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Amateur Correspondent, v. 2, issue 2, September-October 1937
Page 2
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PROGRESS [B/W image of books an ink bottle and a nib] An Editorial THIS IS THE THIRD issue of the Correspondent published under our new policy, and we think it is the one most representative of that policy. We pledged ourselves to the cause of the aspiring writer of fantastic fiction, promised to encourage his abilities by printing his work, if at all worth printing, and lined up for publication articles by well-known professionals concerning certain aspects of fantasy writing, with the hope that amateur authors would find them of some use. Save for the usual article of writing advice, which was crowded out by a surprising influx of amateur material, this issue fulfills our policy in every respect. Five novice authors see their work published, in addition to a larger than usual portion of "fan" material, and the regular department, Hobbyana. You will also notice that Hit 'N' Run has been sizeably expaded, and that several new cuts grace our appearance. Summing it all up, we are of the opinion that this issue is a notable milestone in our progress. And contrary to popular form, we are not going to ask you to pardon us if we seem to brag---for we feel we have a right to. Of course, we get quite a few brickbats, many of them somewhat discouraging. But it is notable that not one has been received from the writers we are trying to help---that practically al of them come from the hardened fans, who have no sympathy whatever with writing hints and the efforts of amateurs, but who seek only a fan magazine, containing, for the most part, news of fan and fantasy magazine activities. It is obvious that if this element of our reading audience raised a loud enough voice, we should be forced to listen to its demands and turn the Correspondent into a fan magazine, pure and simple. But it is just as obvious that this element cannot raise a voice loud enough to sway us, for at the very outside, the real fans number a mere two hundred---a group which could not possibly support a magazine such as is wanted. We must, therefore, cater to the majority by continuing on our present course. As previously stated, we are doing all we can to help the talented literary unknowns amongst us. It is only fair, then, that you readers who are interested by our efforts should do your part---which is much easier than ours. You can be of great aid if you will take the time to criticise individually the work of whatever writers interests you most. Send your letters to us in care of Hit 'N' Run as soon as you have read this issue. Our authors will be really glad to read them, for what they want most of all is reader-reaction to what they've written. R. W. Sherman and Sam Moskowitz, for instance, would like to know how you rate their skill at composing short articles on phases of the fantasy field. As their two pieces in this issue show, they are well familiar with their subjects, and both seem able to write them up in a very readable manner. 2
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PROGRESS [B/W image of books an ink bottle and a nib] An Editorial THIS IS THE THIRD issue of the Correspondent published under our new policy, and we think it is the one most representative of that policy. We pledged ourselves to the cause of the aspiring writer of fantastic fiction, promised to encourage his abilities by printing his work, if at all worth printing, and lined up for publication articles by well-known professionals concerning certain aspects of fantasy writing, with the hope that amateur authors would find them of some use. Save for the usual article of writing advice, which was crowded out by a surprising influx of amateur material, this issue fulfills our policy in every respect. Five novice authors see their work published, in addition to a larger than usual portion of "fan" material, and the regular department, Hobbyana. You will also notice that Hit 'N' Run has been sizeably expaded, and that several new cuts grace our appearance. Summing it all up, we are of the opinion that this issue is a notable milestone in our progress. And contrary to popular form, we are not going to ask you to pardon us if we seem to brag---for we feel we have a right to. Of course, we get quite a few brickbats, many of them somewhat discouraging. But it is notable that not one has been received from the writers we are trying to help---that practically al of them come from the hardened fans, who have no sympathy whatever with writing hints and the efforts of amateurs, but who seek only a fan magazine, containing, for the most part, news of fan and fantasy magazine activities. It is obvious that if this element of our reading audience raised a loud enough voice, we should be forced to listen to its demands and turn the Correspondent into a fan magazine, pure and simple. But it is just as obvious that this element cannot raise a voice loud enough to sway us, for at the very outside, the real fans number a mere two hundred---a group which could not possibly support a magazine such as is wanted. We must, therefore, cater to the majority by continuing on our present course. As previously stated, we are doing all we can to help the talented literary unknowns amongst us. It is only fair, then, that you readers who are interested by our efforts should do your part---which is much easier than ours. You can be of great aid if you will take the time to criticise individually the work of whatever writers interests you most. Send your letters to us in care of Hit 'N' Run as soon as you have read this issue. Our authors will be really glad to read them, for what they want most of all is reader-reaction to what they've written. R. W. Sherman and Sam Moskowitz, for instance, would like to know how you rate their skill at composing short articles on phases of the fantasy field. As their two pieces in this issue show, they are well familiar with their subjects, and both seem able to write them up in a very readable manner. 2
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