|
On
the Books...
One
of Mark Twain's typewriters, a Hammond model circa 1880
Who was
the first writer to submit a typewritten manuscript?
Mark Twain with "Life
on the Mississippi" (1883). A sucker for
new gadgets, he was one of
the first people to buy a typewriter,
calling it a "curiosity-breeding
little joker."
What
people first kept written records?
That honor probably goes to the ancient
Babylonians. Clay books
have been found containing land sales, business agreements,
and judgments—dated at more than 5,000 years ago. Who
invented the modern book?
Most
people credit the Chinese with inventing books as we know
them today. Five
hundred years before Johannes Gutenberg became
famous for printing with movable
type, the Chinese had begun
doing so using porcelain or metal plates. In
addition, the
Chinese were creating covers and tide pages and were binding
manuscripts in a similar way to our modem book.
How
much does the average writer or editor make in a year?
According
to the latest from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and
Statistics, beginning salaries
for writers and editorial
assistants average $21,000, making them some of
the lowest-paying
jobs of all. After five years on the job, writers and editors
make
about $30,000. Senior editors at the largest newspapers can earn
up to $67,000. These figures are for salaried positions; a large
proportion
of writers and editors freelance, making their job
security virtually nonexistent.
Who
is the most successful book author
writing in the English language?
While
the richest author is Stephen King, whose estimated worth
is over $84 million,
the top-selling author of all time is Agatha
Christie. She wrote 78 mystery
novels that have sold an
estimated two billion copies.
From
... "Just Curious, Jeeves" by Erin Barrett & Jack Mingo 
| 
GET
OUR
