Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-13
READING MANUSCRIPTS.
what Happens to an Article After 1t
Reaches the Publisher.

Reaches the Publisher.
1t is interesting to know what stages
the magazine article goes through be-
fore the author receives a check or
neatly printed notice which reads:
Your manuscript returned with
thanks. We regret to say that it is not
available at present. The fact that a
manuscript is declined does not mean
that it has not merit"
In the first place, allowing that
publisher receives an average of ten
manuscripts a day, seven of that num-
Der will in all probability be rejected
at sight. The publisher knows from
long experience that he is safe in nine
ty-nine cases out of a hundred in dis
posing summarily of manuscripts
whose writers cannot spell and who
have not even a bowling acquaintance
with Lindley Murray. A rapid glance
through the first pages of manuscript
gives a fair idea of the literary ability
of the author-that is, in general terms.
The common complaint that publishers
are not conscientious in the eXamina-
ton of manuscripts is unfOunded. They
are conscientious-it is to their interest
to be so. They are just as DESTROYS OF
discovering the talented young writer
as he is to be discovered. But it is not
necessary to eat the whole cheese In
order to determine it's quality.
The three manuscripts that remain
after the first sitting are sent to GER
tain persons in whose judgment the
publisher has confidence. They read
them through once, and if they appear
| on to 9th %
readers. Every manuscript that has
possibilities passes through the hands
of four or five readers. Each of these
makes out a detailed report of it, set
ting forth its excellence and defects in
| the eyes of that particular reader.
| When the reports on certain manu-
script are all in, the publisher reads
them and makes up his mind as to
whether it will be advisable for him
to publish it. If he is not satisfied
with the reports already received on it
he may send it out to other readers and
defer his decision until he hears from
them.
There are many elements that infiu-
| ence publication. a manuscript may
be good in itself, but it may not be
what the particular publisher has a
market for, or it may belong to GER
tain class with which he is already
fully stocked. Manuscripts rejected by
one firm are frequently accepted by an
other.
Readers are human and therefore IL
able to err Temperament plays neces-
sarily a considerable part in their de-
cisions, but they are selected by the
| G. fhpiT r
ical Judgment, their knowledge of good
English, their acquaintance with both
standard and contemporary literature
and for their skill in determining the
selling qualities of a book.
If a story has live characters and is
we'll put together the publisher is will
ing to expend time and money in bring
ing it up to the standard he has set.
Some readers are also editors OF the
firm, and they correct faulty sentences,
rearrange mixed metaphors and see
that the demands of time and place are
not confused
Few persons beginning to write are
aware, probably, of the amount or
editing which their work requires be-
fore it is in condition to appear in
print. There are solitary footmen ap-
proaching on horseback" in manu-
scripts that have been read and reread
by the author a dozen times. 1t takes
another eye than the writer's to de-
tect these inconsistencies and blunders.
If the manuscript deals with a his
toric period it is sure to be sent to the
reader who is competent to give abso-
lutte judgment on the accuracy of Its
statements. Any scientific work will
be submitted to an expert In the par
ticular branch with which it deals.
Publishers wish to bring out only such
books as will bring them financial re
turn and reputation. = Washington
Times.