Mademoiselle
A women's magazine that published fiction and ran from the 1930s to 2001.
Where Mademoiselle comes up1 episode or test
- About 20,000 words
- Bought for $800
- 1970s
- 3,000 to 5,000 words
- Author never noticed a missing word
Hard cuts went unnoticed by the author
From Francine Prose's story, as told in the note
What was said about Mademoiselle
Mademoiselle cut a 20,000-word story to a fraction, and the author never noticed. In the 1970s Mademoiselle bought Francine Prose's story of about 20,000 words for $800 and printed only 3,000 to 5,000 words. She never noticed a missing word.
The experience taught her to cut hard and enjoy it. She now uses the word counter as a reward, and says losing 2,000 words without missing any is "like losing weight without having to not eat".
This Is What a Harvard Writing Masterclass Feels Like (Francine Prose Interview)
In the 1970s it bought Prose's 20,000-word story for $800 but printed only 3,000 to 5,000 words, and she never noticed a missing word.
Mademoiselle cut a 20,000-word story to a fraction, and the author never noticed. In the 1970s Mademoiselle bought Francine Prose's story of about 20,000 words for $800 and printed only 3,000 to 5,000 words. She never noticed a missing word.
The experience taught her to cut hard and enjoy it. She now uses the word counter as a reward, and says losing 2,000 words without missing any is "like losing weight without having to not eat".
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