----- Original Message ----- >
> Gruber's attitude toward his writing is interesting
and
> instructive. There are plenty of writers who
take
> themselves adn their work very seriously, and those
are the
> ones who seem to make a name for themselves. Then
there are
> others, like Gruber, who just love writing and are
happy to
> make a little money at it, doing whatever comes to
hand. I
> think I'm in that category. I think I'd have
enjoyed
> writing for the pulps.
> Bill Crider
My sentiments, entirely, Bill, The latter-day solemnity
towards early writers of thrillers and pulps is faintly
comical. For the most part, they were freelancers who did it
in a matter-of-fact way, without a shred of
self-consciousness about any "social significance." Most took
pride in being craftsmen, able to write a tale for pennies a
word, at the drop of a hat. Or more aptly, at the nod from an
editor. Several pulp writers recalled with pride being able
to quickly hammer out a story or novelette just on the
premise of the illustration designed for the front cover of
next month's (or next week's) issue of the magazine. It was
not unusual for a pulps editor to call in a writer, show him
the art-board, and growl, "Here, bud, do me a story about
this!" Talk about grasp of their genre!
-- Sidney.
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