Transcribe
Translate
Fantasy Magazine, v. 4, issue 4, whole no. 28, February-March 1935
Page 93
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
FANTASY improved—Astounding turned out consistently good science fiction during '34 because they paid their authors that $68.00 per month, and you can live on that if you've no family) because only practice makes perfect, and our authors aren't practicing something that promises only to starve them. So, that's the market, as it was during the past twleve months, not very incentive you'll agree. And now, the market aspect for '35. When Astounding Stories goes twice-monthly it will mean that the market for stf broadens 1 million words a year, which means that Mr. Average will increase his production total 7,000 words per year, or $6.00 per month. Add this to $68.00 and it still doesn't support a family! And here we come to that prediction. I said that science fiction authors would cross their breed with the ordinary fiction writer, and thus widen his market. I said he'd begin to write fiction that was an evolution born of the mating of science fiction and ordinary fiction. Schwartz, in his column, has been telling you of the science fiction (he calls it that) in non-stf mags. A few: Horror, Mystery, Thrilling Adventure, Secret Agent X, the anti-war mags, Agrosy, Blue Book, Spy, Battle Aces, Bruce's Squadron, Shadow, Operator 5, Pictorial Review. That's just a few. Several of the pulps are running a monthly novel which is undoubtedly stf. It deals with future wars, future spies, future menaces, etc. Well, there you are. The mutation is here. Science fiction has become no longer science fiction, but ordinary fiction. The scieuce fiction author is no longer in a class by himself, but every other author considers it a legitimate field that he can enter any time he wants to. This don't mean increased competition, as it may seem to indicate, but means that the science fiction author is accepted into the ocean of fiction, and no longer has only his particular mill pond to sell to. Therefore, his average yearly sale has increased from the measly former science fiction average to the ordinary fiction writer's average, which is fifteen stories per year, or 150,000 words production, at an average of one cent a word. True, there are many topnotchers who draw an awful lot more than that, and there an awful lot who draw less than that, but the man who writes alone, and has no other job, is able to make $1,500.00 per year at his writing. In other words, during '35, Mr. Average Science Fiction Author should find that his '34 $23, a month pittance has increased to a substantial $140, per month. I hope that you science fiction authors will be able to corroborate my prediction next year. I'm making it with as sincere a belief in its truth, as I made the one about mutation. I know that it too, is coming to pass. In fact, it's here! Opportunity is knocking at the door of 1935. If you don't write that mutation stuff, you'll have to be satisfied with the $68. a month average. So, if you supplement it with the new baby, you'll be able to make $140. I'm trying it, and I think I'll succeed. (continued on page 96)
Saving...
prev
next
FANTASY improved—Astounding turned out consistently good science fiction during '34 because they paid their authors that $68.00 per month, and you can live on that if you've no family) because only practice makes perfect, and our authors aren't practicing something that promises only to starve them. So, that's the market, as it was during the past twleve months, not very incentive you'll agree. And now, the market aspect for '35. When Astounding Stories goes twice-monthly it will mean that the market for stf broadens 1 million words a year, which means that Mr. Average will increase his production total 7,000 words per year, or $6.00 per month. Add this to $68.00 and it still doesn't support a family! And here we come to that prediction. I said that science fiction authors would cross their breed with the ordinary fiction writer, and thus widen his market. I said he'd begin to write fiction that was an evolution born of the mating of science fiction and ordinary fiction. Schwartz, in his column, has been telling you of the science fiction (he calls it that) in non-stf mags. A few: Horror, Mystery, Thrilling Adventure, Secret Agent X, the anti-war mags, Agrosy, Blue Book, Spy, Battle Aces, Bruce's Squadron, Shadow, Operator 5, Pictorial Review. That's just a few. Several of the pulps are running a monthly novel which is undoubtedly stf. It deals with future wars, future spies, future menaces, etc. Well, there you are. The mutation is here. Science fiction has become no longer science fiction, but ordinary fiction. The scieuce fiction author is no longer in a class by himself, but every other author considers it a legitimate field that he can enter any time he wants to. This don't mean increased competition, as it may seem to indicate, but means that the science fiction author is accepted into the ocean of fiction, and no longer has only his particular mill pond to sell to. Therefore, his average yearly sale has increased from the measly former science fiction average to the ordinary fiction writer's average, which is fifteen stories per year, or 150,000 words production, at an average of one cent a word. True, there are many topnotchers who draw an awful lot more than that, and there an awful lot who draw less than that, but the man who writes alone, and has no other job, is able to make $1,500.00 per year at his writing. In other words, during '35, Mr. Average Science Fiction Author should find that his '34 $23, a month pittance has increased to a substantial $140, per month. I hope that you science fiction authors will be able to corroborate my prediction next year. I'm making it with as sincere a belief in its truth, as I made the one about mutation. I know that it too, is coming to pass. In fact, it's here! Opportunity is knocking at the door of 1935. If you don't write that mutation stuff, you'll have to be satisfied with the $68. a month average. So, if you supplement it with the new baby, you'll be able to make $140. I'm trying it, and I think I'll succeed. (continued on page 96)
Hevelin Fanzines
sidebar
