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Discovered! 505
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Funny how that freedom feeling grips you. No one will take it from you—that's your opinion for awhile. I was weary of venomous looks from Navy chiefs and officers. My typewriter and my ideas would be boon companions. And I did right well for myself. Clicked with stories to Liberty, Pageant, Successful Farming and other top periodicals.

But not one for head-in-clouds-attitudes, I could see the danger signals ahead. Full time free-lancing had its inning in my life, but a rain-check was in store. For a year I made a respectable living covering a wide variety of subjects but I soon realized that for peace of mind, and for security a steady job onto which I could hook a steady diet of free-lancing in spare-time was my finest solution.

Fortunately, I landed a job which went hand in glove with my spare-time typewriter attacks. Editing religious publications plus a quantity of publicity releases kept me well oiled for the night-time and week-end splurges into the magazine writing field.

AFTER A four-year schedule of steady work with a corollary of spare-time writing, I can report the definite merging of a successful duo. Not only have I rock-based myself for a steady income but I have definitely proved to myself that, if properly attacked, spare-time writing can be profitable and even a diversion. It all depends on the system.

Granted that the spare-time writer often is exhausted by the end of an eight-hour stint in the steady job, I would recommend that such a person with definite desires to become a spare-time writer procure a job which won't sap his strength. I realize that you can't generally slave before a blast furnace and then expect to turn out saleable stories. Likewise, a family man has the racket of noisy children with which to contend. At the moment, I am unmarried.

Frankly, I am not a big-money writer. I'm still learning and I will reach there even via my spare-time route. However, I will occasionally hit a $600 month, which, blended in with other decent monthly sales and my steady salary, gives me a comfortable margin.

On the other hand, I don't write merely for the small markets. I branch out and often, and that is where my system proceeds to function. To write spare-time, you must of necessity eliminate much social life if you are prone to it. Even the favorite radio or television program must be foregone on occasion—unless you are the type who can work under the weight of noises and pressure.

To make money in spare-time writing, I follow a flexible program—but a program nevertheless. Chief source of my ideas is the newspaper. Of course I remain alert for any tips. Hardly had I taken my steady job than a visitor dropped word that an interesting establishment for retarded girls had been operating for years and across the street from my office. I called up the head of the establishment, got an appointment for an interview, spent two or three hours at the place one evening and then wrote the story, which sold for $50 (not a sensational price, but high when the amount of time expended was considered). In a couple of months the story was reprinted in a national religious magazine and brought me another $50.

TO MAKE money in the spare-time field, fast writing, fast thinking and a steady output of material is necessary. Once a subject has been lined up, or an interview has been concluded, the article is revolved and planned in my mind during the day and practically written once I sit down at my typewriter.

Naturally I watch for ideas that will catch the biggest markets and often for ideas that can be slanted toward a couple of different fields. For instance, I could have sold a story about an outstanding wood carver, which I uncovered, to a travel magazine for a quick sale of $50. The man had fashioned out the history of the steam engine in wood, by means of a small knife. Henry Ford had made him a large offer for the collection. A Sunday drive to the carver's tiny museum revealed many fascinating sidelights. I put on my thinking cap—concentrating on the knife phase of the hobby. I contacted Steelways, got an assignment for $250 for 900 words.

The same magazine became the target for another idea which developed into a triple-headed money getter. A unique volunteer rescue squad was accomplishing great civic deeds near, Washington, D. C. I called up the men, spent some hours one Sunday afternoon with them at their headquarters and then sent the article cold to Coronet—a method not usually followed. Coronet grabbed up the story for $300. I found that several of the squad's members were under 20 years of age, and quickly contacted Seventeen, advising them of the sale to Coronet. They could only use a photo and some brief information for $20, but it was gravy without effort. A new homemade emergency truck was delivered to the volunteer squad and Steelways' attention was directed to this unusual truck, valued at $18,000. My few hours with the boys brought me a juicy sum.

Although I realize the efficacy of personal interviews, I also realize that my time is limited and I make it count. A letter outlining many questions has brought me sufficient information for full-blown articles. This holds particularly for travel articles. For instance, there have been sales to Buick magazine, Travel, Trailways, Ford Times based on information garnered through the letter medium. Often I may write to several sources, using the same questions, which cover the ordinary gamut of a newspaper reporter. Regularly, I am able to land outstanding photos from various bureaus to accompany my travel articles, which bring anywhere from $30 to $100. For the time involved, I often exceed my salary intake.

Regularly I use the query method on potential big money-making article ideas. Two or three letters to carefully selected magazines are sent out swiftly. Once the green light is flashed, I may spend several days on such a story. To keep up a steady income and to fill up the void on these big stories, I spin out items to such good-paying markets as Grit, Seventeen (using the Teens in the News section as a basis). To Grit I send short outlines of possible news stories, revolving around the unusual, or good small-town tales, to which the weekly caters. Go-aheads are given me on the brief outlines and then via the letter route, I bring home sufficient information for a 2 cents a word story, plus a $3 a photo price. Photos here are a must. Stories cannot run over 750 words, but the market is steady and the time element is insignificant, and the sales ranging from $30 downwards are a stopgap while the big stories simmer on the back burner for some particular reason.

As A spur for my writing efforts, I have set a certain monthly figure toward which I climb in manuscript sales. When I note a decline in the money intake, I check my efforts and usually find that I was getting out of the writing field what I was putting into it. I found that I was loafing, nestling with an interesting book or visiting on a large scale. Quickly, I apply the accelerator and even though I may not reach my desired monthly goal, I top it during the following month for a yearly balance. Without the monthly figure or some tangible goal, I am certain that no strides would be made. The goal of, for instance, great success ahead, or the completion of a best seller is too ephemeral.

Something tangible and immediate is necessary. An earnest spare-time writer will appreciate this fact.

Because of the fact that I don't claim a thousand-dollar a month sales record, this doesn't indicate that other authors, even in spare-time, don't hit the top figures. Several of my friends, much longer in the writing game than I, regularly hit these lush monthly figures.

Unless I am given a definite assignment, I generally avoid long research tasks in my present status. It is important to evaluate a subject, to know its market value and to realize how much research must be expended on it for a decent sale. For instance, I even begged time off and suffered a pay loss for a story intended for Coronet, on which I was given a warm go-ahead. A chaplain had served for thirty years at the Maryland state prison. He had a barrel-full of anecdotes about prison life. He was an inspiration. I had to see him on two different afternoons and in addition drive to Baltimore from Washington, D. C.

Such a story is a natural and even if rejected by Coronet, has value in scores of other publications for a good price. I also took time-off for a story intended for Better Homes and Gardens on the chief florist at the White House. In the case of possible interviews, I simply phone the person, advise him about my spare-time writing status, explain that a particular magazine is after my story about the person and then generally arrange for a Saturday interview.

Every writer has his own method for interviewing subjects. With your time so limited in your spare-time status, return trips for more information must be eliminated. I write out my questions, including every possible phase which could be handled in the story. Quickly, I explain to the person that to save his time, I have arranged a few questions. A talkative person might upset your mental processes. The constant presence of your questions keeps the conversation rolling.

SINCE I rarely work beyond the midnight hour, I generally set aside an evening when I turn out nothing but outlines and queries on ideas accumulated over the week. Included is the resending of rejects. Rarely do I revise an article after a few rejections. Too many of my stories have sold after many rejections and for a better price than in the original submission. Nor do rejections annoy me. Some rejections might provoke me but not for long. The time is too precious to waste on rejection sulking. I check my markets carefully and again send the piece on its editorial flight.

Since I keep a steady flow of queries and manuscripts in the mails, of necessity I maintain my own filing system, broken down into fields with which I am familiar and to which I sell regularly. My queries in the form of newspaper clippings lie next to my typewriter and are promptly attacked on the query night and then filed away until an editor gives me the green light on the subject.

By now, I've probably been branded as a purebred hermit, who, finished with his eight-hour toil for his daily bread, swings immediately into more toil. Frankly, I can't forget the writing field, but I have as much fun as the next man. My routine is flexible enough so that spare-time writing doesn't become my ruler. But perhaps it can all be explained in a short capsule—I don't waste time. I can enjoy myself at a movie-house or luxuriate in a long drive, but my mind is constantly searching for ideas. For instance, a drive over famous U. S. Highway 40 focused my attention on the numerous historical markers along the highway. My interest piqued, I checked later in a library and found that I had covered a scenic as well as historic section. My sharp attention was converted into a moderately lengthy article and a sale to a travel magazine which more than paid for the trip.

FORTUNATELY, I have access to the Congressional Library and a live wire District of Columbia Library. The source of many articles—particularly semi-historical stuff—the library has assisted me immeasurably. To save time (the constant opposing force in spare-time writing) I generally call into the libraries, inquire about a certain subject, have available material arranged before I even arrive at the library. Once I reach the library, no time is consumed in lolling about.

The library also gives me the opportunity to check on the latest magazines, examine the article lists and see what the editors are buying. With some magazines this routine is a waste of time, but with many magazines, the regular scrutiny of articles published is a tremendous help.

If I should tackle a longer research job, I will usually ferret out all sources in an evening session and perform the tedious note-taking on a full-time Saturday. This time is never a loss—particularly when the subject is a potential big-money producer.

Although I prefer to contribute my material to magazines which pay on acceptance, I do submit my articles to good-paying "on publication" periodicals. It is necessary to keep manuscripts constantly in the mail. They will never sell hidden in a desk drawer. To give an idea of my prolific output, at times I will have on editors' desks a variety of articles, including, for instance, a piece about a man who heckles friends, this at the offices of Men magazine; a story on a linemen school at Popular Mechanics; a story about a Catholic evidence guild at Missionary Servant magazine; a piece about Abraham Lincoln's place in Washington, D. C. on the desk of the Highway Traveler; a story about lookout towers in the nation's forests in the offices of Buick magazine. Scattered in editorial offices all over the country, I might at one time have an article on President Truman's private train at Wheels magazine; a 500-word piece on a children's museum at Ford Times; a short feature on mechanic superstitions at Motor Age, and a piece about a little-known shrine in Arizona at St. Joseph magazine.

Of course one husky sale to Collier's might offset a number of small sales, but a beginner or even the hardened professional can't expect the juicy sales as a constant diet, but rather as a now and then plumb, if at all. Not that I don't attempt article outlines to the top slicks. But looking at writing from a realistic viewpoint, I won't send off an outline and then await great news with my arms folded. I let the smaller markets make up the gap.

FOR THE beginner, eager to break into the by-line status, a constant study of the changing markets can't be too highly recommended. If you write articles, the nose for news is essential, the subconscious mental lift when a good idea strikes home or is encountered. The teaming of this duo—the knowledge of the markets, hooked up sensibly with an article idea—makes for the major premise in a syllogism which if handled properly, will give you a check for a conclusion.

Since time is so valuable in spare-time writing, don't waste it by turning out articles which go nowhere. Don't aim an article on the history of printing to the American Printer. They've seen that stuff. They want current printing practices and aids. However, slanted perhaps toward a leading youth magazine, with the youngster angle, the story might bring a check. Do seasonal articles plenty of time in advance and slant them. For example, my article on a Santa Claus school might have coaxed a check from a general magazine. Rather than have the article bounce around too often and fail to meet the deadline for a Christmas issue, I slanted the piece toward a men's magazine. Result: $90 for a story for which the information came entirely via the mail route.

PERHAPS MORE writers are submitting material today than ever before. Few, however, I would venture to say, make a steady income from this writing effort. A major reason, of course, is the lack of any semblance of a schedule. They attack the field in a helter-skelter fashion. If article writers, they have no filing system, no knowledge of markets. They think only in terms of the Saturday Evening Post and the other top slicks, hot knowing and naturally neglecting the numerous other very well paying markets. This is the reason why conscientious spare-time writers will continue to appear in the magazines of the nation, and often with amazing regularity.