The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
THE EARNINGS OF AN AUTHOR
ONE WRITER'S ACCOUNT or THE
PROFITS or LITERATL RE.
In Twenty Years lie Received Total
OF $4,000 for Twenty-Five Books,
Nineteen Serial stories. l20 short
stories and 232 General Articles.


completed a round of twenty years 1 am
minded to review my experience as it is
recorded In the little books which All
drawer in my desk and contain the history
Of every manuscript.
Let me maxi clear at the outset that litera-
ture has never been my crutch, but simply
my cane; my avocation rather than my
vocation. Throughout the whole course of
nv pursuit of it l have been engaged all
day in either professional or commercial
employment, the bulk Of my writing having
been done before breakfast, wherein l
initiated the example Of the prolific An
thonv Trollope
Despite this limitation as to opportunity
of production, have. through the indul-
senca of editors and publishers, been per-
uitted to see in print some twenty-five
hooks. nineteen serial stories, 12e short
stories and 232 general articles, these totals
excluding accepted manuscripts awaiting
publication and rejected ditto that may
never be published, and also casual contn-
buttons to daily papers.
As 10 nv books, they bear the imprints
OF some of the most notable publishers OF
New York Boston Philadelphia, London
and Edinburgh. and my contributions have
apreared in nearly one hundred peri
odicals. including many of the first rank.
These facts are given simply to afford
means of approaching the financial returns
which. with all due Difference to those who
Profess that literature. like virtue should
he its own reward. do after all really con-
stituta the root of the matter.
To 90 back to the beginning OF the score
I E,I hat NV
d but upon the magazine stage proved
disappointment financially. 1t was IN
professional periodical. and took the form
Of an article upon rather ahstruse question
Of law. | quite expected reasonable
honorar,lm and was considerably cha-
erined when the editor blandly informed
me that the reputation accrninG from my
arpearance in the pages of his publication
should be my sole and sufficient reward
But NV next venture went far toward
making amends as that admirable periodical
the Continent. which surely deserved to be
an established success. paid me $50 for
descriptive article. and thereby confirmed
me in nv resolution to join the ranks OF
the occasional contributors. The results OF
that first year, which included a contribution
to another publication long since defunct.
the Current of Chicago, were just $3.50.
Oddly enough the second year yielded me
precisely the same amount. Among the
Items were $55 from LippincoHs. $40 from
the Popular Science Monthly, and 500 from
Literary Life, of Chicago, whose place is
now vacant.
The wear 1885 saw a substantial increase
which was very encouraging and gratifying
Il nd included STS from the
Afooo.ine of American History for two
articles, $50 from the Cosmopolitan for an
other two, $40 from Our Youth for four,
SIS each from the Current and Wide At'dke,
and $40 apiece from Outing (then of BOSTON,
and the Sunday School Times.
In 1887 | took in $3.50, the larger con-
trbuars being Scribner's Magazine, $50;
the F0lm, $50; the Cosmopolitan dor two
articles), $40; the American Magazine.
$3.50; Hdrper's Young People for four
articles. SIS; Our Youth; for six articles,
SIS, and the Neu York Times $50.
Those who are familiar with the world
of periodicals cannot fail to note how many
names appear in my record that are no
longer to be found upon the lists. The
mortality among my customers has un-
deniably been very great, and possibly
significant, but to what extent ! may have
tsen personally res ponsble for he demise
of these publications is quest ion that !
must leave to OF hers to Diet ermine.
Just to curb my conceit, no doubt. 1855,
inst cad of improving upon the preceding
year, fell back to he figures of 1856 although
the Cosmopolitan allowed me s75 for one
art ice and the American Magazine sos for
another while Harper's Young People paid
me $50 for four articles, and the Yomh's
Companion and Wide Ardke $50 each.
But 1889 sought to make amends by yield
ing me $500 Aside from its financial re-
suits, the year had special significance
because it Witnessed the publication Of my
first book, whereof the American copy
right brought me .l75 and the British 500
and of two serials. Our Youth paying me
$50 for one, and Santa Claus $3.50 for the
q, her. | also had $50 from Macmillan s.
the same amount from Harpers Bear
$50 from the Youths Companion for three
rcles,, and so5 from Hdrpers Young
People.
Moved by the good example thus set ,
1880 carried me to Slls0 the import ant
items being 500 for the American rights
In my second book, 800 from the Cosmo-
pplHan and SIS from he Youths Companion
! had also SOD from the Mcclure Syndicate
IL the first prize for special article upon
q designated subject, and as the actual
writing of the art icle took only single
evening | was cert ainly well rewarded.
l. was strange coincidence that 1891
Instead of advancing shuold retrograde
to the precise mark of 1899, although there
,eI within it the largest single payment
! had so far received, $500 for the serial
and tookrghts in the United States of
story for boys, as well as sl75 for the
I ookrights of the two serials referred to in
tho account of 1889 he only other note
worthy receipt was 500 from Hdrper's
Young People for three part serial.
Although 1892 rose to 81 ,oGj, the following
year receded to 1915, and it was not until
1894 that the showing for 1890 was sur
passed by the total touching 81 267 In
$50? appeared my first serial in the Boys
Orn Paper Of London, for which received
$50, and SIPS more at a later date for the
Iookrights.
The payment by a famous firm of British
publishers of 100 guineas for the entire
copyright Of a book for boys of $50 for
collection Of short stories and of $50 for