POSSIBLE SUBJECTS
I promised, earlier in this book, to insert some suggestions about possible subjects for future Little Blue Books. I add here a paragraph or two in which I shall state briefly some of the gaps existing in the series when I write this book (January, 1929). These gaps may, of course, be filled before you happen to secure and read my informal instructions and advice. The proper procedure is for you to write for an assignment, outlining your ability and experience; if you get the assignment, good luck to you!
The sports titles in the Little Blue Books are sparse. At the moment, baseball, golf, swimming, and hiking or camping are the only “sports” covered. Tennis, I believe, will be taken care of shortly. But there is room for someone who knows sports to handle football, basketball, winter sports, outdoor games, gymnasium stunts, calisthenics, boxing, racing (of various kinds), track, angling, etc. Mind you—write to the Editor first, before you begin work! Even then, you must deliver a satisfactory manuscript after a subject is assigned to you, or it will not be accepted.
Many commercial subjects are possibilities. There are stenography, bookkeeping, accountancy, office management, and so on. Possibly a book explaining taxes, or telling how to figure your own income tax, might be acceptable. If you are an accountant and know how to write, there are some chances here for you!
All sorts of how to do books are in demand. Plumbing, electricity, repairing automobiles or radios, engineering, aviation, carpentry, metallurgy, and so on—the field is vast. But you must both know your subject and know how to write understandably—slipshod methods are not tolerated in Girard.
We have How to Play the Piano. Simple lesson books for other musical instruments: the drums, the saxophone, the cornet, the trombone, etc., might all prove acceptable.
Travel books are a new field, just now being tried. If the first experimental titles go well, there might be more in demand.
Topics of the hour are often pretty good bets. For example, such topics as the following have already been covered: Companionate marriage, prohibition, capital punishment, petting parties, the younger generation, etc. A new topic may leap into prominence any day.
Hobbies are an untouched field as yet. Some riders of hobbies who can pound out well-phrased sentences on a typewriter should write to E. Haldeman-Julius. I think something might come of it one of these days.
You may have other ideas. Perhaps they are good ideas. Write to the Editor about them. If he takes a fancy to one of your suggestions, you will be sure to hear from him!