remembered. Walter Scott is a classic today, while G. P. R. James, who wrote as good historical novels, is forgotten. In the present era the large percentage of famous authors uses only two names. Rupert Hughes, Thomas Burke, Arnold Bennett, John Galsworthy, Rudyard Kipling, Winston Churchill and Hall Caine are only a few examples. Of course they are master writers, but they were not handicapped by an unwieldy name. They cut off the extra tail on their literary kites and flew them a great deal higher.

Or, if the plain double name does not appeal, use an initial or two. The American public likes to use initials. It would just as soon if not rather say Thomas R. Smith as Thomas Smith. But it is awkward about saying Thomas Ridgewood Smith. Robert W. Chambers uses an initial, and to this day probably very few whose hearts have beat faster over his tales know what the "W." stands for. It simply demonstrates that initials can be used with success. E. Philips Oppenheim and F. Scott Fitzgerald, on the other hand, prefer to keep the first name dark. Well and good. The public asks for them at the bookstores; but they would ask less for Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. The writer

simply selected the combination which he thought would fit his stories, and he guessed right. His full name would look absurd at the head of a magazine story; and there is always Irvin S. Cobb.

Married women authors do not have to expose three full names, or sometimes even four, to show that they are married. The public cares very little as a rule as to whether the woman author is married or not. Dorothy Canfield Fisher dropped the Fisher, and the first two names make a much easier combination to remember.

The triple nomenclature often produces some disagreebly sounding results. There is Elizabeth Irons Fulsom, whose name always jars on me. Bonnie Worley Wright and Elizabeth Sanxa Holding always bother me ; and there are many others.

The point I want to make is that in the majority of cases the simple two-name combination or once in a while two names with an initial is just as effective as three full names when seen at the top of a story, and much easier for the public to remember and ask for; and after all, it is the public that we must consider. Harry Bird, Jr. CHICAGO, Ill.

66

Alarmists are continually pointing to the late peevishness in Europe as responsible for the great crime-wave now sweeping over the country." Perhaps we may also blame the degenerating influence of the conflict for the almost unbelievable brutality that some fiction writers allow their fiction charactors in regard to their fiction crimes. Some of the crimes committed in fiction are positively cruel. This has been the case for a long time, of course, but the matter seems to be getting worse.

In a current magazine devoted to the worst in fiction there are two violent deaths. (There may be others I did n't read further.) There is a suicide and there is a murder. In each case the throat of the departed

gentleman is found cut" from ear to ear." The best that can be said for the author is that he was a thoroughgoing person. Why was it necessary for him to go to such a length of gory sensationalism?

There should be a twentieth amendment (or is twenty the correct number? I have n't seen the morning paper) to the Constitution forbidding fiction throats being cut from one ear clear around to the other. Then, too, some philanthropist might organize a society for the prevention of cruelty to characters. Otherwise, suppose the charactors organize and strike for shorter throat-cuts and better dying conditions. Then what will writers do?

THE WRITER is published the first of every month. It will be sent, postpaid, for $1.50 a year. The price of Canadian and foreign subscriptions is $1.62, including postage.

All drafts and money orders should be made payable to the Writer Publishing Co. If local checks are sent, ten cents should be added for collection charges.

THE WRITER will be sent only to those who have paid for it in advance. Accounts cannot be opened for subscriptions, and names will not be entered on the list unless the subscription order is accompanied by a remittance.

The American News Company, of New York, and the New England News Company, of Boston, and their branches are wholesale agents for THE WRITER. It may be ordered from any newsdealer, or direct from the publishers.

The rate for advertising in THE WRITER is two dollars an inch for each insertion, with no discount for either time or space; remittance required with the order. Advertising is accepted only for two cover pages. For special position, if available, twenty per cent. advance is charged. No advertisement of less than one-half inch will be accepted. ***Contributions not used will be returned, if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.

The publication office of THE WRITER is Room 63, 244 Washington street, but all communications should be addressed:

THE WRITER PUBLISHING CO.,

P. O. Box 1905, Boston, 6, Mass.

VOL. XXXIII. NOVEMBER, 1921. No. II.

Short practical articles on topics connected with literary work are always wanted for THE WRITER. Readers of the magazine are invited to join in making it a medium of mutual help, and to contribute to it any ideas that may occur to them. The pages of THE WRITER are always open for any one who has anything helpful and practical to say. Articles should be closely condensed; the ideal length is about 1,000 words.

Many writers apparently think it is desirable to mail manuscripts unfolded, and editors often receive manuscripts of only two or three sheets, of letter-paper size, enclosed flat in an enormous envelope, usually bent and jammed

by pressure in the mail. There is no sense at all in that. Manuscripts should never be rolled, because sheets that have been rolled are hard to hold for reading, but there is no objection whatever to folding the sheets of a manuscript, and unless a manuscript is appreciably thick, or is written on note-size sheets, it is better to mail it folded than flat. Manuscripts of only a few sheets should always be mailed folded, even if they are written on note-size paper.

Many writers, also, provide themselves with manuscript envelopes of two sizes, the return envelope slightly smaller than the covering envelope, to be enclosed flat with the manuscript. It is better to use envelopes of only one size, enclosing the return envelope folded once crosswise with the flap open. There is danger that an enclosed return envelope, only slightly smaller than the covering envelope and put in flat, may be cut open when the outer envelope is opened. If the enclosed envelope is folded there is no such danger, and it is more convenient to have envelopes of only one size.

In the July WRITER was printed a small advertisement calling for short stories wanted by the Famous Clothiers of Chicago, a clothing house that publishes a magazine. The publisher of THE WRITER has received this letter dated October 21 :

From the number of manuscripts we have been receiving in the past week you have evidently reinserted the small advertisement which we originally gave you. Will you please discontinue this ad. in the future, as we have received ten enough manuscripts to last for the next

years.

The reply was that the advertisement has not been repeated and that all the manuscripts received have been sent in response to the small advertisement printed in THE WRITER for July.

A writer should never send out a manuscript closely typewritten with only single space between the lines. Such a manuscript has many of the disadvantages of a pen-written manuscript. It is not easy to read; it is not easy to edit (and there are very few

I have never liked literary prize competitions. Few winners of such competitions ever come to the front again. It does occasionally happen that a piece of good writing carries off the honors of a competition and the money. Money, as a rule, does not call out the best work in the artistic world, yet, I allow, the offer of a definite reward does sometimes crystallize the half-formed purpose of some really competent person and brings out a work of permanent value. Competitions, however, rarely bring out the best in an author, and the winner in a prize competition, even if his work is praiseworthy, very rarely repeats his success. BROOKLYN, N. Y. La Touche Hancock.

machines that is to say, the writer can see what he is writing as he goes along but none of them show exactly how near the end of the sheet he is approaching. Approximate knowledge, however, may be gained by making a light pencil mark on the edge of the paper about an inch from the bottom of the sheet before the paper is inserted in the machine, so that when it comes in sight the operator will know about how much more space on the sheet he has to use. This may help to avoid an awkward break at the bottom of a page, or the annoyance of writing a line on the roller. R. L. Ferguson.

SAN ANTONIO. Texas.

THE MANUSCRIPT MARKET.

[This information as to the present special needs of various periodicals comes directly from the editors. Particulars as to conditions of prize offers should be sought from those offering the prizes. For full addresses of periodicals mentioned, see "The Writer's Directory of Periodicals."]

The Century Magazine (New York) is always an open market for short stories of charm, distinction, and power. The editors have no preconceived notions about stories, and every story is judged in so far as the editors are able to keep that attitude — as if it were the first story ever written. Century material must have charm of style and sincerity of substance, and the editors are glad to see non-fiction material as well as fiction, and are always interested in seeing material from unknown authors. They are particularly interested in the short short story of about 3,000 words because they consider that form a challenge to good craftsmanship.

The Magazine of Fun (Chicago) especially needs three-part humorous serials of about 2,500 words. The publishers are anxious to secure different installments for "See America Thirst" (begun in the November number) from different writers in different sections of the country. The installments must follow the idea set forth in the November issue and must be entirely original. Twenty-five dollars will be paid for every

series, of not less than 1,000 words, that is accepted.

The Christian Herald (New York) is looking for a good clean American serial, of about 40,000 words, for early publication. The periodical needs at all times good short stories, not exceeding 4,500 words, and articles on economic, humanitarian, sociological, politica!, and religious problems, of from 2,000 to 3,000 words.

Pantomime (New York) wants anything unusual relating to moving pictures - especially intimate matter about stars or near-stars.

The People's Popular Monthly (Des Moines, Iowa) reaches the small town readers in the sixteen Middle West states, and especially needs a good serial, to begin in the March or April number of the magazine. The serial should be characterized by entertainment value, rather than the study or analysis of character, should have distinct suspense, and be of interest to the masculine as well as to the feminine element of readers. It must not exceed 75,000 words, and 50,000 words is the desired length. The publishers are willing to pay a very good price for this serial, provided they find what they want.

The editor of Everyday Life, a publication for country homes (337 West Madison street, Chicago), says that many young writers seem to be under the impression that their manuscripts are not carefully read by editors, and that editors want material only from writers already known. That is not the case in the office of Everyday Life, where names count for nothing and every short story submitted is judged on its merits. Lack of space is the only barrier that keeps out many good stories submitted to the magazine, and the editor finds some of his best material in the maiden efforts of young writers. In fact, he has found many of these stories so good that the magazine is "stocked up" for the next three months. The only stipulation that Everyday Life makes is that manuscripts shall not exceed 2,500 words and that they shall be typewritten.

Pearson's Magazine (New York) is using more fiction now and is in the market for stories, strange in character, but not improbable, containing from 2,000 to 3,000 words. The magazine can also use a few good poems. At present payment is made only in books.

The Survey (New York) will be known as Survey Graphic, beginning with the November number.

The Mexican Review, a monthly magazine published in Washington by George F. Weeks, has been transferred to Colonel S. G. Vagquz, and will be published hereafter at 631 South Spring street, Los Angeles. The magazine is printed in both English and Spanish, and has a circulation of about 20,000 copies monthly. Colonel Vagquz and his staff will handle all

the news and the business end of the magazine, and Mr. Weeks will continue to supply the editorials.

Complaint is made that the editor of the San Francisco News Letter has failed to reply to three letters asking for acceptance or return of a travel article sent to him last January, although postage was enclosed with each.

The Famous Clothiers (Chicago) wish THE WRITER to state that they are no longer in need of manuscripts, their wants having been fully supplied.

At the regular statutory meeting of the members of the Navy League of the United States, it was decided, for financial reasons, to discontinue furnishing Sea Power to members. The withdrawal of the Navy League support necessitates the suspension of the magazine, and the number for July was the final issue.

The Children's Magazine (Salem, Mass.) has suspended publication.

The Junior, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's juvenile supplement, and its Northwest Farm Section have been discontinued.

Motion Picture Life has temporarily suspended publication.

Hodder & Stoughton Limited, 263 Adelaide street, West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, announce an all-Canadian prize competition. For the best novel they offer a prize of $2,500, and for the best story for Canadian boys or girls a prize of $500. Competitors must be either of Canadian birth or have resided in the Dominion of Canada since January 1, 1920, intending to make a permanent residence in Canada. The novel should preferably be of life in Canada, but the author is left entirely free in the choice of time, place, and theme. Novels should contain between 75,000 and 90,000 words, while the stories for boys and girls must not exceed 60,000 words. Translations and adaptations are barred, and the manuscripts must be the original work of the competitors or of the collaborators. All manuscripts must be typewritten, on one side of the paper, and must bear on the title page

the name and address of the author. The words "Novel Competition" or "Juvenile Competition" should be written in the upper right-hand corner of the title page and on the

outside wrapper. No author may submit

more than two books in each of these competitions, and the winners must cede all rights of every kind to Hodder & Stoughton. Manuscripts must be accompanied by a form letter which will be furnished upon application, and return postage must be sent. The competition will close June 1, 1922, and the decisions will be announced in Maclean's Magazine and in the Canadian Bookman.

Life (New York) offers prizes of $500, $300, and $200 for the best title to the picture on the cover of the issue for October 27. By "best" is understood that title which most cleverly describes the situation shown in the picture. The contest will close at noon December 5, and titles should be addressed to Life's Picture Title Contest, 598 Madison avenue, New York.

The United Neighborhood Houses of New York offer three prizes of $100 each for the best one-act play, the best community pageant, and the best spring festival. No restrictions are placed on the scenes or the subject matter, but those having an elevating, constructive idea will be given the preference. The contest will close. March 1, and manuscripts should be sent by registered mail to the Arts and Festivals Committee of the United Neighborhood Houses, 70 Fifth avenue, New York.

Charles G. Blanden ("Laura Blackburn ") offers through the Bookfellows prizes of $25, $15, and $10 for the best three lyrics of not less than eight nor more than twenty-four lines, submitted by Bookfellows before January 1. Not more than one poem may be submitted by a member, and the author's name and address should be submitted separately. Manuscripts should be sent to Flora Warren Seymour, 4917 Blackstone avenue, Chicago.

The Forest Theatre Association, Carmel, California, offers a prize of one hundred dollars for an original play adapted for produc