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Pulp Era Writing Tips
Learn from some of the fiction writing greats of yesteryear! This book contains 17 articles on writing, written by pulp era authors, helping you - Several methods of plotting a story - How to make your characters memorable - How to study your genre - How to write a fight sequence - Tips for revising your novel - And much more...
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2018
146 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Bryce Beattie
25 books16 followersI’m addicted to pulp-styled fiction. When I was a kid, some careless adult left a tape with several episodes of “The Shadow” lying around. After I listened to that, I was hooked. Pretty soon, audio just wasn't enough and I moved on to to the paperback stuff. At first it was just hardboiled detective fiction, but then I started reading old Conan stories and yarns about John Carter of Mars. Now I'm pretty hopeless. In fact, I'm so deep into pulp fiction that I write my own. I also write stuff for my kids.
In real life, I'm the entire IT department at a real estate investment and management company. I usually just tell people that I'm a programmer, because that's my favorite part (& the largest part) of my job. In a perfect world, however, I'd be a full-time writer.
Other stuff: I’m very religious (LDS). Politically, I am just about a Libertarian. I love my family (a wife, three little girls, and a son). I enjoy radio theater, swing dancing, jazz and blues music, firearms, writing, reading and I believe in being prepared, laughing often, and showing respect to people around me.
Now you know everything.
In real life, I'm the entire IT department at a real estate investment and management company. I usually just tell people that I'm a programmer, because that's my favorite part (& the largest part) of my job. In a perfect world, however, I'd be a full-time writer.
Other stuff: I’m very religious (LDS). Politically, I am just about a Libertarian. I love my family (a wife, three little girls, and a son). I enjoy radio theater, swing dancing, jazz and blues music, firearms, writing, reading and I believe in being prepared, laughing often, and showing respect to people around me.
Now you know everything.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 22, 2018
This isn't a book, but a collection of articles curated by the editor with a few of his own thoughts thrown in. I have to hand it to Beattie for managing to find these and manage to put them together in a way that is logical and insightful.
As someone who has taken a keen interest in the pulp fiction style of writing that marked publishing for several decades (and in many ways is coming back now with indie publishing), I am always on the lookout for their advice. After all, these were people who considered writing their job and would sit at their desk for eight hours a day, everyday, pumping out stories. Stories that sell.
The usefulness of any non-fiction book to me is if I find a gem that changes my thinking or sparks my imagination in new ways. While there is much to sift through, my kindle has a slew of highlights and notes, each one with some addendum such as, "That's brilliant!" or *smacks forehead at such a good idea.*
Yes, you could find these articles for free online somewhere if you're willing to dig. However, given the very specific nature of what is being offered, would you really know what search parameters were needed?
This is a solid investment and I'm thankful for Beattie for putting it together.
As someone who has taken a keen interest in the pulp fiction style of writing that marked publishing for several decades (and in many ways is coming back now with indie publishing), I am always on the lookout for their advice. After all, these were people who considered writing their job and would sit at their desk for eight hours a day, everyday, pumping out stories. Stories that sell.
The usefulness of any non-fiction book to me is if I find a gem that changes my thinking or sparks my imagination in new ways. While there is much to sift through, my kindle has a slew of highlights and notes, each one with some addendum such as, "That's brilliant!" or *smacks forehead at such a good idea.*
Yes, you could find these articles for free online somewhere if you're willing to dig. However, given the very specific nature of what is being offered, would you really know what search parameters were needed?
This is a solid investment and I'm thankful for Beattie for putting it together.
May 30, 2019
Muy interesante compendio de artículos auténticos de la primera mitad del siglo XX, rescatados de los viejos magazines de la época. Consuela pensar que los escritores nos enfrentamos a los mismos problemas desde el principio de los tiempos, y varios de los consejos que aparecen siguen siendo tan válidos ahora como cuando se escribieron, en algunos casos hace cien años. Eso sí, si no te gusta el tema, el libro no te va a gustar tampoco.
July 9, 2018
Collection of writing advice from past masters
The editor has gathered in one place a collection of essays on developing a career as a writer of pulp fiction. Well worth the read. The few typos that crop should be removed from the digital edition. A bugaboo indie authors all have to deal with.
The editor has gathered in one place a collection of essays on developing a career as a writer of pulp fiction. Well worth the read. The few typos that crop should be removed from the digital edition. A bugaboo indie authors all have to deal with.
September 16, 2018
A great selection of articles
Okay, this won't appeal to every writer out there, which is a real shame as the advice is rock solid no matter what genre you're writing in.
Okay, this won't appeal to every writer out there, which is a real shame as the advice is rock solid no matter what genre you're writing in.
July 15, 2019
A compilation of writing tips from the pulp era . . .
As this is a compilation of multiple articles from the pulp era in the topic of writing (specifically, writing for the pulps, not so much the slicks or novels or such), I found this book useful and fascinating, though necessarily varied in quality with the different authors and articles. The author of the compilation helpfully tries to distill the same essence of each article in a summary after each article. Worth reading for writers of pulp-style fiction, and for writers in general, I think.
As this is a compilation of multiple articles from the pulp era in the topic of writing (specifically, writing for the pulps, not so much the slicks or novels or such), I found this book useful and fascinating, though necessarily varied in quality with the different authors and articles. The author of the compilation helpfully tries to distill the same essence of each article in a summary after each article. Worth reading for writers of pulp-style fiction, and for writers in general, I think.
October 10, 2018
My working life since I was 20 has involved writing in some way: journalism, business writing, and so on. My goal, however, has always been to be a successful fiction writer. So I have been researching and reading about writing even before that: I subscribed to Writer’s Digest when I couldn’t afford other magazines. I’ve also been a big fan of pulp fiction, and have read some excellent stories from the old days.
PULP ERA WRITING TIPS, edited by Bryce Beattie, therefore called out to me. I was hoping for insight from the old-time heavy hitters. Maybe Erle Stanley Gardner. Louis L’Amour. Max Brand. Robert Heinlein. Poul Anderson. Those kind of guys. So I was a little disappointed to find the book a collection of public domain articles, primarily from Writer’s Digest. The writers, as one might expect, were successful pulp writers, though not household names today. Even so, most had something interesting to say.
I enjoyed reading some of the marketing advice about magazines and sub-genres that haven’t been seen for decades. (“Gangster stories,” anybody?) I also smiled at some of the references, now dated, but were news at the time: “Writers who are keeping up with popular demand in the men’s action field are supplying this demand at editorial rates which are quite adequate to keep them from joining the army of unemployment which Roosevelt plans to collect for reforestation work.” (To those not familiar with Depression-era history, one of the many New Deal programs involved hiring an army of young men to work in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Ask your American History teacher if you need more information.)
What was most interesting, though perhaps not surprising, is that the most basic advice to beginning writers was the same 70 or 80 years ago as today.
“Never send out any stories until you have read and carefully studied several issues of the magazines to which you intend to submit manuscripts,” an article in a 1933 issue of Writer’s Digest tells us. “Then, when your stories are written, make sure that they are as well written and as well plotted, though original, as the stories which the editors are buying.”
Other tidbits include:
“Successful fiction is fiction that is interesting to read, in which the people behave consistently and don’t let the reader down.”
“Reveal the special quality of your character by what he says and by what he does and by what he thinks.”
“You have good motivation when you have satisfied the reader as to why people do things.”
“Unless your plot theme appeals to your own imagination, it is not likely to absorb the interest of the reader!”
And, finally, to really show that nothing much changes over time, consider this from 1958:
“All stories are hard to write for all authors. There is in each story a point where the author falters, caught in his own step, stands in stony silence in thought, then goes ahead in his best manner, wondering at his inadequateness.”
PULP ERA WRITING TIPS, edited by Bryce Beattie, therefore called out to me. I was hoping for insight from the old-time heavy hitters. Maybe Erle Stanley Gardner. Louis L’Amour. Max Brand. Robert Heinlein. Poul Anderson. Those kind of guys. So I was a little disappointed to find the book a collection of public domain articles, primarily from Writer’s Digest. The writers, as one might expect, were successful pulp writers, though not household names today. Even so, most had something interesting to say.
I enjoyed reading some of the marketing advice about magazines and sub-genres that haven’t been seen for decades. (“Gangster stories,” anybody?) I also smiled at some of the references, now dated, but were news at the time: “Writers who are keeping up with popular demand in the men’s action field are supplying this demand at editorial rates which are quite adequate to keep them from joining the army of unemployment which Roosevelt plans to collect for reforestation work.” (To those not familiar with Depression-era history, one of the many New Deal programs involved hiring an army of young men to work in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Ask your American History teacher if you need more information.)
What was most interesting, though perhaps not surprising, is that the most basic advice to beginning writers was the same 70 or 80 years ago as today.
“Never send out any stories until you have read and carefully studied several issues of the magazines to which you intend to submit manuscripts,” an article in a 1933 issue of Writer’s Digest tells us. “Then, when your stories are written, make sure that they are as well written and as well plotted, though original, as the stories which the editors are buying.”
Other tidbits include:
“Successful fiction is fiction that is interesting to read, in which the people behave consistently and don’t let the reader down.”
“Reveal the special quality of your character by what he says and by what he does and by what he thinks.”
“You have good motivation when you have satisfied the reader as to why people do things.”
“Unless your plot theme appeals to your own imagination, it is not likely to absorb the interest of the reader!”
And, finally, to really show that nothing much changes over time, consider this from 1958:
“All stories are hard to write for all authors. There is in each story a point where the author falters, caught in his own step, stands in stony silence in thought, then goes ahead in his best manner, wondering at his inadequateness.”
July 3, 2021
Articles from the first half of the 20th century. While writing principles never get old, some of these writers betray their penny a word training by droning on and on beating their dead horse. Even while preaching 'economy'.
The very simplicity of this system is well past the experimental stage, having been used by a number of writers with unvarying success since it was first originated by the present writer some years ago, and as it is based on the accepted principles of plot construction and offers a quick and practicable plan for applying those principles to a successful end, I venture to hope that is will prove an inspiration to those writers, beginners as well as “old timers,” who will give it careful study and a thorough test.
To clarify the method of using such an outline we will analyze in detail a true mystery story recently published after being revised to overcome a common difficulty in such writing the difficulty being that as a matter of fact and rather early in the chronology the sheriff knows quite well who committed the crime in question.
Worth a buck. Not sure it was worth the hour to read it.
The very simplicity of this system is well past the experimental stage, having been used by a number of writers with unvarying success since it was first originated by the present writer some years ago, and as it is based on the accepted principles of plot construction and offers a quick and practicable plan for applying those principles to a successful end, I venture to hope that is will prove an inspiration to those writers, beginners as well as “old timers,” who will give it careful study and a thorough test.
To clarify the method of using such an outline we will analyze in detail a true mystery story recently published after being revised to overcome a common difficulty in such writing the difficulty being that as a matter of fact and rather early in the chronology the sheriff knows quite well who committed the crime in question.
Worth a buck. Not sure it was worth the hour to read it.
March 6, 2021
Not much new here. Move along.
The more I read this kind of book, the more I appreciate that the fundamental issues with regards to crafting a novel are the same, whatever the genre. And this book promised be a glimpse into crafting a specific genre. But what I find is a collection of old articles that tread the same old ground as numerous others. Which is a shame. I would have liked to have seen worked examples of classics in the genre, comments from editors, things that set the genre aside from others, working an idea into a rough draft or outline. Oh well. It if you need a primer on ideas, despite the age of the articles, this collection might serve you well. It just didn’t spark my enthusiasm as much as I had hoped.
The more I read this kind of book, the more I appreciate that the fundamental issues with regards to crafting a novel are the same, whatever the genre. And this book promised be a glimpse into crafting a specific genre. But what I find is a collection of old articles that tread the same old ground as numerous others. Which is a shame. I would have liked to have seen worked examples of classics in the genre, comments from editors, things that set the genre aside from others, working an idea into a rough draft or outline. Oh well. It if you need a primer on ideas, despite the age of the articles, this collection might serve you well. It just didn’t spark my enthusiasm as much as I had hoped.
March 4, 2023
What I Liked
There's much to be liked about this book. The advice collected in it has been curated, which is always a great help. Even if these tips were given back in the 1930's, they're prevalent today if you're a writer looking to be published.
What I Meh'd
Like any other independently published book, one is to find typos across the text. It's something that can't be helped, and that is even to be expected. I do not mind it, but neither do I like it.
The spacing between the lines could have been better adjusted.
What I Disliked
Don't get this book if your a new writer. Get your fundamentals from classes first, and then get this book to reinforce your knowledge, and see other points of view.
There's much to be liked about this book. The advice collected in it has been curated, which is always a great help. Even if these tips were given back in the 1930's, they're prevalent today if you're a writer looking to be published.
What I Meh'd
Like any other independently published book, one is to find typos across the text. It's something that can't be helped, and that is even to be expected. I do not mind it, but neither do I like it.
The spacing between the lines could have been better adjusted.
What I Disliked
Don't get this book if your a new writer. Get your fundamentals from classes first, and then get this book to reinforce your knowledge, and see other points of view.
September 16, 2018
Okay, the five stars apply for people interested in pulp fiction, not so much for connoisseurs of sophisticated literature only.
I am an author only in an alternate universe. Still, it was interesting for me to look under the hood and see how the hack writers did their magic.
The book has advice from long-ago issues of Writers Digest covering Westerns, Detectives, True Crime, Science Fiction, and Romances. All have their requirements. I got a special kick out of the rules of the romances.
Quick, easy and affordable eBook.
I am an author only in an alternate universe. Still, it was interesting for me to look under the hood and see how the hack writers did their magic.
The book has advice from long-ago issues of Writers Digest covering Westerns, Detectives, True Crime, Science Fiction, and Romances. All have their requirements. I got a special kick out of the rules of the romances.
Quick, easy and affordable eBook.
March 24, 2019
Informative time capsule of writing tips from the heyday of pulp fiction
This is a useful collection of advice for writers drawn from Pulp era issues of Writer’s Digest and like publications. Some of the advice is dated and merely of historical interest, but there is much actionable writing wisdom to be found here. Most applicable if you aim to write in the old pulp style, but also adaptable to more contemporary genre fiction.
The text is marred slightly by too many typos and formatting errors. They are minor, but annoying.
This is a useful collection of advice for writers drawn from Pulp era issues of Writer’s Digest and like publications. Some of the advice is dated and merely of historical interest, but there is much actionable writing wisdom to be found here. Most applicable if you aim to write in the old pulp style, but also adaptable to more contemporary genre fiction.
The text is marred slightly by too many typos and formatting errors. They are minor, but annoying.
September 16, 2018
Timeless tips from wordsmiths of the past
The more things change, the more they remain the same. Writers of today will get a kick out of reading advice from authors of the thirties and forties who wrote for Writer's Digest. The basic advice behind each article is never dated, even though modern writing markets have radically changed. There's helpful takeaway from each article that modern writers can apply to their own works in progress.
The more things change, the more they remain the same. Writers of today will get a kick out of reading advice from authors of the thirties and forties who wrote for Writer's Digest. The basic advice behind each article is never dated, even though modern writing markets have radically changed. There's helpful takeaway from each article that modern writers can apply to their own works in progress.
September 26, 2018
Good articles in want of copy editor
The articles are a good representation of pulp writing advice. However the OCR scans were not checked against the original articles, with frequent mistakes the result. These were mostly stray punctuation, particularly stray en-dashes. The word choices however occasionally required a decoder ring to figure out.
The articles are a good representation of pulp writing advice. However the OCR scans were not checked against the original articles, with frequent mistakes the result. These were mostly stray punctuation, particularly stray en-dashes. The word choices however occasionally required a decoder ring to figure out.
July 5, 2025
This one's interesting: a collection of how to write articles from the 1920s-40s. Unsurprisingly, a lot of the advice is the same that you'd see today, but it's interesting to see the shift in emphasis. Also how some of it is quite dated: the article "How to Write Love Scenes" is fascinating, in a horrifying kind of way.
August 20, 2018
Nice Collection of Articles on Writing From Pulp Era
A quick read. The editor has chosen some nice short articles that previously ran in Pulp Era periodicals like Readers Digest.
The basics of writing are some what the same, but no technology
A quick read. The editor has chosen some nice short articles that previously ran in Pulp Era periodicals like Readers Digest.
The basics of writing are some what the same, but no technology
April 17, 2024
It gave me a lot to think about for future writings. A great collection of established and famous pulp fiction writers with their tips on how to make you novel even more compelling and noteworthy. Looking forward to using some of the suggestions
September 2, 2018
Don't let 'pulp' or the dates put you off. These collected articles are a wealth of writing tips. Storytelling is storytelling, regardless of era.
October 6, 2018
A vital read for all writers of fiction. I enjoyed it
April 11, 2019
Nothing groundbreaking, or even particularly insightful. Parts of it were amusing, but I can't recommend it.
March 17, 2020
I really love this idea and the book is chock full of worthwhile thoughts... I just wish the editor had taken a few more days with it and cleaned up the text a bit more.
September 10, 2020
I really loved this book for its helpful tips on writing in this style and doing it quickly.
January 29, 2023
Great collection of essays and articles on writing from the golden age of Pulps. Lots of good advice to be found in this one. Highly recommend.
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December 22, 2023Did this guy take a bunch of old articles, package them together, and start selling it in a book with his name on it? Because that's what it seems like.
March 18, 2020
This is an excellent collection of Pulp writer tips from the 1920's - 1950's. While everything is not gold to me, what I found to be gold was worth every penny of the purchase. All 99 of them!
Honestly, this little book packs a punch of ideas, theories, concepts, and thoughts on the business of writing pulp!
Essentially, this is a collection of 17 Articles from Writer's Digest from authors through the years. The gems are priceless and worth reading and re-reading.
Every author could stand to learn a thing or two from these writers in the past.
Honestly, this little book packs a punch of ideas, theories, concepts, and thoughts on the business of writing pulp!
Essentially, this is a collection of 17 Articles from Writer's Digest from authors through the years. The gems are priceless and worth reading and re-reading.
Every author could stand to learn a thing or two from these writers in the past.
March 17, 2019
É um livro compilando artigos sobre escrita de grandes nomes do pulp durante o auge do gênero. Apesar de algumas dicas ultrapassadas, a meu ver, o capítulo sobre como estruturar um conto — "Plotting the sort-story" — já vale o preço do livro e a leitura. O autor mostra como ter um caderno de ideias, como montar a estrutura, como fazer o brainstorm a partir das ideias soltas e encaixar o enredo na estrutura. E ele mostra tudo na prática, montando histórias no artigo, desde a fundação até ela estar pronta pra publicação.
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