May Sinclair, Hugh Walpole, Margaret Kennedy (of that Constant Nymph whose most constant admirer I venture to proclaim myself), Elinor Wylie

But why go on? Nothing is to be proved by lists. As I have suggested that perhaps the people who have been newspapermen might well have been more competent writers without that training, so it might be answered that all of these authors ungraced by journal ism might be greater if they had had newspaper training. And I am quite sure that some newspaper proponent will remind me that of the people in this list, Rebecca West has been a journalist in the sense that her

reviews of fiction for the English weeklies;
were for many years her chief occupation.
Lists-absurd! But I wish I might add
one (only it would be too treacherously un-
kind) of the men and women who are "doing
pretty fairly well" as star authors of cheap
magazines, and who might, without the
glibness of newspaper experience, be doing
gloriously; of the forlorn hacks who every
year or two try to break away from the city
desk and to write honestly, but who find, in
their lonely shacks, that they can do nothing
without the admonitory voice of the editor.
So!
Sinclair Lewis.

IRVIN S. COBB'S SIX POINTS

I think highly of it for these reasons: (1) It teaches the beginner promptness.. (2) It teaches the beginner to marshal his facts in their proper sequence.

(4) It strengthens the powers of observa

tion.

(5) It is good mental discipline.
(6) It gives facility with the tools of the

(3) It gives facility in acquiring local writing world. color.

Irvin S. Cobb.

GOOD FOR A TIME-FLOYD DELL

I think newspaper work is very good training for a fiction writer, but it should not last too long, as after a time it seems to have an effect of creating timidity, by giving the newspaper writer an exaggerated sense of the gulf between his accustomed kind of writing and fiction. He comes to respect fiction too much to be at ease in writing it. Also, to

subordinate one's will and taste for too long a time to that of an editor is bad training for a fiction writer. But this is a case of having too much of a good thing. A few years of newspaper training is the best thing in the world for an ambitious and energetic young writer.

Floyd Dell.

ZOLA AND DICKENS WERE GLORIFIED REPORTERS ARCHIE BELL

I consider newspaper training the best training for the writer of fiction, likewise for the playwright. Note the case of two great novelists of the recent past: Emile Zola and Charles Dickens. What were they in the last analysis but glorified reporters? They wrote down either what they had seen, or what any of us might have seen, and did it with the clarity of vision and minute observation that the newspaper reporter should strive to

develop exactly what he does strive to attain if properly guided by his city editor, I believe there is no profession that brings a man or woman into such close contact with varying human nature, at the same time prompting the eternal question, "How could I best convey what I have seen to others by means of the written word?"

Archie Bell.

INTOXICATING ARTHUR STRINGER

My conviction is that newspaper work, and by this I refer particularly to metropolitan newspaper work, stands one of the most valuable aids for fiction writing. It gives contacts, stimulating contacts, with actuality. But, like other intoxicants, it should be used

sparingly. Two years in journalistic harness
is good training; three years of it is a peril.
Its greatest danger is that it gives scant time
for meditation, and it is out of meditation.
that the mightier things of the pen are
evolved.
Arthur Stringer.

EVERY MAN SHOULD DO IT-WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE

I believe that newspaper experience is good for any writer. It teaches him brevity, which to my notion is the soul of style. Heaven knows, I have n't any style, but at least newspaper writing makes for clarity,

and that is something. Anyway, I believe it is a good scheme for every man to work on a newspaper once in his life, no matter what he does afterward.

PETER B. KYNE PREFERS LUMBER AND SHIPPING

I have no decided opinion to express regarding the value of newspaper work as a training for fiction writers; in fact, I think that it would not be any more conducive to good fiction writing than training in a lumber and shipping office, as I was trained, or in a garage, or a department store, or anywhere else. The people who write are the

W. A. White.

people who have a peculiar faculty for ob-
serving life and for seeing the comedy and
tragedy which are not apparent to other
people. Added to this gift, they have the
ability to express themselves in graceful,
simple language, and that is what makes a
writer.
Peter B. Kyne.

NOT MUCH HELP IN FICTION

I feel that newspaper work by its many and varied contacts gives a young writer much material which would be difficult to get in any other way. I do not think it helps him to learn to write fiction, though it does

TH

SOPHIE KERR

give some valuable training in writing special
articles.
Sophie Kerr Underwood.
[Next month Albert Payson Terhune, Ben
Ames Williams, and others will continue the
discussion.]

The Manuscript Market

HIS 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. Before submitting manuscripts to any periodical, writers should examine a copy of the magazine in question.]

HARPER'S MAGAZINE-49 East Thirty-third street, New York, which observed its seventy-fifth anniversary with its September issue, seeks articles

on particular subjects only from those who devote themselves almost exclusively to those subjects or fields of investigation, so that about the only - 171 K

West Forty-ninth street, New York, is in the market
for short sketches or storiettes, not exceeding
2,000 words, for which it will pay, on publication,
at the rate of one-half cent a word. The magazine
also offers a prize of twenty-five dollars for the
best amateur photograph on any subject sub-
mitted by November 15. The photograph must be
on glossy paper, and conform to 5 by 7 inches.
THE HOUSE FURNISHING REVIEW-71 Murray
street, New York, which circulates among re-
tailers, buyers, and manufacturers, needs non-
fiction material. The magazine aims to present
human-interest stories, success tales, latest meth-
ods of merchandising and salesmanship, inter-
views with active men in the field, expositions of
the latest developments, and historical back-
ground all written with vitality, freshness, and
completeness. Length limit should be from 500 to
2,000 words, and as many illustrations as are
consistent should accompany each article. Pay-
ment will be made between acceptance and pub-
lication, at rates up to one cent a word. Contribu-
tors who can supply usable, live articles month
after month are especially wanted.
FAWCETT'S MAGAZINE Robbinsdale, Minn.,
wants some third-person sport stories, with lots of
action and with unusual sports situations, and
some keen detective fiction. Manuscripts should
not exceed 6,000 words. The magazine also wants
biographical success stories-unusual experiences
of picturesque men and women, accompanied by
photographs, stories giving striking, intimate
facts, not exceeding 1,500 words. Prompt deci-
sions are given, and payment, at the rate of from
two to four cents a word, is made on acceptance.
THE NEW YORKER-25 West Forty-fifth street, New
York, wants the best short, light, and serious
verse that it can get; clever couplets and quatrians
on current affairs are particularly wanted, as well
as short satirical or semi-humorous bits of prose-
anything from epigrams to 300-word articles.
The magazine is still very much in the market for
pictures and for picture ideas, with captions and
dialogues, all with plausible situations; also plots
and scenarios for series drawings in page and
double-page space. The editor is looking now for
things on fall and winter subjects, material with
smart backgrounds-Fifth avenue and its shops,
the drawing room, the dining room, the theatre,
the opera, the concert hall, and so on.

STORIES-Philadelphia, writes that he has received a letter from a reader in Kentucky, who complains that he sent ten dollars and three manuscripts to one Boris Nariskene, who represented that as associate editor of Brief Stories he had a large, though exclusive, class of students, and is very much dissatisfied with the results. Mr. Kofoed explains that the young man named served for a short time as one of the editoral Readers for Brief Stories, but is no longer connected with the magazine, and his present whereabouts are unknown. Mr. Kofoed says that one or two cases like that of his Kentucky correspondent have come to his attention, and he expresses his regret and resentment because the name of his magazine was used to win the confidence of writers.

THE NORMAL INSTRUCTUR AND PRIMARY PLANS514 Cutler Building, Rochester, N. Y., invites writers having public school teaching experience to submit educational articles describing unusual public school work that they have observed while visiting primary schools taught by successful primary teachers, using original ideas in harmony with the best pedagogical principles. The magazine pays one cent a word, on acceptance.

THE AUTOMOTIVE DAILY NEWS-25 City Hall place, New York, wants feature stories concerning the automobile and allied industries. Stories should be built around a central idea, and should be accompanied by photographs, giving names and addresses of firms. The newer the idea, the better. The paper is planning to run regular features, such as the history of automotive plants, starting from the early days and depicting their romance, struggle, and success; "My Opinion Is"; "If I Were Boss"; "Do You Know That"; "My Favorite Story"; "I Remember When"; "The Quickest Sale I Ever Made"; and similar topics. Payment is made at the rate of five dollars for a tabloid column of fourteen and one-half inches. Stock photographs which writers secure without expense will be paid for at regular space rates; for special photographs that have to be taken three dollars each will be paid.

THE INDEPENDENT-9 Arlington street, Boston, is in the market for very little material, excepting for manuscripts on significant topics of national or international interest, connected, if possible, with the news of the day. Manuscripts of this nature should contain from 1,500 to 2,000 words. - 173

W. H. KOFOED, editor and publisher of BRIEF

Prize Offers and Awards

- 174