Chapter 10

(1.) For reading any manuscript containing not more than 2,000 words, and giving a list of the periodicals to which it is best suited, 50 cents; if the manuscript contains more than 2,000 words, 25 cents additional for each additional thousand words or fraction thereof will be charged; each short poem is regarded as a separate manuscript.

(2.) For a letter of general advice, 50 cents, _in addition to the fee for reading_.

(3.) For correction and revision of manuscripts, at the rate of one dollar an hour.

(4.) For one typewriter copy of manuscript, at the rate of six cents a hundred words; for each other copy, two cents a hundred words. For dialect, or poetry, or other work of unusual difficulty, ten cents a hundred words. No manuscript copied for less than fifty cents.

--> For reading a book manuscript containing more than 40,000 words, and less than 100,000 words, and giving a list of publishers and a general letter of advice, the fee is ten dollars, in advance.

The payment for service (1) is essential _in the case of every manuscript sent_, but the selection of services (2), (3), and (4) is optional with the sender. _In other words, no manuscript sent to the Bureau for any purpose whatever will be examined unless the manuscript is accompanied by the fee for reading._ Services (2) and (4) will not be performed without the fees in hand.

In addition, postage should be enclosed for return of the manuscript to the author. If the author so directs, _and encloses double postage_, the Bureau will send the manuscript to the publisher most likely to buy it, with directions if the manuscript is declined to return it to the author. In either case, a list of periodicals to which it is best suited will be sent to the author direct.

TO PUBLISHERS:

The Bureau offers a great variety of manuscripts, especially in the line of fiction. The Bureau not only has very many manuscripts constantly going through its hands, but is in connection with skilled writers in all lines, and can secure manuscripts of any sort at short notice.

MSS. SOLD ON COMMISSION.

In consequence of many urgent requests, the Bureau has opened a commission department, and will undertake the sale of manuscripts, when desired, on the following terms: Every manuscript must be submitted in the regular way, and accompanied by the fees for reading. If the author wishes the Bureau to act as selling agent, and the manuscript is found to be worth work in that line, the author will be required to make a postage deposit of an amount sufficient to pay the cost of mailing the manuscript to and from six or seven publishers, with an additional charge of ten cents for each time that the manuscript is sent out, to cover expense of registration, stationery, etc. When the manuscript is sold, any unexpended balance of the postage deposit will be returned to the author, together with 75 per cent. of the amount received from the publisher, the Bureau retaining 25 per cent. as its commission. The Bureau will not assume responsibility for loss or damage during handling or transmission of manuscripts, or for the failure of publishers to make payment, but every precaution will be taken to prevent loss. Address:--

THE WRITER'S LITERARY BUREAU, 282 Washington st. (Rooms 9 and 10), P. O. Box 1905. Boston, Mass.

WRITING FOR THE PRESS:

=A Manual for Editors, Reporters, Correspondents, and Printers.= By ROBERT LUCE. Fourth edition (seventh thousand); revised and greatly enlarged. 96 pp. Cloth, $1.00.

"Writing for the Press" is a practical handbook of the art of newspaper writing, written by a practical newspaper man. There is no "padding" in it; almost every line contains a useful hint or suggestion about the proper preparation of newspaper "copy," and a wonderful amount of information of use to writers is crowded into its carefully-written pages. The work is the result of the practical experience of the author as desk editor on the _Boston Globe_, and was written in the main from notes made while handling MS. there and elsewhere.

Four editions of "Writing for the Press" have been required. For each edition the work has been revised and enlarged, so that it has grown from forty-two to ninety-six pages,--yet, it is believed, without the addition of a useless sentence. New matter has been added partly to make the book more useful to newspaper writers, and partly to bring within its scope all other writers. Therefore, those who bought copies of earlier editions will find it desirable to buy copies of the fourth edition as well.

That literary workers of every class will find "Writing for the Press" exceedingly helpful, both for study and for reference, is shown by these subject-headings: The Preparation of Copy; How to Write Clearly; Grammar, Good and Bad; Use and Misuse of Common Words and Phrases (with several hundred examples); Mixed Metaphors; Slang; The Use of Titles; Puzzling Plurals; Condensation; Points on Proof-reading; Addressing Editors; Getting into Print, etc. The book is one that every writer should keep upon his desk for constant reference and study.

Newspaper editors, who are naturally the best judges of the value of such a work, all commend Mr. Luce's book. For instance, the _Boston Advertiser_ says of it: "It is a remarkably compact and useful little manual, full of the wisest and most practical suggestions in regard to the mechanical requirements for the proper preparation of manuscript; the right use of doubtful and frequently misused words; punctuation; matters of style; and errors of arrangement." The _Critic_ says: "It is full of sound advice and practical suggestions."

Quantities of the book have been bought by the managers of leading daily newspapers for distribution among their editors, reporters, and correspondents,--among others by the _Boston Herald_, _Globe_, _Journal_, and _Transcript_, the _New York World_, and the _Chicago News_. Special rates will be made to newspaper managers on quantities for distribution in this way.

The new edition of "Writing for the Press" is handsomely bound in cloth, and will be sent, post-paid, on receipt of price, ONE DOLLAR. Address:--

THE WRITER PUBLISHING CO., P. O. Box 1905, Boston, Mass.

Transcriber's Note:

Unmatched quotation marks in the first paragraph on Page 117, beginning with--"The method of Buckle,"--have been left as they appear in the original publication.

Hyphenation too has been retained as in the original publication.

Changes have been made as follows:

Page 10

Such was the little feathery wand, _changed to_ "Such was the little feathery wand,

Page 39

Influence Upon Writers _changed to_ Influence upon Writers

Page 51

Writing Under Difficulties _changed to_ Writing under Difficulties

Page 56

Cette puissance de concen tration _changed to_ Cette puissance de concentration

Page 63

solved by Jean Jaques. His strength was not _changed to_ solved by Jean Jacques. His strength was not

Page 64

without using paunce or blotting-paper, to blot _changed to_ without using pounce or blotting-paper, to blot

Page 95

accustomed as a journalist There was so _changed to_ accustomed as a journalist. There was so

Page 112

Berlin newpapers, has to struggle hard at first _changed to_ Berlin newspapers, has to struggle hard at first

Page 120

musing, he has come to the detemination that _changed to_ musing, he has come to the determination that

Page 126

Abbotsford, observing how his host was harrassed _changed to_ Abbotsford, observing how his host was harassed