The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-12-30
A Little Flutter in
Literature
By F. Hairs Dean

"Sh!" said Betty sharply. She was
seated at small writing table,
and formed an attractive oasis In q
desert of foolscap.
paused abruptly in the doorway
and stared.
81 mustn't be interrupted" she ex.
claimed. because I'm busy"
$50 l see," l rejoined. What are
you doing-sorting your dressmakers
bills?"
For fraction Of a minute I was
permitted to gaze into a pair Of deeply
wounded eyes. I'm writing" she said
coldly.
90" said. somewhat impressed.
subsidized gently into an ARMCHAIR. and
eyed her admiringly. "Er-what are
you writing?"
Betty looked at me thoughtfully,
and sucked an inky forefinger before
she replied. I'm writing a novel,"
she vouchsafed at last.
"A novel;" cried. You didn't men,
ton 1t yesterday"
Because" she answered, simply,
81 hadn't thought of it yesterday"
as 1t finished YETI"
Finished" She regarded me scorn-
fully. Have you ever heard OF a
novel being written in a day."
No" admitted. though many
could have been-easily."
Il don't expect to get II finished"
she resumed, before the end OF next
week"
Too impressed by the magnitude II
the work to offer any comment, l lit
a cigarette.
I'm glad you've called. though"
she resumed because there's some
thing | want to know. What is the
least number OF words you can have
in novel;"
Not less than 10000" I informed
her.
Betty gave a shrill cry and gazed
at me in dismay. TRULY"
nodded.
For few moments Betty involved
herself in a minor maelstrom, and
eventually emerged flushed and dis
heveled. Thirty pages" she an.
nounced. TITS foolscap, though, mind
you. How many words would that
be-"
About 1900 altogether" calcu-
lated. glancing at her handwriting,
oh" she walled. She resumed the
sucking of her ink-stained forefnger.
slave got to write another 40 times
as much!" Her tone was tragic.
why not make II a short story"
I suggested.
Betty reflected over this for a few
moments. should l get as much?"
she queried.
"As much?"
Money. of course. What else do
you think?"
That depends. Some authors get
more for short story than others
for a long novel. It's q question Of
reputation"
Betty wrinkled her brows at me for
a few moments. How do you get q
reputation" she inquired at length.
by writing" / affirmed stoutly.
She pondered over this for a while.
81 see," she evolved at last. AT
least, I think do. You have to write
story first to make your name, and
another to make money, Is that it?"
That's the theory OF 1t, anyhow"
I assented.
UGH" she cried, with a shudder,
instinctively putting her hand behind
her back
How many words do you want TOR
short story-a very short story?"
That depends how short the story
Is. Say two thousand"
She pursued her lips refectively.
And I've written--how many did you
say?-ffteen hundred. So only want
another five hundred, don't /? II
wouldn't be dangerous to write that
number, would it,"
Dangerous" / echoed. There's
never any danger. II the editor
doesn't like It, he only sends II back.
There's nothing to be afraid Of"
Don't be silly" said Betty, scorn-
full, Il meant danger Of getting writ
sr's cramp. And. anyhow. when I've
written the story l shall take II to
some editor personally. You don't
suppose I'm frightened of an editor.
do your"
Look here" she cried, suddenly,
what will you bet that the first one
take 1t to doesn't accept it,"
looked at her Laughing face. and
imagined myself an editor. shook
my head.
"A dozen pairs of gloves" she
pleaded. "A lady editor?" bargained.
She looked at me reproachfully.
That's meant won't bet at all with
you now" She paused, and then
added. You might have won, you
know"
In any acse." I said, undisturbed,
I've plenty Of gloves"
Gloves! Why. + neednt have
bet you gloves"
What were you going to bet mel"
] said.
"Oh, we'll" She meditated awhile.
well, what do you think is worth a