Jack Woodford (1894–1971) was an American novelist and non-fiction writer,[1] author of successful pulp novels and non-fiction, including books on writing and getting published. Most famously, Woodford authored Trial and Error, which caused something of a scandal at the time of publication because of its no-holds-barred insights into the publishing industry.
Born Josiah Pitts Woolfolk,[1] he also wrote under the name Jack Woolfolk. The pen name "Jack Woodford" was derived from the first name of a writer he admired (Jack Lait, a writer for Hearst Publications) and the county where his father was born (Woodford County, Kentucky). Other pen names include Gordon Sayre, Sappho Henderson Britt, and Howard Hogue Kennedy.
Woodford grew up in Chicago when the dominant form of transportation was horse-drawn carriage. He was raised in well-to-do circumstances by his grandmother Annette (of Welsh stock) whom he called "Nettie". Nettie was a practicing member of Christian Science but was unable to bring Jack into the fold. Despite his general hatred of organized religion, Woodford joined the Freemasonry organization and remained a lifelong member.
His father was a doctor who started a private practice in Sioux City, Iowa, eventually moving it to Chicago. He later taught diagnosis at Rush Medical College, before dying at the age of forty-nine, likely from mercury poisoning. Calomel (mercurous chloride) was a popular medicine at the time and one the doctor himself used to excess. Woodford, always physically vibrant, thought of his father as a hypochondriac.
Woodford witnessed the Eastland disaster where the steamer ship rolled over in the Chicago River and killed 845 people. He gave a firsthand account to the Chicago newspaper the Herald-Examiner and described the event in Chapter 21 of his autobiography.
Woodford was married on November 20, 1916, to the 16-year-old Josephine Hutchings, and divorced 17 years later. The only child from this marriage, Louella Woolfolk (who wrote under the pen name Louella Woodford), was also a published author who, at the age of 18, wrote a 273-page novel titled Maid Unafraid that was published in 1937 by Godwin.
Woodford founded Jack Woodford Press in the 1930s and the company's work was distributed by Citadel in the 1940s. The editors of the company in the 1940s were Allan Wilson and Aaron Moses ("Moe") Shapiro.
Plotting (also published as Plotting - How to Have A Brain Child) (1939) details numerous methods of creating plots for short stories, novels, and other works of fiction.
Why Write A Novel? (1943, also published as How To Write and Sell A Novel)
Plotting For Every Kind of Writing
How To Write For Money (1944)
The Loud Literary Lamas of New York (1950)
Writer's Cramp (1953)
Jack Woodford On Writing (1979) Compiled, selected, and edited by Jess E. Stewart, Woodford Memorial Editions, Seattle WA, second edition 1980 ISBN0-9601574-1-7
The Autobiography of Jack Woodford (1962, published under Jack Woolfolk)
Home Away From Home (1962, a follow-up to the Autobiography describing the author's incarceration)
Tale Incredible: The True Story of Harry Stephen Keeler‘s Literary Rise Short article about Harry Stephen Keeler by Woodford published in the October 1934 issue of 10 Story Book.
January 01, 1970
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Jack Woodford news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Jack Woodford 1894 1971 was an American novelist and non fiction writer 1 author of successful pulp novels and non fiction including books on writing and getting published Most famously Woodford authored Trial and Error which caused something of a scandal at the time of publication because of its no holds barred insights into the publishing industry Jack WoodfordBornJosiah Pitts Woolfolk1894 1894 Woodford County KentuckyDied1971 aged 76 77 Occupation s Non fiction writer authorNotable workTrial and error Born Josiah Pitts Woolfolk 1 he also wrote under the name Jack Woolfolk The pen name Jack Woodford was derived from the first name of a writer he admired Jack Lait a writer for Hearst Publications and the county where his father was born Woodford County Kentucky Other pen names include Gordon Sayre Sappho Henderson Britt and Howard Hogue Kennedy Contents 1 Life 2 Selected bibliography 3 References 4 External linksLife editWoodford grew up in Chicago when the dominant form of transportation was horse drawn carriage He was raised in well to do circumstances by his grandmother Annette of Welsh stock whom he called Nettie Nettie was a practicing member of Christian Science but was unable to bring Jack into the fold Despite his general hatred of organized religion Woodford joined the Freemasonry organization and remained a lifelong member His father was a doctor who started a private practice in Sioux City Iowa eventually moving it to Chicago He later taught diagnosis at Rush Medical College before dying at the age of forty nine likely from mercury poisoning Calomel mercurous chloride was a popular medicine at the time and one the doctor himself used to excess Woodford always physically vibrant thought of his father as a hypochondriac Woodford witnessed the Eastland disaster where the steamer ship rolled over in the Chicago River and killed 845 people He gave a firsthand account to the Chicago newspaper the Herald Examiner and described the event in Chapter 21 of his autobiography Among the many famous contemporaries Woodford befriended the most notable are H L Mencken writer satirist James Branch Cabell novelist Sherwood Anderson composer George Antheil and poet Ezra Pound Woodford wrote a piece that was published in Pound s early Exile magazine He also accompanied Winston Churchill when the former Prime Minister visited New York City Woodford was married on November 20 1916 to the 16 year old Josephine Hutchings and divorced 17 years later The only child from this marriage Louella Woolfolk who wrote under the pen name Louella Woodford was also a published author who at the age of 18 wrote a 273 page novel titled Maid Unafraid that was published in 1937 by Godwin Woodford founded Jack Woodford Press in the 1930s and the company s work was distributed by Citadel in the 1940s The editors of the company in the 1940s were Allan Wilson and Aaron Moses Moe Shapiro Selected bibliography editNon fiction Trial and error 1933 Plotting also published as Plotting How to Have A Brain Child 1939 details numerous methods of creating plots for short stories novels and other works of fiction Why Write A Novel 1943 also published as How To Write and Sell A Novel Plotting For Every Kind of Writing How To Write For Money 1944 The Loud Literary Lamas of New York 1950 Writer s Cramp 1953 Jack Woodford On Writing 1979 Compiled selected and edited by Jess E Stewart Woodford Memorial Editions Seattle WA second edition 1980 ISBN 0 9601574 1 7 The Autobiography of Jack Woodford 1962 published under Jack Woolfolk Home Away From Home 1962 a follow up to the Autobiography describing the author s incarceration My Years With Capone How to Make Your Friends and Murder Your Enemies Published posthumously by Jess E Stewart in 1981 The Rabelaisian Letters of Jack Woodford The Secret Confessions of Joseph Stalin A third dimensional Creative Confession of Life and Destiny Fiction The Abortive Hussy 1947 Avon 146 City Limits the novel was adapted for the screen in 1934 https archive org details City Limits 1934 The College Crowd 1963 Cravings 1963 Ecstasy Girl 1948 Evangelical Cockroach an early 1929 collection of short stories Find the Motive Five Fatal Days Four Eves Free Lovers Gentlemen from Parnassus God s Lap Grounds for Divorce Love at Last 1948 The Hard Boiled Virgin 1947 Here is My Body Home Away from Home 1962 Illegitimate Illicit Indecent Iris Journey to Passion 1950 Revised version of God s Lap Lady Killers 1935 writing as Howard Kennedy Male and Female 1950 Mirage of Marriage Passion in the Pines 1956 Person To Person Call Possessed Rented Wife She Liked The Man Sin and Such 1930 Strangers In Love Surrender Tale Incredible The True Story of Harry Stephen Keeler s Literary Rise article Temptress Three Gorgeous Hussies 1948 Traded Lives Unmoral Vice Versa White HeatReferences edit a b Josiah Pitts Woolfolk The New York Times 17 May 1971 p 38 Retrieved 25 February 2024 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Jack Woodford Woodford Memorial Editions Jack Woodford at IMDb Tale Incredible The True Story of Harry Stephen Keeler s Literary Rise Short article about Harry Stephen Keeler by Woodford published in the October 1934 issue of 10 Story Book Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jack Woodford amp oldid 1211244699, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
