The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-10
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| Havana in the winter of 1900, when liter
ature was not mentioned. Further, being
engaged in my work in the seclusion OF
the country, and being utterly absorbed
in il for months, ] did not find time to
read ''The Conquerer' until about the
August following its publication, when
found it sufficiently interesting to keep
me from my pen until l had to work
overtime to catch up. But, as my manu-
script was sent to my publisher within
less than sixty days afterward, 1t should
be obvious, even to a critic, that / had
not the time to initiate it, unless 1 were
a syndicate, which / solemnly declare l
am not. My story, therefore, Is exclu-
sively my own, idea, form, style and all
else, and / ask of the critics and the
reading public an impartial judgment,
instead of this eminently unfair accusa
ton, which is quite enough to ruin re-
putation in the making, il one Is not able
to refute it. 1 shall be able to do so at
any time"
Miss Francis may take comfort in the
fact that she is not the only author thus
assailed. A few days ago some charged
Edna Kenton with having literally APP
propriated from "A Princess of Thule"
by VIM. Black, in her story what Man
ner of Men" Miss Kenton, replied that
she has never read "A Princess of
Thule" and goes on to say:
"a woman who will steal will lie also,
and so whoever Is willing to believe me
a plagiarist would smile incredulously at
any denial might make"
Elliot Flower, whose recent success in
the book and magazine fields gives him
authority to speak says there is no way
of telling when and where an author may
sell piece of work.
Gas a matter of fact" he writes in the
current Critic, mo one can tell what will
be acceptable to a certain editor, and ny
one who assumes that he can, is an inn
poster / have disposed of manuscripts
where / least expected, and l have failed
to sell where thought it was certainty.
Furthermore, I have discovered that edi
tors themselves, who presumably keep
careful watch of what other editors are
doing, know no more about it than | do.
have had manuscripts returned to mo
with the kindly suggestion that I submit
it to such and-such periodical, TO
which it seems especially suited" but |
have yet to dispose of an article by fol-
lowing this well-meant advice. | appre-
ciate the courtesy that prompts it, but
the editors invariably have guessed
wrong in these instances. The only
thing to do is to use ones best judgment
and keep the article doing. II 1T IS reas-
onably good-or even only fair, it is prfe-
tically a sure thing that some editor
wants it, the problem being to find out
which one, and that can be done only by
experimenting. / do not mean to say that
manuscripts should be sent out haphazard
to any one Judgment and experience are
of value but their value is distressingly
uncertain and even the most experienced
err with great frequency. When l nrst
started in. a friend whose literary work
had made him independent undertook to
help me with his advice, but found that
he GUESSED wrong about as often as
did. He had acquired a reputation that
helped him to dispose of his manuscripts
and there is no gainsaying that reputa-
ton is a wonderful help-but mine had 10
go solely on their merits
Mr.. Flowers conclusion does not agree
with his main statement. He tells OF a
friend who had acquired reputation that
helped him dispose of manuscripts, bur
surely this EXPERIENCED writer would not
venture to send Smart Set story to the
North American Review. The same
principle or Judgment carried to finer
point of distinction must inevitably be
of assistance and the element or chanee
is not so great at Mr.. Flower would have
MS believe One of the elements OF sue
cess in writing is a knowledge OF the va
rious periodicals. A careful study OF the
needs and limitations of each magazine
will surely be of assistance to the writer.
At the same time he must not lose sight
of the necessity of writing better stories
than the average.