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Show NOVEL-WRITING INDUSTRY. Over 200 Published Recently; 5000 Declined De-clined by Publishers. There were more than 200 new novels nov-els published in the United States during dur-ing the fall. There have been perhaps 5,000 written that the publishers have declined. The phenomenal success of a few writers of fiction duing the last few years some masters of their craft and some mere stage carpenters who set up spectacular scenes has had the effect of making novel writing appear to be an industry. Few persons used to make it a business; for, regarded as an industry, it did not pay for the la- ' bor it required. But now it is regarded by many as a way to fortune. Lonely women, disappointed teachers, impecunious impe-cunious preachers these, but not these only, try their hands at it. You never know whom to suspect. Your physician, physi-cian, even your broker, men in public life, ladies in society your own grandmother or your own granddaughter grand-daughter for all you know all these have taken to the secret practice of the craft. For instance, one publishing house which does not publish many novels has within a given period received re-ceived 800 volunteered book manuscripts, manu-scripts, of which 650 were novels. Of these, four were accepted for publication. publica-tion. A few such facts as these indicate indi-cate the extent of the delusion about the profits of the industry. "Father," said a boy of 14 the other day, "I want you to buy 'me a copy of the 'Century War-Book.' I'm going to write a novel of the civil war." There are other books that the world wants more than it wants novels histories, biographies, social studies, adventures. These seldom yield sudden fortunes. But there have been men who have made very considerable incomes as historians and biographers. Their Incomes have as often come to their children as to themselves; but almost every important historical work haa brought a fair reward at last. As a gainful Industry novel writing is not worth the labor it costs. As an art It Is one of the noblest and most difficult and only those who regard It as a great art have any right to undertake It The World's Work. |