Edwards counts it a high honor that, in half a dozen editorial offices, his copy has been called "copperplate." "I always like to see one of your manuscripts come in," said Mr. White, of _The Argosy_. "Here's another of Edwards' stories," said Mr. Harriman of _The Red Book_,[C] "send it to the composing room just as it is." Such a condition of affairs certainly is worth striving for.
As a rule the young writer does not give this matter of neatness of manuscript the proper attention. Is he careful to count the letters and spaces in his story title and figure to place the title in the exact middle of the page? It is not difficult.
When a line is drawn between title, writer's name and the body of the story, it is easy to set the carriage pointer on "35" and touch hyphens until you reach "45." It is easy to number the pages of a manuscript in red with a bichrome ribbon, and to put the number in the middle of the sheet. Nor is it very difficult to turn out clean copy--merely a little more industry with a rubber eraser, or perhaps the re-writing of an occasional sheet.
After a manuscript is written, the number of words computed, and a publication selected wherewith to try its fortunes, a record should be made. Very early in his literary career Edwards devised a scheme for keeping track of his manuscripts. He had a thousand slips printed and bound strongly into two books of 500 slips each. Each slip consisted of a stub for the record and a form letter, with perforations so that they could easily be torn apart.
Record of Ms., No. ...... Title.......................... Class.......................... No. Words...................... Sent to........Date............ Returned......Condition........ Sent to........Date............ Returned......Condition........ Sent to........Date............ Returned......Condition........ Sent to........Date............ Returned......Condition........ Accepted....................... Am't paid......Date............ Remarks........................ ...............................
411 Blank Street, Chicago, Ill.,........189.. Editor............. ................. ..................
The inclosed Ms., entitled.. ............................... containing about.........words, and signed..................... is offered at your usual rates. If not available please return. Stamped and addressed envelope inclosed.
