Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-07-03

inbncoo VI MS WVrk anu ilfc as 0OC-
tor, but an interest In the realms Of
his Imagination. Perhaps that Is why
none Of the manuscripts that he had
laboriously composed and even more
laboriously typed out had been &C
cepted: He wouldn't haye dreamed
Of letting a typIst read them. Hard
enough was It for him to think that a
strange editor would have to glance
ut them. As a matter of fact they
never reached the hands of an editor.
The first paragraph glanced over by
the first reader usually consigned
them to the hands of the manuscript
clerk to return.
Doctor BritOn felt that II he could
once get to an editor who would make
careful criticism of his stories he
would find enough encouragement to
do better things.
Someone had told him once that an
appealing letter sent with a manu-
script sometimes moved a kind-heart-
ed editor to look with favor on an
otherwise unlnteresting manuscript.
II the story that was sent off the next
day was not one Of thrilling appeal
the same cannot be said of the letter
that went with it.
II am poor, struggling medical
student" he wrote, "and for that rea-
son l am especially anxious to help
pay my expenses by writing. real
lie my limitations and l have never
written for publication, but will be
most appreciative of any help or sug-
gestions you can give me-"
The doctor appeased his conscience
for this faIsehood by promising that
whatever money he did receive as
result of this letter he would double
from his own pocket and give to some
struggling medical student who might
need II.
The letter did bear fruit, although
the manuscript that went with IL came
back with the answer. This answer
was from the fiction editor of the pop
ular periodical to which the doctor
had made his appeal. He signed him
self ]. L. Barton.
II am writing to you personally"
the letter ran, mot because 1 wish to
accept the manuscript you sent or
any other manuscripts like 1t. For I
do not.
MY advice to You Is this: Find
the material and the Inspiration for |
your writing from the work you are
doing. Find II In the classroom, In |
the clinic, In the dispensary, the hos
pital. Seek the things that are really |
humorous, really pathetic. Every time |
you smile or laugh sincerely put the
reason for Il down In your notebook.
Every time you feel your heart cords |
melt remember Il, and remember why. |
Try to catch these fleeing human |
emotions as they pass and. having |
caught them and made them yours.
work to express them In writing Cor
others. And In the meantime. stop
trying to make your stories sound like
well-knownt best sellers. IL 10 the
worst and the most frequent mistake
OF young writer's. |
: "If you follow this suggestion you
may write Something we wish to buy. |
Because you are working for your edu-.
cation I shall give all your further
stories personal reading"
The doctor read this letter first with
a little resentment at the frank criti-
cism Of what to him seemed to be a
Then when he read the
letter again he realized the BUSINESS
Of 1t. 1t set him thinking. and for a
days rounds In his practice he fol-
lowed the advice and kept track of
all appealing Incidents.
One night month later he shut
himself In his study and wrote. wrote
ill after his methodical bedtime. and
when dawn came 1t found him at his
iesk going over for the second time
he manuscript which he had worked
IN through the night. The next night
he struggled through a revision and
he night after he sent II to j. T. Bar
on. A week later came the reply
md the manuscript was not with 1t.
Your story is bound TO make name
or YOU" said the editor. 81 do not
Understand how II ever emanated from
he mind Of an immature undergradu-
tie medical student" and again In the
anne letter: 1T has that simplicity
nd directness that surpasses in the
calm Of real literature all the subtle
les of mere cleverness. We are send
ng you a check for a thousand dol.
ars, our price for a story like this"
Copyright. 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-