Adventure Magazine Cover — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ADVENTURE : I Millions of’ People Can Write Stories and Photoplays and Dont Know It/ E. B. Davison of New York, one of the highest paid writers in the world. Is his astonishing statement true? Can it be possible there are count- less thousands of people yearning to write, who really can and simply haven't found it out? Well, come to think of it, most anybody can lell a story. “Why can't most anybody wrtie a story? Why is writing supposed to be a rare gift that few possess? Isn’t this only another of the Mistaken Ideas the past has handed down to us? Yes- terday nobody dreamed man could fly. To-day he dives like a swallow ten thousand feet above the earth and laughs down at the tiny mortal atoms of his fellow-men below! So. Yester- day’s “‘impossibility’’ is a reality to-day. “The time will come,” writes the same authority, ‘‘when millions of people will be writers—there will be countless thousands of playwrights, novelists, sce- nario, -magazine and newspaper writers —they are coming, coming—a whole new world of them!'’ And do you know what these writers-to-be are do- ing now? Why, they are the men— ‘armies of them—young and old, now doing mere clerical work, in offices, keeping books, selling merchandise, or .even driving trucks, running elevators, street cars, waiting on tables, “working at barber chairs, following the plow, or teaching schools in the rural districts; - joe is the startling assertion recently made by tle study, a little patience, a little confidence, and the thing that looks hard turns out to be just as easy as it seemed difficult. Thousands of people imagine they need a fine education in. order to write. Nothing is farther from the truth. The greatest .writers were the poorest scholars. People hes rarely learn to write at schools. They may get the principles there, but they really learn to write from the great wide, open, boundless Book of Humanity! Yes, seething all around you, every day, every hour, every minute. in the whirling vortex—the flotsam and the jetsam of Life—even in your own home, at work or play, are endless in- cidents for stories and plays—a wealth of material, a world of things happen- ing. Every one of these has the seed of a story or play in it. Think! TE you went to a fire, or saw an accident you could come home and tell the folks all about it. Unconsciously you would cage it all very realistically. And if somebody stood by and wrote down exactly what you said, you'd be amazed to find your story would sound just as interesting as many you’ve read in magazines or seen on the screen. Now you will naturally say, ‘Well, if Writ- ing is as simple as you say it is, why can’t IJ learn to write?’’ Who says you can’t? Listen! A wonderful free book has recently been written on this very sub- and women, young and old, by scores, May Allison, movie star known ject—a book that tells all about the now pounding typewriters, Or standing the world over, says: Irving System—a Startling New Easy behind counters, Or running spindles “Thave heard many Samous directors and Method of Writing Stories and Photo- in factories, bending Over sewing ma- editors warmly praise the Irving Systen. plays. chines, or doing housework. Yes—you Lam fully satisfied that yours is the ONLY This amazing book, called -‘'The may laugh—but these are The Writers method of writing that really teaches people | « Wonder Book for Wrilers,’’ shows how of To-morrow. For writing isn’t only for geniuses as most people think. Don't you believe the Creator gave you a _ story-wriling faculty just as he did the greatest writer? Only maybe you are simply ‘“‘bluffed’’ by the thought that you “haven't the gift."". Many people are simpiy afraid to try,: Or: if they do try and their first LETTERS LIKE THIS efforts don’t satisfy, they ARE POURING IN! simply give up in despair, “The best treatise of its | and that ends it. They're kind I have encountered in through. They never try as years of BENS EDe at again. Yet if, by ‘some terary_ work.’'—-H. | lucky chance, they had first 5 ced The Bingham- writing, and then given the im- “IT have already sold a agination free rein, they might synopsis—written accord- | have astonished the world! ing to Mr. Irving's instruc- But two things are essen- tions—for $500.00, and | ¢ja] jn order to become a ee ee ea oan writer.. First, to learn the CLARK, Portland, Ore. oceasit principles of writ- “Your book opened my ince. Second, to fearn to eyes to great possibilities. exercise your faculty of SR saath PY. ws as ty Thinking. By exercising a oday— 5.00. —H. . : BARLOW, Louisville, Ky. | thing, you develop it. Your “Mr. Irving has so sim- Imagination is something plified story and photoplay like your right arm. The writing that anyone. with more you use it the stronger ordinary intelligence ought it gets. The principles of to master it quickly.’’—B. writing are mo more com- M. JAMES, Dallas, Texas 1 h h ase f “T'gold my first story for | Plex. than the principles o &125.00. —A RTHUR spelling, arithmetic, or any MASTERS, Chicago, Ill. other simple thing that any- “To date I have sold two | body knows. Writers learn ing me how easy it is to | e@Sily as a child sets up a succeed when you know miniature house with his toy how.”"—EDWARD HAR- blocks. It is amazingly easy EL, Denver, Colo. after the mind grasps the simple “know how." A lit- how to write. stories and plays.’ easily stories and plays are conceived, written, perfected, sold. How many who. don’t dream they can write, suddenly find it out. How the Scenario Kings and the Story Queens live and work. How bright men and women, without any special experience, learn to their own amazement that their sim- nlest ideas may furnish brilliant plots for Plays and Stories. How one’s own Imagination may provide an endless gold-mine of ideas that bring Happy Success and Handsome Cash Royalties. How new writers get their names into print. How to tell if- you are a writer. How to develop your ‘‘story fancy,’’ weave clever word-pictures and unique, thrilling, realistic plots. How your frienc may be your worst judges. How to avoid discourage and the pitfalls of Failure. How to win! This surprising book is absolutely free. No charg we obligation. Your copy is waiting for you. Write for i* -cw. Get it. [t’s yours. Then you can pour your whole xc u ‘nto this magic new enchantment that has come into your life—stery and play writing. The lure of it, the love of it, the lvxury of it will fill your wasted hours and dull moments wit: :rofit and pleasure. You will have this noble, absorbing, *¥ 0: y-m, «ing new profession! And all in your spare time, with. .t iuter -ing with your regular job. Who says you can’t make “easy im 3y” with your brain! Whosays you can't turn your Thoughts into ih! Who says you can’t make your dreams come true! Nobouy k 3 —but the book will tell you. So, why waste any more time wondering, dreaming, waiting. Simply fill out the coupon below—you're not br ing Anything, you're getting it absolutely free. A book that may prove the Book of Your Destiny. A Magic Book thrr 'th which men and women, young and old, may learn to turn the e Yours into cash Get your letter in the mail hefore v ‘~-night. Whi knows—it may mean for you ithe Daw To-morrow !y Just address The Author's Press, Dept. 1 , Bo i ageasn ££ £ 4 ff f f @f f 4. bf * @ @ @ @@e 4.2 7 7 ame THE AUTHOR’S PRESS, Dept < oe. Send me ABSOLUTELY FREF, “Th. we >», ot. ers.’’ This does not obligate ™.:tnany , IN AINE ces oes bee DES oie ie Se ee BOOTCRS ~-Sc.cosie poate ree s abla ADVENTURE Published twice a month by The Ridgway Company at Spring and Mac iy $0 City. Yearly subscription $4.00 in advance; singlecopy 25 cents. — f September 3rd,1921 matter Oct. 1, 1910, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under: ou COMMMGCLOCe <S sC©