and excelsior
befall a novel at this authors hands before
the public sees It. He revises II In thu
serial galleys. works over II in the seria
pages, gives it a scrutiny in the book gal
leys, and a final touch here and there in tn
book pages. Thus a novel from the pen o
Cyrus Townsend Brady is revised, who'll!
or partially, at least six times before |
is placed between covers. Sometimes thit
touching up process is extended, as in tn
case OF "Hohenzollern, which WAS %entirel,
rewritten for book form after %runnini
s~erlally. In this instance the story va
subjected to revision twelve lines.
From all this It may be gathered tina
MI. Brady's pen hardly stops long enougl
for it's wielder to get a few winks Of sleeI
o. nights. Some OF the more ~jocular liter
airy critics would have us so believe at al
events. but Mr.. Brady laughingly declare
that this isn't true. His working hours, h
says, are from 9 a. m. to 3 p. m, six day
in q week, unless there's a foot ball gam
somewhere around. and then I'm OF to tn
scene OF carnage"
His FIRST daily task is the clearing up Q
all correspondence which is no joking mat
ter. Then comes an hour and a half or tw
hours Of dictation. This Is followed by re
vision and correction until 2 o'clock. Tn
last hour OF the working day is given owe
TO reference reading. When the cloo
strikes 8 Mr.. Brady abruptly throws asid
all thought OF work and goes out seekin
recreation. Frequently, but not always,
he returns home at s o'clock, he studio
until dinner time, an hour and a half Later
Every evening is given over. absolutely, I
amusement. In such short working day
has be produced in four years thirteen book
and twenty-eight stories, and has wei
under way at least two more books. sewers
stories. and a dramatized version c
"Hohenzollern." This venture into realm
STEAMBOATS,.