I think of "venue" in terms of a lecture hall, not a literary market. But that is because my income is based on writing for the lecture and stage, not the publisher. I agree that the subscription era created ideal conditions for padding, both to increase book revenue and as a cross-marketing strategy. IA is a great starting point, but I submit that anywhere you find repetition and "stuffed" sentences during that period, you will uncover evidence of writing for the subscription market. Now I will have to reread post-Webster titles to verify my premise unless others here can chime in with additions and corrections. Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 9, 2018, at 11:33 AM, Taylor Roberts <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > _Innocents Abroad_ (1869) seems a great place to look, since it was his > first book, and seems needlessly wordy in many places. Was he trying to > fill pages in order to hit the large size demanded by the subscription book > market? > > The prose of IA provides a useful contrast to his writing in other genres > at the same time, e.g., his letters, and articles for Buffalo Express, are > more concise. > > Great idea, but I don't know if anyone has researched this! > > Take care > Taylor > > >> On Fri, Feb 9, 2018 at 10:45 AM, Harris, Susan Kumin <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> >> Twain/Lit people please note. A friend asked me this question about >> studie= >> s of the relationship between Twain's writing style and his venues. I >> thin= >> k it's a fascinating topic but not one I'm up on. Can anyone help her? >> >> >> Reply to me via the Forum, and I'll buck the replies to her. Thanks, >> every= >> one! --susan harris >> >> >> Susan K. Harris >> >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Shaker, Bonnie <[log in to unmask]> >> Sent: Friday, February 9, 2018 9:17 AM >> To: Harris, Susan Kumin >> Subject: Twain: pay-per-word and style? >> >> Hi Susan, >> >> I hope your post-conference time finds you well! >> >> I am preparing an article on the importance of studying the material >> contin= >> gencies of literary writing, and I wondered if Twain might provide a >> useful= >> example. >> >> Has there been work equating Twain's style or length of prose with the >> mate= >> rial conditions of production for sequel magazine installments paid by the >> = >> word? Or has this approach been debunked by scholars as a way to view >> Twain= >> 's writing? Do you have suggestions of work I should consult? (mine is not >> = >> a piece on Twain, just American magazine writing in the 19th-c.). >> >> I will certainly conduct my own research, but for a North Star pointing me >> = >> in a direction, I could think of no one better than you. >> >> Wishing you all the best, >> Bonnie >> >> >> Bonnie Shaker, Ph.D. >> Assistant Professor of English >> [cid:image002.jpg@01D3A18F.2E6088B0] >> Geauga Campus: 14111 Claridon-Troy Rd., Burton, OH 44021 >> main: 440-834-4187 >> direct: 440-834-3725 >> www.kent.edu/geauga >>