52.
1925:
Palmer, Sask. June 9,
1925
Dear Phelps,
I enclose a letter of Gordon's from the Forum.
I have promptly withdrawn all my material. Since you were
instrumental in bringing about this conduct, I'll give you
my reasons.
I do not intend conforming to the "tastes and requirements" of
any magazine or publisher; or - which is equivalent to that - I
do not intend to let them pick. I sent the Forum 9 articles
and sketches; they accepted 2. If they want me, it is they
who will have to conform to my "tastes and requirements".
That is, they will have to take what I give them. I have
the same trouble with Harper's. I don't mind writing the
trash some magazines want when I'm hard pressed for money.
But it will not appear under my name. If the Forum wants
one, they will have to take my stuff as a specimen of stuff
and present it to the public. But what I want to have appearing,
and in what form and order, I want to decide. I do not cater
to them.
I do not care a wrap about becoming a "best-seller".
Pierce rather frightens me. I do care to be a best seller
200 yrs. hence. That is my ambition of which I may fall short.
In fact, I am afraid to have not the solidity and strength
of writing which goes to make real literatures, but that
is what I aim at. If one twentieth of what I publish finally
satisfies me, I shall be content. Magazines and publishers
will finally come around if I can do what I want to do. Meanwhile
obscurity is my lot and I relish it.
That is the substance of what I wrote Gordon. Possibly you
will think me foolish. But I can't help that. It is the way
I feel and react. No use forcing myself.
I am thoroughly enjoying my holidays here in the bare clay
hills where poverty is poorest and humanity in its lowest
forms.
I hope you and yours are well.
Yours
F.P.G.
