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YOU AND THE EDITOR 137 If you receive a script without message of any sort do not feel insulted. Most offices use a rejection slip which is enclosed with each return, but in some offices the envelopes are given to an office boy to fill in and seal. It may be that he will overlook one or two and yours may be one of these. If your script is returned with- out any printed form, you can guess that it is not wanted, and this, after all, is the important thing. You may take positive assurance that your script has been read by some competent person; not through, perhaps, but to a point where the reader is assured that it is not suitable. It is perfectly useless to ask for a second reading or to write and ask that you be informed just why the script was returned. If you send the script it will not be read again and if you do not send the script it would be impossible to reply. Bear this one fact in mind. The Editor is hired by his em- ployer to select from the mass of stuff sent in, the stories suitable for the use of that studio and to get these in proper form for the directors. It is no part of the editorial duties to instruct you in the art of photoplay writing or to engage in an extended corres- pondence with you on any subject. It is your part to discover precisely what the studio's wants are through a study of the films shown on the screen or through a constant study of the synopses of releases published each week in THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. Few, if any of the studios now receipt for stories, but if you de- sire a receipt, you may enclose a postal card with the request that it be returned to you as soon as the script is received. The best form is simply worded, something like this: Your manuscript Loved by Another has been received and will be passed upon in due time. BLANK FILM COMPANY. This is not a receipt in the legal sense for, for by common usage it is understood that a studio shall use due care in hand- ling scripts while in its custody but that it is not responsible for the loss of a story in transit or in the studio. If a story comes back all dirty and disfigured, write a courteous note free from complaint or sarcasm, returning the script and setting forth the facts. Most studios will have the script recopied for you or send you a copying fee. If you get no action on your story in six or eight weeks, send a stamped and addressed envelope for reply, state the title of the story and date sent and ask if it has been lost in the mail or being held for decision. Take it for granted that it is one of these two reasons. Do not ask him why the story has not been read nor hint that you are starving to death waiting for a check.