The Indianapolis journal., 1903-08-23
in The LITERARY FIELD
MODERN METHODS OF LITERARY,
ESPECIALLY NOVEL PRODUCTION.
Something About the Late Noah
Brooks, Favorite with Boys-Au-
thorx and illustrators.

The methods of the great writers Of the
past are we'll known, and. although there
was not SO much in reality OF the garnet
and the crust of bread as imagination has
supposed there were many literary men
who worked ,or a very meager return hard
er than convicts In a chain gang. says
writer in the Baltimore Sun. The entire
work of composition was Iaboriously per-
formed by hard. Revision followed revision.
The whole w..s copied and recopied until
at last The manuscript was made ready for
the publisher. Tie Inere mechanical labor
Involved was very great. Ii was no wonder
that man could proouce comparatively
little. lie was about as much handicapped
when 1t came. TO literary productivity as a
mechanic would be If he work
70 produce a sewing machine with lump
OF ore for material and a file. a hammer
and an aavi for tools. No wonder the
authors life was little better than that
OF galley slave or convict in the tread
mill.
To-day how changed, The popular novel
fst prepares slight outline OF the chapters
from day to day. that he may not be
interrupted In literary production by the
necessity OF thinking about his plot. Then,
reclining in his easy chair. with a stem
oerapher at a convenient distance, so that
the favoritc of his muses. will not have g
reise his voice, the production of literature
commences AT The rate of two or three
thousand words an hour IL proceeds. ON and
on IL goes Possibly another stenographer
takes the place of the first until the notes
that have been made for the days work
are exhausted. These faithful' assistants
nd f.T1fr 4 ha
writer their notes, which handed TO
literary assistant 10 revise and put i'm shape
lot the authors final correction. Two hours
VIII. In this way, with the employment of
stenographers typewriters and literary sec
retaries. produce with comparatively slight
exertion on the part of the author 5000
words day on an elaborate novel If at
the end of tie work on the novel there is
any inclination 10 produce a short story
or sketcn or other magazine article. an
hour or two viii oe sufficient, and the
same process is employed i'm this as in the
larger composition
In this wsy orly is there rate of,pro-
auction possible that is nT all commensurate
with the ir tensity of the commercial and
Industrial life of this age. There are novel
lists and writers OF popular works of vari-
GUS characters who are able to produce
several lengthy works a year and have
time left for multitude Of other literary
pieces. They have been wise enough TO be
np TO Gate IN the methods of production
tney employ. Their industry IS not wasted
upon laborious operations which consume
the time and strength without increasing
the output.
Let no one think that the popular writer
IN working at random. Here again the ex-
cellen. methods of modern industry have
revoiutionized the methods. antiquated and
seckless. which have so long been i'm vogue
IN ntSrature. A man does not write upon
the mere impulse He does not say to him
self: Go TO; L will write a novel in which
sban snow such and such motives in such
aud such circumstances" Far from being
SO prodigal OF his time. he sets about his
business with businesslike methods. H.
Keeps himself. IN the first place. we'll before
the world of publishers by advertising He
does not insert a card in the newspapers
10 the effect that he has literary wares for
sale or - prepared to furnish them on or
ders at reasonable rates Such a method
would be contrary TO the ethics of his pro-
Iession He Is able. however to concen-
trafe rpon his personality a large amount
or attention without much trouble. News
Items are constantly appearing i'm the pa
pers about his doings from month to month
ara even from day to day. If he meets
with an accident or loss he is not allowed
70 go without the sympathy of the public,
for somehow the whole world knows about
u, and IL is telegraphed to the remotest
corners OF the land. III he buys or sells
house that is all carefully reported and "A
picture OF the house and possibly of the
author himself inserted To give point TO the
account. y reference il made incidentally
10 the fact that the gentleman is the we'll
known author OF certain books mentioned
by name. and that he is preparing a new
yet appeared from his pen. With advertis-
ing come orders for work. Contracts are
made to produce a certain amount OF lit
erary matter within given time. The af-
fsI ~ handled upon the same sound and
careful basis as a contract for a hundred
thouss ed tons of steel rails. The quality of
the work is specified and the date of deliv-
cry. as we'll az the number of words TO be
delivered. Then. when everything is ready
for opera tions TO begin. the author sets to
work. and IL Is but question of days be-
fore the 10000 words. more or less accord
ing to contract, are delivered TO the party
ordering them This is business method
which commends itself TO the intelligence
of the present age. 1t is not only a mar
veiotis tribute To the influence that the mod
err commercial system has been able to
exert upon every phase of human activity,
but II Is an explanation OF the way in which
American push and commercial spirit have
been able to invade the markets of the
world I'm the same way as American iro
bridge aud locomotive builders have been
able to under bid the foreign manufacturers
and deliver their goods at an earlier date.
IL Is also an expia nation OF the marvellous
Industry with which the writer's OF recent
fotion have been able TO turn out their
wares. to the astonjshment of the public
ignorant of. the businesslike spirit which
pefvades the world of letters. or. at least
sofne parts OF that world-tbe more en-
lightensd and successful.