The sun., 1909-05-23
REJECTED MANUSCRIPTS.
Further Remarks on the Short story That
Comes Home TO Roost.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir: The
article in THE Sun OF last Sunday on Sell
ing the Short Story" and the letters 1t has
brought forth are most interesting to those
bitten BY the writing bug. but doubt.
after all have had their say, whether we
shall be any nearer kno wing what the inasa-
zine editors want or whether we shall know
II they know what they want.
The other afternoon met man who has
been writing short stories for a livelihood
for good many years. His name is to BE-
found nearly every month In Ahe table OF
contents OF one or more OF the magazines.
from the best on down the scale. doubt.
however, II his income from his writings
exceeds 5000 a year. He declares his lie
has been ruined because once, long ago,
magazine accepted and published a story
he wrote.
That was a corkins story OF yours In the
March H. said to him, mentioning
one OF the highest class magazines pub
lished. His story was featured and illus
trated with colored plates by famous
artist.
Huh! I hawked that story all around
New York for a year, he said disgustedly.
and H. were in doubt about It for
long time before they finally accepted it.
The magazine editors don't know what
they want"
That's what they all say" to use slang
expression popular at the nioment-not
only those who have been writing for the
magazines for years. but those who have
not yet enjoyed that delicious thrill that
comes from seeing ones name in large caps
over the product Of his brain In magazine.
Here Is another experience:
A friend OF mine sent short story to
popular magazine and in due time 1t came
back from the editor with very nice letter
informing him that the atmosphere was
good and the story well written. but that
| it was too sketchy."
Some time after 1t was returned the pro.
prietor OF this magazine said to the editor:
Il picked up a story manning III that
found on your desk while you were out the
other day and got 80 interested In 1t that
read it WSsi !Ss99H6 S6 Thai a. sb a' hs kind
The editor told him, he had returned It. as
t he re ports Of the readers were unfavorable:
BY the time the a.th9r beard ef ths he hasd bad
| 1t he'd no woman character and no love
t. e. dss and ws hs Pbhtsf Pehs rs.es Sa s
Of this, magazine 10 a wom.n. Therein
probably lies the answer,
The story the writer thinks is the best
he ever wrote was returned eighteen times
before IL finally landed" Another, very
successful young writer ! know had one
| story rejected thirty-four times before it
paying and most successful short story
ma gaines published. After. il had been
accepted he told the editor Of his discourag-
"kI df''t don't care Il il has been turned down
thousand tines. the editor. told him;
7 know i is good story and am going
Now all these rejectiops in the two cases
that the stories were submitted to the wrong
maeahines In the first place. Both were
handled by experienced brokers who are not
zines 10 which they are not suited; Besides.
both writer's have wide experience With
magazines and a wide acquaintance with
Bos. 4 ssss as or the ..s ssy Sc
The trouble is, most magazines are kov-
erned ID the choice Of fiction to large
extent by the decisions Of q rare race OF
Most Of these readers are disappointed au-
thors. II the writer turns out stories some
what close to the sell f.constituted stsndaras
II he doesn I. and tries to be original. there
is mighty little hope for him.
The assertion Of Free Lance IN ysster,
days Sun that good mags1ine hack can can
with original i'd sas comes nearer hitting the
ject yet. The hacks write to order, They
ins it out in the way the magazine editor
has to do with the so-called special articles
or features which the magazines play up
Any one Is very foolish to try. to make .
living writing short stories, or 70 feel crusnea
when his story comes back with releotlon
desire, but stick to the other JOB 80 that
stamps. EXPERIENCED.