The Parisienne
The following is in response to your question about what kind of fiction we want for The Parisienne and Saucy Stories:
The Parisienne and Saucy Stories differ only very slightly in type of fiction. Both want stories with very rapid action and strong, novel plots. The Parisienne wants romance, gaiety, adventure, mystery, in the foreign and society setting. Saucy Stories wants melodrama, adventure, mystery, romance, preferably in an American setting. Both prefer the sex element, though this is not absolutely essential. We want, however, to emphasize especially that neither magazine wants stories that are unpleasantly risqué. Occult stories are acceptable but nothing horrible.
But, as a matter of fact, it is easier to say what we do not want than what we do want—here are some of the constant rejections:
First and last, nothing that is risqué.
Fillers in which the mysterious he, she or it turns out to be a cat, dog or baby.
Stories in which the husband, wife or fiancé fails to recognize wife, husband or fiancée masquerading in any guise.
Stories in which the mysterious man whom husband suspects turns out to be the brother, or the unknown lady whom wife suspects turns out to be the sister.
Stories in which the denouement explains that the entire plot is merely a rehearsal for the movies or a play.
Stories in which the supposed farmer’s daughter turns out to be a famous movie star.
Stories in which the starving heroine is persuaded to play the part of an imaginary wife in order that the rich relative will leave his money to the nephew whom he wanted to see marry before passing on.
Stories in which a will demands that two people who hate each other marry and they do fall in love with one another.
Stories in which all complications are explained by the unknown existence of a twin.
War stories.
Suicide stories.
We realize that this list is quite incomplete, but we hope that it will act as a suggestion to would-be Parisienne and Saucy Stories contributors that they consider very carefully before submitting a story, whether the plot answer our first requisite—novelty.
And we want to make an earnest plea that authors will not only read this short article carefully, but will look over both magazines and get some idea of the type of fiction required before sending in stories that are totally unsuited to either publication.
The Editors.
The Parisienne.
Saucy Stories.
25 West Forty-fifth Street,
New York City.