The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-26

ask him: Have you started another
book?" 1t is: Have you written an
other book?" They know that with him
to begin is to finish. A short story is
a short days work. A 100,000-word
novel is a mere affair of a few weeks
THE Grip of Honor was written IN
two. AS 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 I burn to put it on paper: I'm
not contented until it is there is his
brief explanation. 1t is this enthusiast
tic love of the pen that has enabled
him in four years to put upon the liter
two historical essays, two autobiog--
raphies-thirteen books in ail-and
twenty eight short stories.
1t has enabled Mr.. Brady, in the nine
months from July l last, to accomplish
literary wonder. In this two-t thirds
of q year he produced Woven with the
Ship sea story of 10000 words; THE
Southerners,' 100000 words in length,
and shortly to be published; Border
Fights and Fighters" another 100000
words; a boys story of $4,000 words.
I'm the Wasp's Nest which is to ap-
pear soon; several short stories aggre-
eating 10000 words more; two book re-
views a month, each containing 1000
words; and thirty sermons of $50 words
apiece for the Sunday issue of a daily
newspaper.
KEEPS CASHBOOK POSTED.
In addition, he completely rewrote
Hohenzollern,' 40,000-word historical
/ romance; carried through the press
.Hohenzollern," THE Quiberon Touch"
and Colonial Fights and Fighters"
assiduously attended to large and in
creasing correspondence and preached
twice every Sunday. He also kept post
ed his cashbook, which on a moments
examination tells him how his pen
earns money and how his books have
sold. Mr.. Brady takes a vast amount
OF pride in this book Not many au-
thors 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 Septem-
Der, included in the nine months. he did
not put pen to paper at all He has
madesit q rule never to work while on
vacation.
HOW MR.. BRADY cOMPOSES.
But even all this does not give an adj
eQuate idea of the rapidity with which
Mr.. Brady works. Before he dictates a
single line or word he dissects hundreds
of reference books. many of which he
finds ready to hand in his fine historical
library of over 1900 volumes. Then.
when the first typewriter 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 workshop
and as rapidly spoke.
In this ella boration much attention is
given to the adjuncts of the CONVERSE
TONS Mr.. Brady does not dictate.
g Kicking the cat she yelled or 81 She
turned and said,'' or s. Smiling sweet
ly,' she added" He fires straight dia-
loEue at his secretary sI?" Eyes. you
and no other But I don't see how I
can do it, well, then. you're not the
man take you to be-
In distinguishing between the speak
ers Miss Paris says she is guided by
intuition and the infection Of Mr.. Bra
dy's voice. Mr.. Brady contends that his
secretary's best guide for discrfmina-
tion lies in the fact that heroine never
says the words for which long dashes
are used Be that as it may, when the
stenographic notes are Transcribed the
author finds the dialogue properly para
graphed and spoken by the right per
sons, All he has to do is to write in
the said hes and said She's" by this
method Mr.. Brady believes that he acts
as a sort of human photograph for his
characters. with the result that their
conversations are natural. because they
airy fmpediments.
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 pains
/ taking exeision- When this process has
| been carried out until the author is sat-
| isfied that what is left is absolutely nee