The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-19


found the editor? Not so that you could
see 1t microscopically. Instead, 1t is the
author who is COMPOUNDED.
For the editor. calmly acknowledging
that the diary is correct, says: oh,
yes, my good sir, it is true we have de-
waited, quite true. A short time ago
we changed our policy. Until further
notice we shall take a different style OF
story. OF course. we're liable to change
our policy again
How are you going to keep tabs on
such shifts? You never can get 'em.
When 1t comes to rejecting. why con-
sistency is sewn in the editors sack
and thrown overheard And you've no
chance to indict the editor for the
murder
Every now and then a newspaper
man interviews a magazine editor and
the editor says there's a dearth Of short
stories. Almost that very minute he
may have turned down a story that an
unprej JUDGED jury would say was as
presentable as any in his last months
issue. Well, you may say, If It's only as
presentable the editor may have many
just as good stories on hand. But. do
you know that some of the magazines
have a regular staff of writers. who
write one story in one issue under their
own name ana one or TWO more stories
In the same issue over assumed names?
May seem odd, but so 1t is. Now. Is the
public getting a fair chance at diversi-
| fled story writing talent when n story
| is rejected because there's as good-and
| only just as good-a story to be printed
| over n fictitious name?
| hundreds and hundreds OF stories
are rejected for no good reason at all so
far as merit goes. but solely In order
that the staff writers of the magazines
| under assumed names may be kept in
clustered allegiance. But the real rea-
son for rejection would not be made
known If asked Get it out of your
head that the magazine editor is always
giving the best he can to his public.
He's giving to the pubic the best that
can DC suppneu aiter an employment
poilcy is carried OUT ana MS Nkes ana
uisi'hes nave hau their SWING
| There are number of magazine
editors who are very greatly influenced
by the boosting of certain authors by
designing circle of friends who might
truthfully be styled touters. as well as
| press agents. Some Of the editors don't
| think they are being influenced. They
pride themselves on their neutrality
! But after they have heard several OF
their acquaintance praise writer they
warm toward him. a story submitted
| by this writer Is often accepted just the
same as story by writer OF reputa-
ton. on the theory that II must be good
even though 1t is not obvious that 1t
is good.
THE proper kind Of editor can safely
take it for granted that among the hum
dreds and hundreds OF manuscripts SUD
mitted every month there are at least
two or three by unknown writers that
are worthy OF printing An editor ough,
10 MAKE II RUE tilat nv WIN pii"s
them' ION ten men VINO nave redu
thousands oi stories t.at lileie are nv
wv" Ut ui'ree rom u.Niio""S '"a' 81
soou' lhev kho" oet'er'
"The trouble Is the editor is haunted
by the fear that the public won't IKE
story by a man without reputation.
Why, how does anybody know the per-
ccntaGe of readers who read story al
ways because OF the author Inc rise
of new authors shows that the public
reads and reads with pleasure the crea-
tons of men and women never heard OF
in the world of fiction before OUTSIDE
of score of the best known notion
writer's, does the public recognize the
hundreds of other authors as II reauS
their stories?
"One of the toughest things the I'M
known author has to face in attempting
to sell his manuscript is the set way IN
which editors regard the topic ana con
, struction of stories. It's the same as II
the editor liked To wear spats ana dluh
, see anything in any man VINO dldh
like spats' 10 most eu''oIS t''lr u
style that must accompany we "a'''n,nI
of story III you uoh io',ow tha'
style your story can DE soou s'ofs'
at may have the material of a good
, story, but it hasn't been handled IN the
right way And this right way, does
/, the public like 1t? or coursesthe pubh'
likes it his way. every magazine Gator
, will tell you. There's a fashion IN
, handling tales. Keep in tashion-s'
much opening atmosphere, so ml'H
characterization. so much narrative
Keep within the editors proportions OF
right at the opening sentence IT'S al
up with you.
And don't try to handle fundamen'
, tails in fiCtion-thats too like the mas
tsrs. Deal only in phases, odd phases
: of latter day likely happenings Aho