Certainly a contender for most prolific magazine writer ever: Frederick Faust (1892 to 1944), who wrote adventure stories under numerous pseudonyms, the most famous of which is Max Brand. According to Leslie McFarlane, in his charming memoir of his own pseudonymous career, "Ghost of the Hardy Boys," Faust routinely turned out 10,000 words a day and filled entire issues of magazines. Faust's Wikipedia entry puts his lifetime output somewhere between 25 million and 30 million words—and all before the days of computers. Faust was just 51 at the time of his death from shrapnel wounds while serving as a war correspondent in Italy.
PS: If you're a writer, editor, or anyone else interested in our field, please check out the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund, a very worthy organization that makes modest grants to professional freelance writers who are facing serious hardships. Contributions are tax-deductible and, as one of the trustees, I can tell you they're put to good use.
What a fascinating story: I'm in awe that someone who died so young wrote 25 to 30 million words!
Posted by: Lisa CC | January 19, 2010 at 08:16 AM
This is inspiring. I think I type quickly now because I had to learn to type on actual, finicky typewriters. Meeting deadlines with those was difficult but forced me to write tightly and accurately.
Posted by: jcorn | January 24, 2010 at 02:32 PM
Speaking of prolific writers, there was a Q&A with the famously productive Joyce Carol Oates in the Financial Times the other day, which included this revealing exchange:
Interviewer: What do you dislike about yourself?
Oates: My alarming proclivity for time-wasting.
Posted by: Greg | January 25, 2010 at 05:07 PM
As long as we’re discussing writers and productivity….
In its obituary this past Wednesday for Louis Auchincloss, who enjoyed a prolific writing career while also practicing law, The New York Times quoted from a 1997 interview in which he explained, “I think my secret is to use bits and fractions of time. I trained myself to do that. Anybody can do it.” Auchincloss was the author of more than 60 books.
Posted by: Greg | January 30, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Hi Greg,
We were just talking about you on Facebook -- a gang of former 13-30/Whittle folks. I did a Google search, and here you are!
I think you were one of the first writers I worked with, back in 1978 when I was a fledgling editor.
We all remember you as a great guy and fine editor. Hope you are well!
Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?
Posted by: Gina Pera | June 17, 2010 at 10:30 PM