Show BOYS ARE CRITICAL in writing stories tor them authors blast lie sure of facts in an interesting article on how to write stories for boys in alie writer james otis the popular juvenile writer gives an amusing illustration of the necessity of accuracy in stating facts in boys stories carelessness in stating alleged facts he says is a serious offense in alie eyes of alie boy he will forgive a scaring improbability when it is boldly labeled fiction but you deliberately insult him when you state that which he can ascertain from books of reference is absolutely incorrect this is best illustrated by an experience of mine in connection with one of my books the incorrect statement made was regarding alie depth of water at a certain point on tampa bay and I 1 gained my information from an old chart ot alie florida coast carelessly giving no heed to the fact eliat there might be a later publication bearing on the subject in less alian thirty days from the issuance of alie book four letters received from as many readers the mistake was pointed out with more or less sarcasm as to the wisdom of the author the latest coast survey had discovered that this particular portion of the bay was dry at low water and at least four boys had made themselves acquainted quain ted with chhat fact it was an error such as an older reader would have passed by unnoticed or with a smile of pity because of the authors ignorance but a boy docs not allow anything of the kind to go without rebuke and always remembers aitto the disparagement of the writer |