Part 9 (1/2)

GOODRICH,

Akron, Ohio.

THE WRITER'S LITERARY BUREAU

(Established in 1887)

gives frank and honest advice to writers of MSS. on any subject, sells MSS. on commission, revises MSS., makes typewritten copies if desired, and directs MSS. into their proper channels--fulfils, in short, every function required between author and editor or publisher. The Writer's Literary Bureau and its work are known in every publication office in the country. In the seven years of its existence the Bureau has acquired an enviable reputation for ability, honesty, promptness, painstaking, and trustworthy judgment. It refers to editors everywhere.

The number of writers who know where to find the _best_ market for their productions is exceedingly limited. Such a knowledge implies a long and familiar acquaintance with periodical literature.

A ma.n.u.script, to be acceptable, must fit the publication to which it is offered as a glove to the hand. If it does not, the editor will decline it as ”unsuitable,” usually adding that ”this does not necessarily imply lack of merit.”

It occasionally happens that an article, otherwise acceptable, is refused because at one or two points it fails to meet requirements.

The editor seldom cares to make necessary explanations in such cases, and therefore simply ”begs leave to decline with thanks.”

It was with a view to rendering much-needed a.s.sistance to authors in marketing their ma.n.u.scripts that The Writer's Literary Bureau was organized in September, 1887, under the management of a gentleman who for many years had been connected with one of our largest publis.h.i.+ng houses. The enterprise has prospered and developed, until now the Bureau is prepared, and offers, to undertake every sort of work between author and publisher.

TO AUTHORS:

The Bureau offers to read ma.n.u.scripts and give (1) specific advice as to their disposal; (2) general advice based on the defects observed; (3) thorough grammatical and rhetorical revision; (4) one or more typewritten copies.

A charge for these services will be made as follows:--

(1.) For reading any ma.n.u.script containing not more than 2,000 words, and giving a list of the periodicals to which it is best suited, 50 cents; if the ma.n.u.script 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 ma.n.u.script.

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

(3.) For correction and revision of ma.n.u.scripts, at the rate of one dollar an hour.

(4.) For one typewriter copy of ma.n.u.script, 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 ma.n.u.script copied for less than fifty cents.

--> For reading a book ma.n.u.script 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.