A distinguished British critic, Professor Hugh Walker, remarks: There is no other form Of literature in which America is so eminent as in the writing of short stories. This dictum alone is sufficient justification for introducing a course in this subject into every college in the land. Not only is a better understanding and appreciation Of the finest short stories fostered by such a course, but not a few students find themselves able to write tales that are accepted by reputable American periodicals if not during their undergraduate years, at any rate Shortly afterward. Writing fiction for the magazines is both an art and a business. This volume accordingly aims to teach promis ing young authors, whether in or out Of college, how to write stories that shall be marketable as well as artistic. It attempts to state succinctly, and as clearly as may be, some fundamental principles of short-story writing. These principles are based upon somewhat extensive reading of short fiction in English, both classic and contemporary; Of a pretty large number of manuscripts submitted to important periodicals; and of most of the critical works on the short story. Many of the pages are written from the editorial standpoint. I have not attempted to set up an impracticable ideal on the one hand, nor to concede too much to the lower range of popular taste on the other.