davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY MARY E. wILKINs.FREEMAN
Author of the @shouIderu of Atlas,

WfHEN begin novel generally have in mind
w certain thought which I wish develop but
W never problem. The individual Characters
that Is the principal clear my mind but
my plot is the vaguest. sometimes been en-
Darrassed when asked to outline q plot some
nounced work OF mine, because plot shapes itself
I along. It may change, dislike to put IL
work almost entirely by the sequential method
Ny minor characters in their own accord
have frequently been surprised their appearance
feeling as II had not invited them there. This was
especially the with the dwarf lady, Miss Blair
in by the Light Of the Soul" suddenly appeared
IN the Pullman which Miss Maria Edgerton
was travelling, and to this day don't know she
helped solve a perplexing question Maria and
became interested IN her once.
In my last novel THE Shoulders Atlas" I had
clear conception OF Henry and Sylvia Whitman be-
fore began felt acquainted with natures and
dispositions. With respect Fletcher and
Horace Allen, they clear ut the start In
fact, I thought Rose would arrive She was a
very tardy heroine.
AS to the technical details my writing have no
system, given time to sit my desk no special
time for work although. OF course like the morn
ing hours the best think I work by Inspiration
doing my best work, most easily when the mood Is
All this ts dependent upon my physical condi-
ton, as my strength is limited When very tired my
type shows It. and my secretary has q hard time
making out what mean, while the uniformed
would certainly conclude that I do know how
20 spell compose wholly the Typewriter and
an entirely unable 10 dictate, method which would
much OF strength I could only practice 1T
Some days am only able TO do typewrit-
ten pages; rare occasions have produced much
as 10000 words q day. although of course pay
dearly In WEAKNESS for such close application
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
GEORGE BARR,
McCUTCHEON
BY WILL N. HARDEN
Author of "The Land of the Changing SUM-


USUALLY first have an a story; then
select the characters which to be used and
their individuality, actions, conversation, rehec-
tions etc, the plot take shape, and 1t is salts
factory providing it is leading toward a logical and
satisfying climax and proper ending consume
exactly year in producing book. After the idea
come 1 spend fully five months in doing nothing
living with the idea and the characters. keep
notebook in which I write down everything that
my fancy taking place in the story making
perhaps thousand entries and strange to never
looking at my notes after begin work My novels
are usually 10000 words in length, and 1 make
rough writing of less than half long which is
finally elaborated into the finished book. 1t takes
about months for to write one of my novels
the proofs and get it off hands After
that dismiss 1t wholly from mind, In order
that may dream out" another.
1 work only in the mornings, beginning at and
ending a IL. Unlike many other authors, never
like to till 1 have finished particular
thrilling chapter but prefer to stop at in
take up the work following day with eagerness
and faith having something that must be said
have usually thought my book thoroughly
before beginning write it that it to
smoothly not hitch and, the characters do
and say things in final sort of way which keeps me
from having alter what has once been written
have written only problem novel; Nam
Linda which designed to promote better feel
ing between the black and white and show up
the growing evil of lynch law The other novels have
simply studies of types and characters peculiar to
the SOUTH and I.had other for writing them
the life it really is, and through the
my characters to that it is better to be
good than evil in the long
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22

moderately varied experience in life needs? You are
given the skeleton is for to add flesh and blood
and breathe the spirit into and will not the like
ness to real live human being which that figure dis
human nature and whatever little gift may have
for inducing others things do we ourselves?
AS to the plot--need that matter much?y And II 1t
does, they lie all about usife is full of plots-not
always equal to the demands of meodrama perhaps,
but sufficient to the largest requirement Take any
of people, of various standards of conduct and
set them striving for thing. and do we not
Immediately get struggle OF some kind-and doesn't
every struggle develop its plot? For myself, L
think plot should be kept much under, as 1t is
in actual life where there few villains and
very few sublime heroes, and where mans course
Is; hundred times more likely to be guided by i'm
pulse than by intellectually guided action
isn't fiction perhaps serving its best purpose when
it, is striving make people Of varying creeds,
and social standards acquainted with the most Iowa
ble the best sides of each other?-and all despite
different standards trying do the right thing
about the right thing their systems will
stand? / would rather be equal to presenting one
such convincing example than to inventing dozen
plots-which Incidentally no man that lived was
equal Plots remain the samethe hues of life are
changing.
For the mechanical items of which you ask: pre-
fer write in the morning and not too early; at
home early bird-7anywhere between break
fast and luncheon-9 and 1-are good hours for me,
and this though l am of those who believe that
write better night, under arti-
fetal light and hushed community. But he is wise
who remembers that he may have to work-not
a week month, but many years, and important
thing in long is to, conserve your energy Work
ing late at night is according to all the ethics but
after few years you in such good
dition physically, and worth mans while to
. mental condition length because of that-and pos
siby less of nuisance his family.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY HAROLD McGRATH
Author OF "The Mann ON the Box,

L USUALLY begin story dramatist begins
/ play-with the end The characters work the
plot themselves 1 have very little to do with 1t
after they have started.
The structure of a plot must naturally be fore
most for. after all is said and the the
thing. never outline a plot; carry the main
and after it assumes body paper it many.
devious twists and turns of which 1 prior
The only definite idea / have in my mind in writing
stories is afford agreeable, pleasant
wish that they might have lived this that
hero, in this that land probable improbable.
prefer sunshine, mrth buoyancy, and believe most
readers prefer the Grown people
wholly deprived their love fairy tales grown
fairy tales have been the schemes of of my
novels.
write whenever feel like 1T. for when am in the
mood do better work never force myself TODD
much work each day. There days when it is inn
possible to write hundred words; again. L have
written many 1000 words in day. Obsta-
merate character that doesn't 'balk' never fails
to be embarrassing. have always. tried to place
human people in absurd unique situations and to
let them. extricate themselves / would if
placed.
The anatomy of motif story complex
thing, but of practical joke The Man the Box"
evolved A young disguised coachman
drove his sister and her friend ball night
greatly when critics said the exploit highly inn
probable. Out of the Italian state and church
riage the plot of The Lure of the Mask" The
most trivial thing sometimes viii suggest plot. [
found the ten of hearts night a sidewalk. 1t
became the motif of Hearts and Masks"
Sometimes when it seems hard to connect chap
ter with another find this obstacle easily sur
by writing the last two or three pages Of
the chapter just finished. This give
swing to begin the 4 always begin story with
a paragraph sentence vital the plot, something
accomplish this the first page always to me the
hardest bit of writing in the whole book. ? =
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY GEORGE w. CABLE
Author of "Old Creole Days,

| low do / write my novels? No two OF them
IT aresresults of the method. Even
their mechanical production. longer my
pages into handwriting, but typewrting. When writ
ing away from home make them in pencil, reducing
them typewrtng on my return my study--a lodge
of two rooms above the other in the midst of
small grove garden, known to my family the
power house"
But, of course, it is dwell the hand
tool work of a literary craftsman Yet let me add
that because my wits refuse to work on any but a
clean page and because have revise much and
often put my pages on large sheets limit each
to $50 words. using the broad margins for
revisions This is about the only thing in the me-
prove of to recommend it to others 1t has its en-
phatic drawbacks, but it has a number of values.
! AS to the mind work nv method for the novel II
am lust now completine atlineaids Battery seems
much best I have followed that L
prefer to speak conclusiyelv of it, began with the
idea Of presenting phase of life unfamiliar both to
general experience and literature yet to the por-
whether acquired by experience by livid
imaginative study of period of history-or by
center of my scene because am of New Orleans by
birth and more than half lifetimes residence
hanging fullest of ripe fruit in the gardens my
imagination and actual experience. put my hero
and others into the artillery service because while
still writing "The Cavalier" a cavalry story no.
tced that the artillery seems to have least atten
perb phase of soldiers life. 1 myself to make
story which should be strong combination of char
acter portrayal with plot: with. / conflict of
passions. Wills schemes and adventurous and tragic
fates and to harmonic these entirely with historic
events of the time
Next I made scenario as though projecting a
play yet was careful that should be the framework
of novel and not of play and this anatomy
studied and revised for before writing page
of narrative Thus, incidentally found myself so
well acquainted with each character In the tale before
beginning to write 1t that any OF them ever
"balked" Gas say) 1 know 1t.
believe am blameless in this story of trying to
prove anything preach anything. 1t is sppremely
love story, tale of love and constancy Certainly
1t is also story, but for historys sake or
wars sake much less for praise of war the story
of a war within war war Of beautiful characters
with plenty of faults to them human and reaD
against characters ugly and evil, yet not without
charm hope 1t may preach as character and cons
duct always will whenever they are as the
critics convincing.
write six days of each week. "at home or abroad.
the land. the sea-" from to !, and con-
fine all the other tasks joys of life, including re-
search relaxation and correspondence to
the other hours.
And hope Will take me for an example
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY JAMES B. CONNOLLY

y RENT all trying to paint life find 1T,
~ without caring overmuch where find it, pro-
Nvided 1t is interesting to and sordid
for decent mems enjoyment? Preferably do not
take stories from life thereby saving our
selves Just much work? t7st
And a story worth while that did come
from life which is. after all, spirit
in the body. much in the aspirations In the
accomplishments; but this does not that try
to tell story hear it-does any imaginative
person ever?but hear story and It suggests to
treatment by which 1t may be made to serve a
purpose. When get through with it 1t may differ
much from the original the plant from
the seed but in that original tale the germnal
idea and isn't that about all that anybody with q
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY GEORGE BARR MccUTcHEoN

A method is simplicity itself, to speak In the
Nl first place write TO entertain myself. I sue
- coed IN that, there is suspect
that readers viii be less affected same
way So long I entertained by the tale in its
doing If the fundamental Joy wanes, 1 know
that there lie something It is then necessary
TO back and rebuild the playhouse OF and
scenes. could not write much q chapter If I
were not pleasantly entertained and by the
things that happening calculated happen
The plot hrst then the characters The people
IN the story merely work the plot like
many amiable laborers who toll the love Of the
thing. may say that have little trouble with
them. We god friends that explains II.
After all II is the world write for its atoms
Primarily write for the Joy II gives me- which is
selfish II sounds. The only effect I aspire
TO produce the mind OF a reader is of gentle
and pleasure II he is thrilled diverted
my object obtained If he is bored quite likely
hear OF II. way another.
The question is often asked, When do you your
writing? That is readily answered, When like
st pencil smoothly in the morning hours
st that the brain-or the Imagination, you
choose call II that's keen and full the
work Of the day. On such days may write several
thousand words. On the other hand. If the morning
hours are unprolihc there is work for that
day. never the The plot is always there:
Il can not get away characters ready
when I ready
have unvarying rule. L always begin a
STORY the 2eth day Of the month 1t doesn't matter
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY MYRTLE REED MCCULLOUGH
Author of Glove Affairs of Literary Men,

| would, be much easier for tell I
not write my novels than how do as have moth
Ing worthy to be called a method. I keep very
small notebook in which jot down from time to
time titles and suggestions. 1t fits easily into an
ordinary handbag and usually have it with
me. travel great deal but in search enjoyment
and experience only-never consciously for
terial" 1 usually have my title before I begin the
book My characters and pictures of conditions, or
environment belong together from the beginning
and could not dissociate them. Plot structure
balance harmony, contrast and logical development
are all with foremost considerations" The
people and the story inextricably
could not exist apart
always form what people call Inspiration"
never wrote booker a line-that 1 did not
have to write began book until thing itself,
demanding expression, peace
write usually during the winter months-prnc-
paly in February and Woodworking from 10 to
4 or o'clock each day except Sunday. I a
typewriter entirely must have quiet. and find that
can work better in small I usually write a
chapter day, and do all copying
vision can not dictate
The story goes smoothly after 1 begin it, be-
cause 1 have long period of preparation mentally
advance regards the main lines. Details fill them
selves in l work. Characters do not balk or the
plot twisted, planned advance Some
times 1t turns little differently first
plan, but often
1t seems rather misnomer to call it work" it
is really great JOY. I love my work much that
/ should gladly for the privilege of doing if
that necessary. want to write all the time and
I don't want to do anything else but write,
spider not spin constantly there must be long in
tervals Of rest recuperation and varying experience
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY STEWART EDWARD WHITE
Author of .0The Blazed Trail,

GENERALLY take strong central character. or
least one interest me, and let the plot and
subsidiary characters develop from whatever is
necessary to explain him. Sometimes. however en-
vironment attract in which try to
character which shall correspond to be a
product that environment
The plot develops from the characters rather than
the other way about.
1 generally try to have deep moral or
ethical for which the novel is to stand
For example. The Bazed Trail" the idea that
while man owes himself to succeed he does not
necessarily it himself to succeed alone, and
aids may often be weaker vessels In The
Silent Places was simple idea OF doing mans
work modestly, and making the womans sacrifice
and supreme love without self consciousness or
heroics having decided this motif, novelist
should keep it under exposition. In other
words, story story, should speak for itself
never start to write until know what am to do.
Then write very rapidly and with only minor cor
rectons. Begin at about a. m. Work until 1880.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22

7 TOW do you Drtc your nOvels2 dozen pop
II uLG Driters mere ASKED Do you begin pour
4 4 idea Nth strongly individual character placed
b peculiar developing environment or do you make
pour characters subsidiary TO the pOrkng out of social
problems or pictures Of cOnditons2
Is plot structure foremost consideration in pour
Ror. does plot formulate itself as logical sequence
ri tspes pressnted2
Do pOu have IN mind some definite effect uOu hope
b produce upon the mind Of pour rsadeT-some spe-
cial for The Dritng pheh Is pour idea and IN
spTohona
Do character" baIkp Does the plot get apau al
Enss2 Do vOu haze motif N pour stories: and vhcn
nad Dbers do you do pour DOft2 In sentence. phdi
i the G1Gfomy of the novelp
These mere The questions ASKED BY The Sunday
Cal. and The replies are of absorbing interest because
thsy confessions that form human document that
is Dithom precedent IN the range of literature Fur
fhs, they haze revealed the sincerity Of om story iecrs
and The underlying aims that inspire their vork.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22

So we have peep into the box OF magic whence
of shadow heroes and heroines; whence
formulated persondcations that crystalline
unorganized ideas and make public opinion
for these of the minds who do thinking
for us. and do it pleasing. seated and
subtle that unaware that they feeding US
intellectually while away Idle hour
tired
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22

Accomplish average 1900 words IN that time
Have against obstacles in the actual writing
One thing add, gather material"
Just into a country with the idea
of getting literary material out OF It, back
with nothing but II out for fun. and forget all
about writing. ETC.. then to have something
OF value at least to myself In conclusion. be-
Heve fully IN writer's actually living the life tries
to depict. not in dilettants manner. but thu
people do
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY WINSTON CHURCHILL
Author of "Conistol

MAKE my characters subsidiary the working out
of the present presentation OF the problem.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22
BY ROBERT WI. CHAMBERS
Author of the aFightins

HERE is nothing particularly interesting in my
methods Of writing. go about it as any business
about his work.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-11-22

what day the week it happens to be or what the
month.
You may call it superstition If you like
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-02-25

The Inhabitants OF the lonely Isle OF
st. Kilda were astonlshed one winter
some years ago at the appearance OF a
great blood red. conical object floating
on the wild Atlantic pillows to the
westward of the Isle. With much diff
Guilty the derelict was brought to shore.
and as the St. Kildans had never be-
fore seen such a queer looking thing
and could make no guess as to It's pur-
pose or place In the scale Of created
things they INDUCED Ia wild visions
of its valuable nature. But when the
factor came across on his yearly visit
from the neIghboring but distant is
land of Great Britain ne identified It
as great iron buoy which. It suisse
quently appeared. had broken away
from its moorings In New York harbor
and drifted In the gulf stream across
the Atlantic. 1t had taken two years
In the passage.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-02-25
Laxative BrOmO Quinine
WILL CURE TIKI GRIPPE, PRICE CSC.

7 bis IL the time OF the year when ron n.a
Hot Water Bottles. We have al, Kinds A.
Reasonable Prices.
Plenty of Face Bags aud a Special Throa.
bag. very useful In severe cares OF Sor
Throat and Grippe.
The Red Cross Plaster il The best plaster
made, price % cts,
Complete line of DR.. Whitlocks Remedies
on hand at all times.
All kinds of Stationery, Paner in Boxes and
IN Bulk, Tablets, lux. Pens, etc.
Our White Pine aud Tar Is the best Couyh
Syrup- handled by our age 1ts All over t6e
eoun.s IL you cannot get Il rom your local
stor' Keeper write US aud we will have II sent
TO you. = $3.50
We are special agents for DR. Shoop,s goods
and carry his complete line of medicines
Largest and best az sorted line of Talcum.
Perfumes and all sorts OF Toilet Preparati,ns
carried IN any drug store in this part OF the
State w
All kinds of spices. aud they are euaran-
teed to be the very test
Complete line of Veterinary prepasa,io,.s-.
we have all of Prats's, Hckman's Cole tNrp.
Fleming'e tistu o pre-, Combanlae Caustlc
Balsam, and many others
We make 1t our aim to carry everything
Tor every purpose--all kinds Of Chemicals.
Patent Medicines. Spices, Rubber Goods.
lrusses, Cr1fches-in fact everything that
you can mud ID any up-to-date drug store
any " here.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-02-25
Settlement
In Full.
BY LULU JOHNSTON.
Copyrighted. 1907. by N. E. Daley.


Dick Staley, perched on furniture
crate, looked diseonsolately at Billy
Blaine. who was regarding the wall
paper and trying hard not to laugh.
ing corners of his mouth curved, and
rs he met Staley's eye he exploded In
roar of laughter which served only
to deepen Staley's gloom.
Laugh. confound your growled Sta
ley ITS funny to you. It's not so
funny to me. I've got to get this place
settled in five days, and upon my soul
! don't know what to do firstr'
The first step is easy" chuckled
Blaine. Get a man in to scrape the
walls. The paper is the worst I ever
saw"
1T looked all right in the book" said
Staley defensiyely 1T was the pref
test thing in the whole book of sam
ples.'
1T may be all right in sample"
admitted Blaine, with another glance
at the lowered monstrosity, but there
is only one square yard Of the sample.
1t looks different. Dick, when you have
roomful of it,
81 know it." admitted Staley, but
that doesn't help matters. 1t only
serves to make them worse want
ed to surprise the matter by bringing
her to her own home instead of TAX
ing her to hotel. She hates to give
up her old home, and l wanted to
make the change as easy as possible"
The smile died from Blaine's face at
the allusion to Mrs. Staley. He was
Dicks chum. and be knew how tender
ly Dick loved the gentle faced woman
who within the month had lost both
husband and daughter. Now she was
coming to live with Dick. and for
weeks he had planned to take an
apartment that she might not feel too
keenly the loss of the home that had
been hers since marriage.
"I'll tell you what we'll do, Dick"
suggested Blaine. Lets go downtown
for some lunch. I'll phone Nell for one
of those professional fixers for you.
She knows crackerjack, a girl who
used to move in good society and
whose father lost hts money. She
knows what's what and how to do 1t,
and Nell will get her to do it for you"
Dick patted his chum on the back
while his eyes glistened. Nell Blaine