The New York herald., 1922-03-05
OPPENHEIM TELLS
HOW HE WRITES EN-
Novelist, Guest at L0tos\ Club,
Reveals Secrets Of Prolific
ness in Authorship.
ONLY A SCORE OF PLOTS
But 365 Stories a Year Are
Possible-Instinct Essential
and Synopsis Useless.

Z. Phillips Oppenheim. novelist. who
binding plots have fascinated readers
of both hemispheres. was the guest
last night of the Lotos Club. Apprais-
ing that distinction in his own way,
Mr.. Oppenheim said the Lotos Club was
an institution unlike any other
1T Is a sort OF mixture" he said, of
the Atheneum, the Savage and Gar
rick clubs. and inspired with the best
feeling OF each. To have been a guest
is TO haye acquired a unique distinc-
ton which nothing can take away.
which no i'll fortune or Ill adventure can
disturb. l appreciate it. believe me,
from the bottom of my heart"
The author of THE Great lmpersona-
ton" and of ever so many other tales
Of international intrigue and action was
toasted and lauded by Chester $. Lord
president of the Lotos. by Charles W.
Price. it's secretary, and by bevy OF
others of the illuminate of literature and
law, among whom were Robert II. Da-
Wis, Judge Alfred J. Talley and Lyn
Harding.
Mr.. Oppenheim-"Major" Oppenheim
he was during the world war-prefaced
his speech with an allusion to the decla-
mixture of alcohol and flattery."
THE alcohol just now" he said, Il al
lude to with a certain amount OF re-
serve. The flattery / feel that l have
already received by your presence here
this evening and the friendly allusions
of your chairman"
The Work OF story Writing.
Speaking in more serious vein. the
novelist yielded to the desire Of his
hearers for more intimate knowledge
of his work and how he does It.
ut Is my conviction" he said. that
story writing is an original instinct
just as 1t is an original instinct with
a sporting dog to sniff about In every
bush he passes for rabbit. Original
instincts. of course may be largely
multiplied. such as your president. Mr..
Chester s. Lord, searching the bill of
fare each time he picks 1t UP for terra
pin, or Charley Price when he is asked
out to luncheon wondering whether
there is cocktail in 1t. These are all
original instincts.
'One writes stories because IL one
left them in the brain one would be
subject to a sort of mental indigestion.
But why so many?' even my friends
sometimes ask me. why turn your
self into n fiction producing factory?
some little less kindly disposed de-
mand ! can only reply because the
material is always there and the desire
to use il always exists"
BY way of illustration. Mr. Open
helm spoke of the wonderful view from
the windows of his English home, "a
giant cliff of deep red sandstone rising
from the sea-" adding: II have looked
out at that cliff some three hundred
mornings during the year and l never
have seen it look exactly the same"
Or again. one may take the same
walk through the same streets every
day in the year and yet meet a differ
ent crowd OF people with different ex-
pressions. carrying In their faces. in
the suggestion of their presence and
carriage, different story"
1T is perhaps somewhat crudely put.
but here. ailegorically speaking. lie the
background and Characterization of
365 stories a year. And as to plots.
there are only about a score In the
world. and when you have used them
all from A to Zed you can turn around
and use them from Zed to A.
Praise Instead OF Birching.
80 now. gentlemen. have tried 70
tell you the secret OF prolific fiction
writing. / wrote my first story at
llILeer. ana tHere IS present IN ,hlS
room a son of my old headmaster to
whom i showed the manuscript year
later. and who. instead OF giving me
the birching J deserved. wished me
luck and encouraged me to persevere.
At 55 years Old I am hard at work
upon another. Even II, like one Of the
heroes of fiction. ! should make
million dollars out OF ten cent piece
In Wall Street. / should still continue
to write stories so long as I can cit
in an easy chair and my voice will
carry as far as my secretary before
a typewriter. This is very terrible
threat gentlemen, to launch 20 you
who have received me sc kindly
..,fa-.- -x~n!o hc.o n.t.zI