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Vulcan, whole no. 5, January 1944
Page 5
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ARE YOU INTERESTED by Stanley Haynes Shartpen up the pencil; hunt up the ink bottle; roll a fresh sheet of paper into the Underwood! We're going to write a letter. What about----that should be easy ----everybody else and his neighbor does it! Who to ----that should be easy too----to the editor of our favorite magazine, of course! Probably as much a part of the fantasy and science-fiction magazines as the stories themselves is the readers letter department (or so a lot of readers say). This feature is not a new innovation. It was a part of ALL-STORY way back when George A. England and Edgar Rice Burroughs were turning out their earlier masterpieces. But today it is really coming into its own. The editors recognize it as a fresh impetus to reader interest in their magazine. Famous Fantastic Mysteries in its December issue devoted ten and a half pages to the "Reader's Viewpoint". Twenty-six presumed buyers got a big boost of moral from the enviable distinction of seeing their creations actually in print. Thrilling Wonder and Startling Stories don't devote quite so much precious pulp paper to their little "vox populi". Substracting the editor's comments, four or five pages would be the average estimate. Amazing Stories generally equals this, though the letters run to shorter lengths. But the admitted leader in the field of reader participation is Planet Stories. Editor Peacock goes all all out to welcome the readers to his mailbox. He sets aside twelve full pages each issue for the readers' grieves, gripes, please and praise. He conducts a contest, with original illustrations as prizes for the most interesting letters as also judged by the readers. It seems that I'm getting off the track of our discussion. We were going to write a letter. What do fans write about-------or, rather, how do they write? Take it from me, pal, don't put a chin on your shoulder, and use a sheet of asbestos to tell the editor of Super-Stupendous Stories what a bum, stinking magazine he's truing to sell the highly intelligent public. If you don't like it, don't read it! If you cry loud and long enouhgh, maybe the newsdealer will give you your dime back! I invariably read the letter section of my magazines. Its fun learning what the other fellow things. It's interesting to see how he he expresses his likes and dislikes. Some people are intelligent, too. They read easy if you get what I mean. And, to be frank, it's a pleasure to compose something of my own good enough to: 1. Get into print. 2. Swing a bit of weight in the direction of my desires. Page 5
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ARE YOU INTERESTED by Stanley Haynes Shartpen up the pencil; hunt up the ink bottle; roll a fresh sheet of paper into the Underwood! We're going to write a letter. What about----that should be easy ----everybody else and his neighbor does it! Who to ----that should be easy too----to the editor of our favorite magazine, of course! Probably as much a part of the fantasy and science-fiction magazines as the stories themselves is the readers letter department (or so a lot of readers say). This feature is not a new innovation. It was a part of ALL-STORY way back when George A. England and Edgar Rice Burroughs were turning out their earlier masterpieces. But today it is really coming into its own. The editors recognize it as a fresh impetus to reader interest in their magazine. Famous Fantastic Mysteries in its December issue devoted ten and a half pages to the "Reader's Viewpoint". Twenty-six presumed buyers got a big boost of moral from the enviable distinction of seeing their creations actually in print. Thrilling Wonder and Startling Stories don't devote quite so much precious pulp paper to their little "vox populi". Substracting the editor's comments, four or five pages would be the average estimate. Amazing Stories generally equals this, though the letters run to shorter lengths. But the admitted leader in the field of reader participation is Planet Stories. Editor Peacock goes all all out to welcome the readers to his mailbox. He sets aside twelve full pages each issue for the readers' grieves, gripes, please and praise. He conducts a contest, with original illustrations as prizes for the most interesting letters as also judged by the readers. It seems that I'm getting off the track of our discussion. We were going to write a letter. What do fans write about-------or, rather, how do they write? Take it from me, pal, don't put a chin on your shoulder, and use a sheet of asbestos to tell the editor of Super-Stupendous Stories what a bum, stinking magazine he's truing to sell the highly intelligent public. If you don't like it, don't read it! If you cry loud and long enouhgh, maybe the newsdealer will give you your dime back! I invariably read the letter section of my magazines. Its fun learning what the other fellow things. It's interesting to see how he he expresses his likes and dislikes. Some people are intelligent, too. They read easy if you get what I mean. And, to be frank, it's a pleasure to compose something of my own good enough to: 1. Get into print. 2. Swing a bit of weight in the direction of my desires. Page 5
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