773. The Man Hunter.—Few writings are more fascinating than detective stories, and no one has more interesting matter to relate than one of the sleuths of the law. Think of “Sherlock Holmes,” whom Conan Doyle created, and who has made piles of money for his author.
774. Story of a Ragpicker.—It is a new idea. Did a ragpicker ever write before? But he must have had many interesting experiences. Transfer the stories from his tongue to your pen. Paste these uncouth patches into a literary crazy-quilt as an experienced writer knows how to do, and you will have a book whose title will advertise it, and whose unique contents will make it sell.
775. Story of a Diver.—Under the ocean! Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” actualized! No one can have more thrilling experiences than a diver. Catch the homely words from his lips, gild them with a lively imagination, color them with an expert pen, and you have a book whose sales will astonish you.
776. Story of a Convict.—Here is another new idea. The under side of life is seldom if ever told. Who knows what the convict thinks, feels, and suffers? Let a narrative be written from a convict’s point of view. Let him tell how he committed the crime, how he was induced to do it, how he felt when he was doing it, his motives and hopes, the account of his arrest, what his lawyer said to him, his trial, condemnation, and sentence. Then his long imprisonment. A convict who is a good talker could easily give you material which you could skillfully work up into an attractive book, as novel as it would be interesting. Much of the success of “Les Miserables” was due to the vivid portrayal of the sufferings of Jean Valjean.
777. The Stowaway.—Another unique idea! Stowaways are constantly crossing the ocean. Get his story. Tell pathetically his motives for crossing the water, and the account of his privations on shipboard. Here is matter for another Robinson Crusoe.
778. Wheel and World.—“Across the Continent on a Bicycle!” “Around the World on a Wheel!” These are attractive titles. All wheelmen—there are 300,000 in New York alone—would read it. If you have not made the journey yourself, get some one who has, for a small sum, to tell you the story.
779. Story of a Fireman.—A fireman dwells in the midst of alarms. A veteran fireman has been to thousands of fires. Let him tell you twenty or thirty of them in his own way, the thrilling adventures, the hairbreadth escapes, the heroic rescues, and the magnificent and appalling scenes. Every fireman would buy the book, and, if well written, all the fireman’s friends, which means about everybody.
780. In a Balloon.—Here is a most attractive field which has never been occupied. Edgar Poe’s “Journey to the Moon” is celebrated, but it is only a phantasy, while we may have an equally interesting reality—not indeed of a journey to the moon, but through the clouds. If the narrative could be combined with a romance, this might be made the book of the day, which, of course, means many thousands of dollars in the pockets of the author.
781. Story of an Engineer.—Another man whose life is worth relating is that of an old engineer. Fill the book with an account of his wonderful runs and his thrilling adventures on frontier roads. Of course, there must be horrible accidents, daring “hold-ups,” bold train robberies, stalling in snowbanks, fleeing from prairie fires, and racing with engines of rival roads.
782. Story of a Murderer.—Let the criminal give his version of the affair. Not every murderer has a story, or is willing to tell it; but out of hundreds of convicts you should be able to weave a tale as lurid as Blackbeard among the pirates or Bluebeard among the fairies. If it be a recent and celebrated case which has cut a large figure in the newspapers, so much the better.