Books:

Discovered! 505
Odd Enterprises

Hidden Dollars

How to Make
Money at Home

Small Business
of Your Own

You Can Own
a Business

Fiction Writing

The Plan
Given fertile imagination, a knack for storytelling, and an ability to write, you are equipped to enter the profitable field of fiction writing. Some 2,000 different trade, popular, and class publications are constantly in the market for this type of material.

How It Works
Study the various writers' trade magazines on the market and familiarize yourself with the magazine markets and the type of stories desired. Then read several issues of the magazine that most fits your writing style and analyze the characteristics of the fiction stories it has accepted. Note, in particular, the type of action, phraseology, and subjects contained in these stories. Once you have absorbed the magazine style and requirements—and have grasped the fiction formula—you will be ready to write a story that is acceptable to the editors.

Possible Profits
Payment for fiction stories varies according to the type of magazine. Pulps pay one cent a word and up, confession magazines three cents a word and up, and some first-class slick-paper magazines start their rates at five cents a word.

Playwriting

The Plan
Are you imaginative? Do vivid story ideas and unusual situations leap to your mind easily? Are you able to portray character and interpret the conversations and gestures of those about you? If so, playwriting offers a lucrative field for part-time income.

How It Works
Radio stations, business concerns, magazines and publishing companies demand new and interesting plays. These plays should be action-packed and capable of being presented within a comparatively short length of time and with limited facilities. There is an especially good market for plays with the larger radio and TV chains. Their need of new plays each day imposes a constant demand upon their available supply. There are good books available at your library or bookstore which give the technical requirements for stage, radio, and television plays.

Possible Profits
The usual rate for accepted plays ranges from $100 to $200. Magazines and publishing companies lay stress upon the character, rather than the length, of the play. Merchants pay an average of $50 per play if it capably dramatizes their product or sales event.

Literary Broker

The Plan
An enterprising young stenographer, equipped with a typewriter and writing talent, converted her spare time into cash by criticizing, revising, retyping, and marketing manuscripts for writers.

How It Works
Consulting writers' trade magazines she familiarized herself with current manuscript needs of different magazines, and the material and style required. She then placed a small advertisement in her local newspaper, and later in several of the writers' magazines, advertising her complete writers' service. Manuscripts deemed unsalable were returned for correction, accompanied by her typed critical notes. However, if she believed the article satisfactory in its submitted form, or after minor corrections, she would then retype it and submit to the magazine for which she considered it most appropriate. In typing manuscripts, she followed the accepted style of double-spacing and at the beginning attached a note giving a resume of the article and the number of words contained in it.

Possible Profits
Recognized rates are $2.00 per thousand words for criticism and revision, $1.00 per thousand words for retyping, and 10 per cent commission on all manuscripts successfully marketed.

Lyric Writing

The Plan
Equipped with a knowledge of music, a sense of rhythm, and an ability to write, one Chicago housewife is contributing substantially to the family finances by composing lyrics to the music of song writers.

How It Works
"I played the piano and had the knack of writing smooth, catchy rhymes, and that's what inspired this plan. To secure clients, I contacted musically inclined friends, and later advertised in music magazines and magazines of general appeal. I was really amazed at the number and the diversity of responses. It seems that everybody and anybody is an aspiring song writer—the replies came from small and big towns, and from persons in all walks of life—brokers, farmers, students, stenographers, housewives, and others. They would send me their music and I would adapt words—trying to make my lyrics fit the tune, tempo, and character of the music submitted.

Possible Profits
"I charged a flat rate of $5.00 in advance for each lyric, and, in addition, 10 per cent of the proceeds of the song, when accepted. In several cases, composers have asked me to mimeograph a quantity of the songs, which yielded me additional revenue. I am now earning some $30 a week in this fascinating work."

Journalistic Collaboration

The Plan
A good organizer, an expert typist, and an adept in writing, a Chicago stenographer earned extra money through organizing a journalistic collaboration group.

How It Works
"There are many aspiring writers in my town—and every town. I reasoned that they would be interested in joining some collaboration group enabling them to meet with others in their field, exchange ideas, and aid one another. Most of the members were secured among my personal writer friends, and the club soon grew through recommendations. As secretary, I handled all the manuscript typing—and there was plenty. Also I typed minutes of meetings, charter, constitution, letters, etc. These writers submit on the average of one story a week, and very few have the facilities to do their own final-draft typing. Subsequently, I inserted an advertisement for additional members in the local newspapers which greatly augmented our membership roster. Consulting trade magazines and books on markets informed me about proper manuscript typing and the suitable markets."

Possible Profits
Membership fees were $2.00 a month, of which she received $1.00 a month from each member for her general typing. Manuscript typing was payable at rates of $1.00 a thousand words.

Inventors' Bureau

The Plan
Every city and hamlet in the country has its local inventors—and each is interested in marketing his invention. Enterprising typists—especially those with a knack for writing—can earn lucrative income through representing these inventors.

How It Works
Organize an inventors' bureau; publicize the inventions, type up letters in application for patents, and aid in marketing. Inserting a small advertisement in your local paper, announcing your services, will secure you a list of inventors. They are generally pleased to secure such aid in their work. The various popular science magazines on the market pay for news items and photos on inventions. You can, also, be of invaluable marketing assistance by studying the invention, determining who would most likely desire to buy it, and then typing explanatory letters to these sources.

Possible Profits
Popular science magazines pay from 2 to 5 cents a word for news items on inventions and $5 and up each for photographs. Your payment for general typing and marketing will, of course, vary according to the nature of the work. You can also collect 10 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of inventions through your services. It should not be difficult to net at least $25 weekly from this enterprise.

Celebrity Interviews

The Plan
Have you ever visited the airport? Have you spent much time at the railroad depots? If so, you will note that many celebrities and notables arrive in town, each day, whose comings and goings would make interesting reading material if used as interview stories in the local newspapers. And that's just what an alert young man is doing as a means of earning a substantial income.

How It Works
He "dogs" the airports and railroad depots, and interviews the celebrities on interesting current topics, and with his camera takes a picture of the personage. These are then sold to the local newspapers since they make good, current, local reading material. In addition, because of the excellent publicity value of this material to most celebrities, he receives, in some cases, payment from the celebrity interviewed upon publication of the article. He has been able to secure some 2 articles a day, consistently, because of the steady inflow of celebrities to his city.

Possible Profits
Newspapers pay some $3.00 each for glossy prints for reproduction, and space rates of about $5.00 a story for the article. He averages about $10 a day.

Feature Stories

The Plan
Many owners of typewriters in all sections of the country are earning extra dollars by writing the nonfiction type of feature article. They interview enterprising merchants in their locality, make notes about their merchandising methods or interesting personal facts, and sell the articles to appropriate trade magazines.

How It Works
Does your corner ice-cream parlor have a clever window display? Does your neighborhood grocery use clever signs? Have you remarked on the pleasing service at your community bakery, or the unusual premiums given by your neighborhood drug store? All these make interesting stories for the hundreds of trade magazines adapted to almost every type of business. Study the various writers' magazines and acquaint yourself with current markets and the individual requirements of the various publications. Type the article neatly on standard size paper, double space, and include a front sheet which contains your name, the title and a resume of the article, and the number of words. Also enclose snapshots wherever possible—the dealer will usually provide them.

Possible Profits
Trade magazines pay from one cent to five cents a word for desirable articles and from $1.00 to $10.00 each for accompanying photos.

Ghost-Writers' Bureau

The Plan
Become the person "behind the scenes" who writes a great variety of articles which are published under the names of others. A large number of people with writing talent and a typewriter discover that such a bureau provides them an excellent means for earning money in their spare time.

How It Works
Your prospective customers are legion, and include students, politicians, scientists, your local Chamber of Commerce, trade associations, and inventors, who must publish articles and reports but who often need help in getting these written. Contact them personally, through typewritten letters, or through a local advertisement. Offer to write anything desired; for example, speeches, letters, biographies, scientific reports, research topics and publicity articles.

Possible Profits
Charges vary with the time and effort required. Some average rates are $5.00 for a letter, $25.00 for a speech, and $50.00 for a technical report.

Job Letters

The Plan
"A friend, an unemployed engineer, asked me to compose a letter for him in application for a job. I did, neatly typing it on my portable typewriter. He got the job—and I got the idea that has enabled me to turn my letter-writing ability to good profit. I organized an 'Employment Letter Service Bureau.'

How It Works
"Your prospective customers are unemployed people seeking jobs, and employed people seeking better employment. I reached these prospects by placing an advertisement within the Business Services column of my local newspaper, offering to compose forceful persuasive letters to be sent to prospective employers. After securing the customer, I studied his or her qualifications and listed experience, education, personality, etc. I then adapted my letter to present these qualifications as strikingly and sincerely as possible, keeping in mind the specific requirements of the prospective employer.

Possible Profits
"Payment is on either of two arrangements. They may buy the letter outright for $2.00 each, or pay $5.00 each, contingent upon the letters securing them a job."

Sales Letters

The Plan
"Almost every business concern has occasion to send out regular sales letters to their customers. I solicited a number of concerns in my town and offered to compose their sales letters on a part-time basis. Within a month I represented 10 different firms, with a good regular income resulting.

How It Works
"To write a strong, persuasive sales letter, first study the concern and the product, and then picture in your mind a typical prospective customer for whom this product is intended. Write the letter briefly, but tell the whole story. Be conversational and sincere, appealing to the typical customer you have visualized. With this plan in mind you should produce a splendid sales letter with forceful appeal. Of course, all letters should be typewritten—modern business requires it.

Possible Profits
"I get a standard rate of $5.00 for each letter, and, in several cases, performed my services on a monthly retainer basis, such as $45 a month for all letters required during that period."

Collection Letters

The Plan
A young store clerk has boosted his income by selling to merchants and professional people a "collection system" consisting of a series of letters which aid them in collecting their delinquent accounts.

How It Works
He composed on his typewriter a series of six letters which were briefly but forcefully written. They graduated in tone from a polite reminder to a stern letter threatening legal recourse. The final letter offered 20 per cent reduction for immediate settlement. He adapted the contents of the letter to the class of business or profession to which it applied. He then sent a typewritten form letter to merchants informing them of his service. Since most business people have delinquent accounts which they are anxious to liquidate, he secured a good percentage of responses.

Possible Profits
He receives $5.00 from each customer for a series of collection letters. In several instances he co-operates with his customers by selling his service on a percentage-of-returns basis, earning 10 per cent of all money collected.

Community Letter Writer

The Plan
One young woman who lived in a large city has capitalized on the fact that a great many persons hesitate to write important and necessary letters because they do not wish to reveal their lack of education or are not able to write English well enough to express their thoughts. Such individuals are often called upon to write letters of condolence or letters to public officials requesting information, and welcome any aid that can be given them.

How It Works
She advertised in the "personal" column of local newspapers that she would write letters and give such general and simple advice as was needed. She found an immediate response and made quite a bit of money in her spare time and developed many contacts which were both interesting and valuable.

Possible Profits
Rates vary according to the length and difficulty of the letters. Minimum charges are usually 75 cents a letter. Some letters, more complicated, may command a price as high as $2.00.

Amusement Directory

The Plan
A Detroit housewife earns part-time money by reporting "what's happening" by way of entertainment in her town, through the medium of a weekly mimeographed amusement directory.

How It Works
"Everyone's interested in entertainment and such a regular magazine struck me as appropriate. I typed letters to local theaters, night clubs, and similar places of entertainment, and they were glad to supply me regularly with full information concerning their current programs. I then edited this material, classifying it according to the type of place and the entertainment offered. Thus a person who was interested in movies could consult the movie section; someone seeking more gayety could turn to the section on night clubs.

"The entertainment places listed placed advertisements in the magazine, since it reached a concentrated class of prospects. I typed and mimeographed the magazine and distributed copies in hotels, railroad depots, bus stations, and similar spots most likely to be frequented by visitors from out of town.

Possible Profits
"Advertisements sell for $25 a page, while the magazine is distributed free. It comprises twenty-five pages, with eight pages of advertising, and I net $35 weekly from this part-time project."

Epicurean Journal

The Plan
Everyone likes food, and almost every person likes to eat something "different" at a novel dining place. With this thought in mind, an enterprising Missouri housewife compiled an Epicurean Journal, listing interesting eating places about town.

How It Works
She wrote up the outstanding restaurants about town, classified them according to their cuisine and location, and described any unusual history, decorations, or service that they offered. Editorial material told about the quaint Italian restaurant with its excellent spaghetti, the lively Russian Cafe and its heady vodka, the unique Swedish restaurant specializing in Smorgasbord. She profits in two ways; first, by selling listings of the places mentioned, at varied prices, depending upon the size and patronage of the restaurant seeking the listing; secondly, by selling the book itself, since it contains very interesting reading matter.

Possible Profits
The books sell for 75 cents each, and she disposed of some 1,000 copies to the restaurants and to the public. Each listing sells for about $10, with 100 restaurants buying listings in the book. She earns approximately $750 for each edition—and publishes a new one annually.

Newspaper Correspondent

The Plan
Writing up and submitting stories on local events to neighboring newspapers constitutes a profitable part-time source of income to one young man in Macon, Pennsylvania.

How It Works
It occurred to him that newspapers in nearby cities would be interested in news from his locality. He wrote inquiring whether they could use a regular correspondent, and was told to submit his articles. He secured news on local events, including meetings, parties, accidents, etc. He also interviewed local hobbyists and interesting people for feature articles. Gradually the metropolitan newspapers regarded him as their regular correspondent and began to send him actual assignments.

Possible Profits
He was compensated on "space rates" which start at 25 cents a column inch. In his spare time, he was able to earn from $8.00 to $10.00 a week, and indulge in the thrilling work of a newspaperman.

Shoppers' Paper

The Plan
A Chicago housewife, talented in writing and research, has augmented her household budget by writing up material for a shoppers' paper, distributed through several department stores in her town.

How It Works
She wrote information of universal interest to women, including subjects such as household and beauty advice, dressmaking hints, garden and home information, latest dress styles. Supplied with this material, she then visited four department stores (noncompetitive) located in various sections of the city. She sold them the idea of publishing this information under their own names as a monthly Shoppers' Paper, to be distributed within their respective localities. Since the material was read by housewives, the department stores received effective advertising. Printing and distribution expenses were shared by the department stores on a co-operative basis. Such a project is also salable to laundries, dairies and other concerns selling to women.

Possible Profits
She secured $30 a month from each department store for each issue of the paper. Her earnings thus netted about $100-$110 a month.

Women's Club Magazine

The Plan
One young housewife in Arkansas, a member of several women's clubs, felt that a regular magazine would provide interesting reading matter for the various club members. As a result she conceived the plan of publishing a women's club magazine.

How It Works
She reports news of current and future activities for her club, mentioning as many names as possible. She also reports social items about the members and their families. In this way the magazine contains interesting reading matter and is eagerly sought by the club members. She has worked up similar publications for other women's clubs in her town, securing items of interest from their secretaries, or through personal interviews. Now local merchants advertise in the publication, since it reaches a comparatively wealthy class of women who, of course, are valuable shoppers.

Possible Profits
The magazine sells for 10 cents. Since it is mimeographed, it costs only 5 cents to produce, netting her a 5 cent profit on each copy, or $5.00 for a hundred magazines. In addition, she receives as high as $10 for each page of advertising. She makes some $45 to $55 on each issue.

Prize Contests

The Plan
Can you talk about the merits of Velvene pancake flour, Deluxe radios, Servo refrigerators, and other commodities in an enthusiastic manner, bringing out your ideas clearly and concisely? If so, substantial profits await you in the thrilling side line of entering prize contests.

How It Works
These contests are announced in newspapers and magazines almost every day and thousands of dollars are offered in prizes for the best answers to questions propounded by the manufacturers of innumerable products. After some practice you can attain proficiency in answering such contests and can develop a knack of writing the facts which the sponsors want to have included in these answers.

Possible Profits
There is of course no set income—profits depend upon the type of contest you enter and the amount of the prize money offered. Possibilities for profit vary greatly, averaging as high as $200 a week or as low as $15 a week.

Story Titles

The Plan
An imaginative woman in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a facility for phrasing words, secures a substantial part-time income through creating and typing story titles for authors.

How It Works
She reads over a manuscript carefully, and decides upon the title best suited for it. Her services were originally solicited by several local authors; as she secured more and more experience in this work, she advertised in local newspapers and in writers' magazines. Authors outline or send their complete manuscripts, and she then recommends suitable titles. She is now serving many writers throughout the country.

Possible Profits
Her charges are $1.50 each for a story title plus 5 per cent of the proceeds upon sale of the manuscript. She enjoys as a result a nice income—since some stories sell for large sums of money. Her average income, part time, is about $25 a week.

Apartment-House Periodical

The Plan
Writes an enterprising young man:

"I reside in a large apartment building within a metropolitan area. The building covers a complete block, and some five hundred families live here. The very size of this building inspired me with the idea for working up an apartment-house periodical. I felt that the tenants would like to know about each other and would be deeply interested in such a publication.

How It Works
"I canvassed the tenants and obtained news to be used as editorial matter in my proposed publication. I also contacted the building manager for news concerning the building itself, such as improvements, removals, etc. I then typed up this matter in magazine form and had it mimeographed. Realizing that local merchants were eager to contact the many tenants of the building, I secured their advertisements for the publication. Thus I established a thriving newspaper.

Possible Profits
"The magazine sells for 10 cents, while each advertising page secures $15. As a result, putting out the publication biweekly, I realize profits of about $75 a month."

Sponsored Radio Programs

The Plan
Prepare radio skits for broadcasting over small stations, these programs to be sponsored by local merchants, associations and individuals wishing publicity. This is a fertile and profitable field for your typewriter if you have some talent in preparing short dramatic skits that will interest radio listeners in your locality.

How It Works
Write up several skits, which can be based on the history of your town or the outstanding accomplishments of well-known people in your town. Then see the merchants in your town and arrange for them to sponsor these skits on broadcasts from your local radio station. When properly written, short presentations of this nature have a great deal of local appeal.

Possible Profits
One young man secured as sponsors several merchants in four small towns, located within a few miles of one another. They paid him from $5.00 to $20.00 per week for preparing the radio skits and their commercial announcements. On a few of the longer programs, he arranged to have more than one sponsor (in noncompetitive lines) so that the cost to each was small. He purchased time on the programs of his local station after he had lined up his sponsors and was able to average $50 per week over what he paid for the time.

Convention Pamphlet

The Plan
One New York young man observed that many conventions met in the hotels of his city, and he reasoned that the visitors would be interested in reading convention news, as well as personal items containing their names and names of co-visitors. This led to the idea of drawing up a convention pamphlet, and he is now serving a number of conventions at the same time.

How It Works
He interviewed the secretary of the convention, offering to write up such a pamphlet, to which the secretary readily assented. Such publicity is, of course, of benefit to any convention. He then secured a convention schedule from the group and also personal items. This and other data was subsequently mimeographed and made into a pamphlet, which he then sold among the delegates to the convention. The sale was good, since all the conventioneers were interested in news about themselves and their convention.

Possible Profits
He sold the pamphlets for 10 cents each. Some 200 were sold each day, at a net profit of $10 for each day's work. Most of these conventions meet over a period of about five days, so that his gross profit is quite substantial.

Outlining Story Plots

The Plan
A stenographer during the day—she dabbled in writing fiction stories during her spare time. She was accustomed to outlining plots of stories appearing in national magazines; it helped her in devising her own plots, analyzing proper dialogue and action, etc. The thought arose that other writers would be similarly helped and thus was born the idea for a profitable avocation!

How It Works
She carefully outlines current fiction stories appearing in outstanding national publications. She briefly analyzes the plot, dialogue, and character delineation, then indicates the manner in which the author handles his story that makes it acceptable. She secures her customers through advertisements in writers' magazines. Most writers appreciate this service, because first, it serves as a "thought-nudger" in creating their own plots, and second, as a concrete lesson in the proper writing procedure for their stories.

Possible Profits
The service is monthly, selling for $2.00 a month. She now has 58 regular customers. Since her expenses are negligible, consisting of postage, advertising, and mimeographing, she averages some $22 a week for spare-time work.

Local Odd Spots

The Plan
Every town has its "odd spots"—a quaint lecture hall—an unusual night club—a unique opera house. Listing these places in book form has been the means of making a nice livelihood for one New York woman.

How It Works
"The idea of such a book occurred to me when friends, visiting my town, always inquired concerning unusual places to visit. I reasoned that other visitors—and even local residents—would be interested in such information. I secured the editorial material through personal observation, newspaper contact, and library research. After working it up in attractive form, I made the rounds of prospective advertisers such as hotels, movies, night clubs, etc., since the book would obviously be read by people in the market for entertainment. When I had secured a substantial amount of advertising, a printer agreed to finance the printing of the book. Distribution was made through hotels, bus depots, railroad stations and newsstands.

Possible Profits
"The booklets sold for 35 cents each, and the advertising rates were $50 a page. I have cleaned up a lump sum of $375 on the booklet."

Make-Believe Social Letters

The Plan
Writing "make-believe" letters to persons anxious to receive correspondence is a novel part-time occupation which is reaping substantial returns for an aggressive young man in Passaic, New Jersey.

How It Works
An aged couple, childless, wanted to receive "typical" letters from a "typical" child attending college; a spinster, denied romance throughout her life, requested "romantic" letters from a mythical lover; another woman desired letters that coached her on social and personal graces; still another person, unsuccessful in self-discipline, wanted letters reprimanding him in a fatherly tone. This correspondence filled certain voids in their lives. He typed the letters and sent them out at intervals, as requested. His customers were secured by placing an advertisement in his local newspaper announcing this unique service. He was surprised at the large number of requests for this "make-believe" correspondence.

Possible Profits
His rates are $3.00 a month, on the basis of a letter each week. With some 37 subscribers, he has been able to earn about $90 a month.

Political Publicity

The Plan
Whenever election time comes around in his locality an alert Chicago newspaperman—with writing talent—"cashes in" by handling publicity for political candidates.

How It Works
The publicity material generally consists of letters, biographies, newspaper write-ups, and other promotional work. He secures this work by sending typed letters to would-be officeholders, offering to produce all necessary publicity. Since their election depends to a great extent on getting their names and platforms before the public, most politicians need not be persuaded as to the value of publicity to them. He has thus secured a large number of these political candidates as his clients, and repeats the process each election. In several cases he has also handled radio script on programs sponsored by his political customers.

Possible Profits
His fee is paid upon a retainer basis, varying from $50 to $500 for each campaign, depending on the importance of the candidate and the nature and extent of publicity work required.

Vivid Adjective Phrases

The Plan
An advertising manager of a Milwaukee department store was constantly pressed to think up vivid adjective phrases describing products, to be used for copy in radio scripts, newspaper ads, circulars, etc. For his own convenience, he compiled a list of choice adjectives—and this led to the publishing of a pamphlet embodying this information, for sale to advertisers and to advertising agencies.

How It Works
Adjective phrases contained within the pamphlet consisted of such thoughts as "lovely as a poem," "colorful as a painting," "scintillatingly different," "makes you look adorable, be adored," etc. These phrases were general in scope and adapted to most "copy"; they served, also, as ideal thought stimulators, enabling the advertisers to assemble their ideas. The pamphlet was produced in mimeographed form, and explanatory letters were sent to advertising people stating its advantages. The response was immediate and very satisfactory. Later, a small advertisement placed in local papers brought additional customers—even from many outside the advertising field.

Possible Profits
The booklets sold for 50 cents each and cost only 7 cents each to mimeograph. As a result of such large profits, he earned about $480 from the booklet with only limited promotion.

Retail Store Publicity

The Plan
If you reside in a large city containing community and foreign language newspapers . . . and if you are skilled in writing . . . then you have the same chances for abundant profits as does a young Chicago woman who operates a publicity bureau in conjunction with these papers.

How It Works
She says: "First I saw the business managers of the various neighborhood and foreign language newspapers in my town. Their standards are not as rigid as larger metropolitan newspapers, and they assented to my buying space in their papers for publicity articles, at regular advertising rates. I then typed out explanatory letters to local merchants. I offered to publish publicity articles for them containing personal and business information, along with any photos that were submitted. They enthusiastically agreed, since most people are eager to receive personal publicity, and then too, publicity articles are more effective than regular advertising.

Possible Profits
"The average newspaper charge was $1.00 a column inch for their space. I received payment of $3.00 a column inch from merchants for publicity articles. This gave me 200 per cent profits, and as a result I have been earning some $25 weekly in my spare time."

Rural Scenic Spots

The Plan
"I live in a western city surrounded by a number of rural communities with interesting scenic spots. Motorists and visitors often inquired about the more beautiful scenic places for outings and tours, and this gave me the idea of writing a Rural Scenic Spots booklet, It has brought me a nice part-time income.

How It Works
"Research in local journals and libraries and personal visits to the beauty spots gave me my material. I secured photos wherever possible, and included outing maps-showing exactly how to reach the various places from the city. I then got in touch with local merchants, securing substantial advertising for the booklet, since it had definite and permanent reader's interest value. As a result of these advertising commitments, a local printer offered to finance the publication of the booklet. It was sold through local newsstands, bus and train depots, and hotels. A new and revised booklet is issued annually.

Possible Profits
"The advertisements brought a rate of some $50 a page, while the booklet itself sold for 25 cents. After paying the printer, I earned about $280 for the publication of each book which took up about five weeks of my time."

Short Paragraphs

The Plan
Are you the "fifty-yard dasher" as a writer, rather than "cross-country?" In other words, are you more skilled at writing short essays rather than long articles? Then a lucrative income awaits you writing and selling short paragraphs to many newspapers and magazines throughout the country.

How It Works
This material comprises a medley of subjects, such as science, literature, sports, history, art, and almost all other topics. The information is written up tersely and interestingly—about 8 lines for each paragraph to be used by publications as "fillers," that is, to "fill in" small spaces between the longer articles when making up the paper or magazine. Most of the information for these paragraph fillers may be derived through research in encyclopedias, science books, and other volumes. After you have written up a number, classify according to topics, type them up neatly, and then submit them to a selected list of publications. You will find a list of these magazines in any of the writers' market magazines.

Possible Profits
Payment for these paragraph fillers averages about $3.00, and since volume sales may be achieved, a good income is assured for consistent production.

Story Plot Ideas

The Plan
His imagination was active, and he found it easy to improvise story plots around any type of situation. Utilizing this talent, an aggressive salesman in Iowa has now developed a sizable part-time business.

How It Works
Authors very frequently run dry of ideas for their stories. The Iowan submits various plots which he has carefully worked out, and several are usually accepted. He first collaborated with local authors, but later inserted classified advertisements in writers' magazines and gradually secured a large clientele. Subsequently he classified his plots, e.g. sea stories, detective stories, western stories, etc. They are submitted to authors in neat, typewritten form.

Possible Profits
A flat price for these plots runs to $3.00 each; occasionally he co-operates with successful authors on a share-of-the-proceeds basis. His earnings average $25 weekly for his spare time.

Underworld Slang

The Plan
"Moll," "flatfoot," "stir" . . . underworld slang like this has become the means of yielding a lucrative part-time income for one enterprising young man in Maine. He compiles lists of underworld argot and sells them to authors seeking material for detective stories.

How It Works
He secured most of his words through personal contact with his local prison warden, who supplied him with many underworld expressions. Additional lists were secured through rummaging in detective magazines and newspapers. He then inserted a small advertisement in several writers' magazines, offering to sell these lists to authors. The lists were submitted in typewritten form.

Possible Profits
Each list sells for $1.00, and contains over 2,000 different underworld expressions. Since his expenses were slight, he netted some $60 a month through this pleasant, part-time work.

Writing Verses

The Plan
Do verses, rhymes, and jingles come easy? Are you adept in grouping clever poetic phrases to produce interesting thoughts? Then you have the same money-making opportunities as a farmer's wife in Wisconsin who earns $30 a week in her spare time.

Her only equipment is a portable typewriter and a rhyming dictionary to help her when she is stuck for a line.

How It Works
After consulting various writers' magazines she familiarized herself with poetry markets and the requirements of magazines. In addition to poetry magazines, there are also many popular publications that carry "poetry corners." Another outlet for poems is in the commercial field. Clever rhymes and jingles are sought by merchants as attention-getters for their advertisements. So are catchy slogans such as "We have the Modes from Tip to Toes" (for clothing store) or "Beauty and the Beach" (for bathing suits) . Radio fill-ins and song lyrics constitute additional markets. Verse cards are also good profit-producers. Card manufacturers pay well for appropriate verses for greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, condolences, etc.

Possible Profits
Earnings range from 25 cents a line and up for poems, to 50 cents a line and up for greeting cards, with higher rates for lyrics.

Juvenile Stories

The Plan
"My children and their young friends always listened to my stories eagerly, and I was told that I could improvise interesting and exciting juvenile stories. This started me on the plan of writing juvenile stories for magazines in this market, and I have augmented the family income considerably.

How It Works
"It is really simple, if you find the knack, to write this type of story. The principal rule to remember is that it must be simple and natural and sound as if you were talking to the child before you. Create interesting juvenile characters, suspense, and a moral ending, and you will find that words just flow, As my experience grew, I worked up a series of stories based upon real characters which has been running for over a year in a well-known magazine. I would suggest that you first study the juvenile magazine for which you intend to write, to familiarize yourself with its editorial requirements.

Possible Profits
"Juvenile stories sell at regular magazine rates of about 2 cents a word. With fair production, writing about 6 hours a day, I have been able to earn about $30 a week consistently—and that money certainly comes in handy."

Cartoon Gags

The Plan
Composing cartoon gags for magazine cartoonists has enabled an imaginative clerk in Duluth, Minnesota, to make a profitable part-time income. He has thus utilized his talent for describing everyday situations in a humorous manner.

How It Works
He first worked up gags for cartoonist friends. After gaining proficiency, he advertised in writers' magazines, offering to improvise gags for cartoonists everywhere. He submitted the gag to the cartoonist and the cartoonist would create a cartoon adaptable to the situation. They would then share the profits on a 50-50 basis. There are about 2,000 magazines throughout the country that are in the market for cartoons, so that his opportunities are limitless.

Possible Profits
Magazines pay from $10 to $50 each for these cartoons, depending on the value of the cartoon and the character of the publication. He averages some $40 a week from this type of work, and incidentally enjoys himself doing it.

Columnist

The Plan
There is always a market for interesting news and feature columns in most newspapers, and this can form the basis for lucrative part-time work.

How It Works
If you have a knack for writing and a nose for news, it should not be difficult to create a novel column idea. Subjects may be theatrical news, local news notes, scientific oddities, food news, political analysis, and other subjects. Write up several specimens of the column you contemplate doing and submit them to your local newspapers. The more local color that you can inject into your column, the more salable it becomes. Each column should run approximately 1,000 words.

Possible Profits
These columns usually run each day in newspapers of daily issue. The weekly payment is about $50 a week—and you will find this work interesting and enjoyable.

Local Color Lists

The Plan
A Vermont mother is earning a good income by writing and selling "local color" lists to writers and authors, providing them with facts and "thought nudgers" which help them write their articles.

How It Works
This data is classified according to such subjects as (1) Sea and Navy (2) Doctor, Nurse, and Hospital (3) Air (4) Army (5) Fire (6) Radio (7) North woods (8) Pennsylvania Dutch (9) Railroads (10) Lumbering, etc. She sells each of these lists separately, in accordance with the type of material that the writer requires. She secured customers through inserting an advertisement in writers' magazines. Material for inclusion within these booklets was obtained through research in library books on many topics.

Possible Profits
The manuscripts sell for 25 cents each. With 5 cents of the proceeds going towards typing and mimeographing the pamphlets, and 10 cents toward advertising expense, she is earning $85 a month from this project.

Police Exploits

The Plan
Equipped with a nose for news, a young Wisconsin woman earned $350 in two months through the sale of a series of articles on "State Police Exploits," syndicated through a group of newspapers in her state.

How It Works
Each state has its own state police force, and its members figure in many exciting and harrowing adventures in the course of duty. She interviewed the captain of her local state police, and received a full account of his most unusual experiences and those of his force. She then wrote these up in dramatic fashion, with each article devoted to a new exploit. The series appeared daily, and was widely read because of the local interest and dramatic news value of the feature.

Possible Profits
Payment averaged about one cent a word for these articles from each newspaper within the syndicate group. The feature ran daily for two months, until the list of exploits was exhausted.

Real-Estate Magazine

The Plan
Almost any real-estate concern would jump at the chance to get an attractive 16-page magazine printed for them (under their own name) for distribution to their prospects. Yes, they'd be delighted to get this service, especially if it were free! . . . You can furnish this, and also earn a splendid income for yourself. An ambitious young man tells how he successfully carries out the project.

How It Works
"First, I compile the editorial matter for the proposed magazine. This comprises articles of interest to the home owner and prospective home buyer, such as building maintenance, interior decoration, architectural modes, gardening, etc. I then contact my local real-estate concern and offer to make up some 3,000 of these magazines for them, imprinted with their own name—without any charge to them. All they must do in return is to give me a list of business firms they patronize, and a letter authorizing me to contact these concerns in their behalf, soliciting advertising for the magazine. A great number of concerns depend upon the consistent patronage of realtors. These include plumbers, carpenters, architects, masons, painters and decorators, and numerous others. They appreciate this important patronage and are willing to reciprocate with an advertisement in the magazine. I therefore found little resistance in securing enough ads to fill the magazine. Later I increased the profits of this publication by contacting real-estate concerns in nearby towns on the same plan.