17th November
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,
Such a blight has fallen over my literary career. I don't know whetherto tell you or not, but I would like some sympathy--silent sympathy,please; don't re-open the wound by referring to it in your next letter.
I've been writing a book, all last winter in the evenings, and all thesummer when I wasn't teaching Latin to my two stupid children. I justfinished it before college opened and sent it to a publisher. He keptit two months, and I was certain he was going to take it; but yesterdaymorning an express parcel came (thirty cents due) and there it was backagain with a letter from the publisher, a very nice, fatherlyletter--but frank! He said he saw from the address that I was still atcollege, and if I would accept some advice, he would suggest that I putall of my energy into my lessons and wait until I graduated beforebeginning to write. He enclosed his reader's opinion. Here it is:
'Plot highly improbable. Characterization exaggerated. Conversationunnatural. A good deal of humour but not always in the best of taste.Tell her to keep on trying, and in time she may produce a real book.'
Not on the whole flattering, is it, Daddy? And I thought I was makinga notable addition to American literature. I did truly. I wasplanning to surprise you by writing a great novel before I graduated.I collected the material for it while I was at Julia's last Christmas.But I dare say the editor is right. Probably two weeks was not enoughin which to observe the manners and customs of a great city.
I took it walking with me yesterday afternoon, and when I came to thegas house, I went in and asked the engineer if I might borrow hisfurnace. He politely opened the door, and with my own hands I chuckedit in. I felt as though I had cremated my only child!
I went to bed last night utterly dejected; I thought I was never goingto amount to anything, and that you had thrown away your money fornothing. But what do you think? I woke up this morning with abeautiful new plot in my head, and I've been going about all dayplanning my characters, just as happy as I could be. No one can everaccuse me of being a pessimist! If I had a husband and twelve childrenswallowed by an earthquake one day, I'd bob up smilingly the nextmorning and commence to look for another set.
Affectionately, Judy