Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
Literary Unknowns
Continued from page 10


a manuscript upon which they have passed a
favorable criticism; but they want me to help
pay for publishing it. Is this customary with
most publishers? How would l be likely to
come out proposition of this kind? What
is the average cost of publishing small book"
Ohio is political rather than literary; but
politics will not entirely eradicate the itch
This Buckeye has it in its worst form, poetry
Please kindly tell me where | can find a
ready sale for my poems. Is there any person
or company to whom can sell them! Sunday
Magazines does not want any more poetry. If
some syndicate or person will have it published,
| will send one piece free-with the understand
ing of course, that my name is to be used. This
is to advertise my work 1t is good That
may read very funny. Of course, | wouldn't
say otherwise. Please do the best you can for
me. p. S. Many of my poems won't make
songs but are nevertheless good p. S. again.
Also tell me who will take diary story, full of
funny happenings"
Alabama's literary output is small or at
least the number of its outputters is not large;
but the disease has made its appearance there.
Evidently it has been handicapped by the fear
of the law. The writer inquiries:
Is it against the law anyway to make and
sell pictures, illustrations and such like, to
write stories, songs and such like and sell, or
does anyone have to have license or anything
that wav."
Suspicious of Syndicates
ANOTHER Ohioan comes to the front with
this
Tell me what story syndicate is and where
to find one Will they accept poems and
is their rate of payment? Can any of these
companies be trusted to do the fair thing?"
Nebraska has not taken up much room in the
literary field, owing to other duties; but
change may be expected. An applicant for
part of the vacancy writes:
8 have tried my hand at writing story
and would like to know where to send it to have
it published
There are more in Indiana than that prolific
State has contributed to the notice of the world.
Here is something from one yet unknown:
Il have written a story, not quite
pleted. will consist of q think about IL chap
tiers if not more. This is my first as you may
well know and believe it will be success if |
can ever get it published but the great difficulty
is do not know just how to go at this. | want
to sell the book entirely that is my right Will
/ have to obtain right from congress- or can
l simply sell the book without it costing me
anything! l suppose | must have it printed
Whom could write to that you think would
buy? About what price does one generally
give for book as l have described"
Mississippi may yet have a position in the
literary belt proud that she now occupies
in the cotton belt, if the publishers are willing
Listen to this eager soul:
"Wil you be SO kind as to give me informa-
ton for writeng book? Must the writeing be
on lineless paper9 Must every page have title
OF book or subject OF chapter on 1t, or on the
paper which it is wrote? Is my writeing plain
enough Will they print my first book in book
form or in monthly papers? If SO state circum-
stances. My book will be titled Stella Hope, or
Welded by Fate. p S. Please state exactly
what kind of paper to write on, and where to
order it from. if my writeing ism plain enough
| have Sister writes plain hand & will write
for me with pleasure"
And Down in Arkansas
A RkANSAS is another one of the backward
literary States; but the itch is working down
that way. Hear this:
Please tell whether you write with a
pen and ink or pencil when you write story
and a person write on both sides of the
sheet, friend of mine wrote a short story.
She said she did not know how to send it off to
some newspaper publisher. Please tell me if
you know a publisher that would buy short
story and about how much would he pay?"
Here is another one no better than the Arkan-
sas seeker, and this one comes from man in
New Hampshire. He writes:
Can any one make money by writeing origi-
nal, Wit and, Humor, for newspapers ETC.
And should each one be written a seperate
paper"
Finally and pathetically comes this faint lit
tie inquiry from unliterary Idaho:
Please tell me how l may become writer
like Mary j. Holiness"