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Fantascience Digest, v. 3, issue 3, whole no. 15, November-December 1941
Page 16
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Page 16 support him so long as he puts on a good show, pays all the bills, and doesn't step on our toes.) Harry Jenkins writes us to the effect that he's thinking of coming to live in New York when he sells a story or so. Which brings up one subject your columnist wants to get off his chest. It's this: any fans who think they can sell one story then come to New York and make a nice living as a writer had better change their minds. Because unless you have a lot to live on, that is, enough to keep you going, without a cent of income, for at least one full year, then it's going to be tough with a capital T! The chances are that you'll wind up running an elevator. Because unless you have plenty on the ball (are so terrific that Campbell, Malcolm Reiss, Norton, and others grab your stuff as soon as it comes off the typewriter) plus plenty of sheer luck, you won't make a living writing. Not in the stf-fantasy field. And probably not in any other. Not until you've spent long weary hours getting the knack of it. Two Futurians have managed to make out this way, yes. Doc Lowndes managed to keep alive during those first twelve months or so because (a) he had strong friends, who were willing and able to loan him money over long periods, and (b) because same friends were able to get a cooperative apartment, which put individual living costs way down. Damon Knight is making out because his parents send him the werewithal regularly. Eventually, Damon will be earning enough so that this won't be necessary, but it will be a long time -- and brother Knight has what it takes, too. There is an opportunity in New York, now, for capable and I mean capable cartoonists. The comic book business is still booming, and replacements are needed constantly, due to the draft net. But that is something else, and has little to do with stf. Our advice is: don't come to New York unless you can hold out, on your own for a year, and can take it. Congratulations are due someone at Standard for the cover on the December 1941 issue of THRILLING WONDER. That makes two for this year which have been outstanding -- one more was good, we thought. (The 2d outstanding one was for February and the good one for June.) By the way, they've changed matters again in regard to their feature novels. Now the lead story is to be 20,000 words, which will permit them to use 10,000 word novelets in addition to the usual run of short tales. And, we're not positive when this will happen, it looks as if Jack Williamson's "Alien Intelligence" is going to be reprinted in one of their books: this, you may recall, ran as a two-part serial in the July and August 1929 issues of SCIENCE WONDER. Which is all until next FANTASCIENCE DIGEST. ----- Quest I probe the Earth afar, I search the heavens O'er Yet, find I not Her whom I seek On all the Cosmic shore. - Stan Bachrach -----
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Page 16 support him so long as he puts on a good show, pays all the bills, and doesn't step on our toes.) Harry Jenkins writes us to the effect that he's thinking of coming to live in New York when he sells a story or so. Which brings up one subject your columnist wants to get off his chest. It's this: any fans who think they can sell one story then come to New York and make a nice living as a writer had better change their minds. Because unless you have a lot to live on, that is, enough to keep you going, without a cent of income, for at least one full year, then it's going to be tough with a capital T! The chances are that you'll wind up running an elevator. Because unless you have plenty on the ball (are so terrific that Campbell, Malcolm Reiss, Norton, and others grab your stuff as soon as it comes off the typewriter) plus plenty of sheer luck, you won't make a living writing. Not in the stf-fantasy field. And probably not in any other. Not until you've spent long weary hours getting the knack of it. Two Futurians have managed to make out this way, yes. Doc Lowndes managed to keep alive during those first twelve months or so because (a) he had strong friends, who were willing and able to loan him money over long periods, and (b) because same friends were able to get a cooperative apartment, which put individual living costs way down. Damon Knight is making out because his parents send him the werewithal regularly. Eventually, Damon will be earning enough so that this won't be necessary, but it will be a long time -- and brother Knight has what it takes, too. There is an opportunity in New York, now, for capable and I mean capable cartoonists. The comic book business is still booming, and replacements are needed constantly, due to the draft net. But that is something else, and has little to do with stf. Our advice is: don't come to New York unless you can hold out, on your own for a year, and can take it. Congratulations are due someone at Standard for the cover on the December 1941 issue of THRILLING WONDER. That makes two for this year which have been outstanding -- one more was good, we thought. (The 2d outstanding one was for February and the good one for June.) By the way, they've changed matters again in regard to their feature novels. Now the lead story is to be 20,000 words, which will permit them to use 10,000 word novelets in addition to the usual run of short tales. And, we're not positive when this will happen, it looks as if Jack Williamson's "Alien Intelligence" is going to be reprinted in one of their books: this, you may recall, ran as a two-part serial in the July and August 1929 issues of SCIENCE WONDER. Which is all until next FANTASCIENCE DIGEST. ----- Quest I probe the Earth afar, I search the heavens O'er Yet, find I not Her whom I seek On all the Cosmic shore. - Stan Bachrach -----
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