Thanks to a copyright extension introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and endorsed by Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) in 1998 encouraged by big media companies including Disney, there was a 20 year delay in adding anything to the public domain. What had been a 75-year single term for works for hire became an innovation-stunting 95 […]
The Ted Scott series takes off
The first volume of the Ted Scott series was an obvious retelling of the first solo Transatlantic flight by Charles A. Lindbergh in May 1927. From time to time a reference is made to how quickly the story was rushed into print. An examination of the dates is interesting. Charles Lindbergh departed from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, […]
Ghostwriting in the Mega-Books era 3
In a further exploration of the Mega-Books writers’ guidelines from the early 1990s, some of the topics which were off limits in the Syndicate era were allowed (murder) while some topics used in early books (drugs or alcohol) were prohibited.
Ghostwriting in the Mega-Books Era 2
A guide to writers of Nancy Drew books for Mega-Books provides details on the scope of the modern series. The procedures were different from those used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate.
Happy Birthday Edward Stratemeyer
Happy Birthday, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams
Celebrating Edward Stratemeyer’s eldest daughter, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, who led the Stratemeyer Syndicate for more than half a century, twice the span her father was in charge.
Write your NaNoWriMo Novel Like a Classic Nancy Drew...
The Nancy Drew books had a wide range of mysteries but they were not murder mysteries. The formula for stories was refined to direct the number and placement of illustrations and cliffhanger chapter endings.
Write your NaNoWriMo Novel Like a Classic Nancy Drew...
For a writer who is a plotter (rather than a “pantser”), the outline is an important guide to the project. See how the Stratemeyer Syndicate outlines evolved over time.
Write your NaNoWriMo Novel Like a Classic Nancy Drew...
Would you like to write your next National Novel Writing Month project like a Nancy Drew mystery story or another classic Stratemeyer Syndicate book (original, of course?). In this thee-part series learn how the Syndicate produced its popular books.
Hybrid Airship Inspirations: Santos-Dumont
Photographs and articles in popular science publications influenced the Syndicate stories. The Santos-Dumont No. 14bis seems to have made an impression on Stratemeyer, Garis, and their artists.