                          Copyright, (C), 1992, 
     
                            MENTOR PUBLICATIONS
                               Drawer 1549-T
                           Asbury Park NJ 07712
           *****************************************************
     
                           HOW TO GET PUBLISHED
     
        This quiz is based on a sampling of research notes made during
     the editing of three successful action/fiction manuscripts for
     technical realism.  As freelance researchers it would be less than
     ethical for us to mention the writer's name, but two of the three
     manuscripts were published as novels, the third eventually became
     the pilot for a very popular tv police drama series.  
     
        In the process of researching this type of information we
     tracked down and read hundreds of books, manuals, and reports, many
     of which weren't worth the effort.  But the substantive, useful
     ones became part of our own collection, which we've appropriately
     named The Intelligence Library.
     
        The purpose of this quiz is to provide the writer of
     spy/detective/mystery stories with a source of interesting
     technical facts to work into their stories, thereby adding the
     vitally important component of realism.  As every working writer
     knows, realism is what sells action/fiction, not merely artful
     fabrication.
     
        "Winging it" won't fool the least experienced editor. In fact,
     submitting an action/fiction story that contains one vague, wholly
     contrived, nonsensical technical sequence after another is asking
     for a rejection slip.  It really doesn't matter whether a story has
     a great plot, good character development, lots of suspense and a
     few moist love scenes.  If it doesn't contain solid technical
     realism it simply will not interest or entertain the hard-core
     action/ fiction buff.  (Some contemporary examples of the impor-
     tance of technical realism in the tv script are, McGiver, Mission
     Impossible, Columbo, and Murder She Wrote .) 
     
        As a simple exercise, visit a bookstore and read a few pages
     from some ordinary budget shelf spy/detective/intrigue novels (or
     detective magazines).  Then go to the best sellers and read a few
     pages from anything by Tom Clancy.  The difference will be readily
     apparent:  Mr. Clancy obviously understands the value of detailed
     realism and the importance of research.  Ordinary writers obviously
     do not.
     
        Unless one has a background in deep cover police work, counter-
     intelligence, or corporate espionage, it is likely that the first
     pass through the Black Bag Trivia Quiz will be somewhat baffling
     because of the esoteric nature of the questions.  But anyone who
     is interested in writing a publishable action/fiction story will
     immediately recognize the value of these unusual Q & As.  
     
        The writer who has tried unsuccessfully to market an action/
     fiction piece is advised to try the following:  Run through the
     Black Bag Trivia Quiz once or twice, being sure to read the answer
     summaries, then go back and edit the rejected manuscript, flavoring
     appropriate segments with accurate, realistic facts.  For example,
     don't just say that a main character carries "a gun."  Talk about
     the gun a bit: Is it a revolver or an automatic?  How many
     cartridges does it hold.  What are its special qualities,  and what
     does your major character like about it?  This kind of detailed
     realism is characteristic of the work of such luminaries as Mickey
     Spillane, Ellery Queen, and other well known mystery writers.    
     
        When you've made the necessary changes in your ms (manuscript),
     flavoring the tale with some interesting facts, select a page with
     some realistic sequences on it, copy it, highlight the action, clip
     the sample page to the cover sheet of your manuscript and re-
     submit it.  This will almost guarantee that it winds up on the
     "read" pile, rather than the "return" pile, or in the round file. 
     Because editors know that substantial facts are the rafters and
     beams of all great fiction.  
     
     
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        This quiz is the copyrighted property of MENTOR PUBLICATIONS,
     but it may be freely distributed as shareware.  The copying fee
     should not exceed five dollars.  The disk must contain the
     following files and no other files may be added.  
     
     001
     BLACKBAG.MLT
     MENTOR.EXE
     README.BAT
     SEE.EXE
     
     
        This summarizes our proprietary rights.
     
     
                            MENTOR PUBLICATIONS
                               Drawer 1549-T
                              Asbury Park NJ
                                   07712
     
     
        We do not request a registration fee for the use of the
     potentially valuable information contained in this quiz.  But those
     with an interest in rare and exotic information are invited to send
     for a free brochure that describes out catalog-- The Intelligence
     Library-- and follow in the footsteps of many writers of best-
     selling novels and blockbuster screenplays.   
     
                  ======================================
     
      (To print the following instructions: make sure your printer is
     ready, use the arrow key to move Step #1 to the extreme top of your
     screen, hold down the SHIFT key, then press and hold the PRINT
     SCREEN key until printing starts. 
     
     
     
                         THE BLACK BAG TRIVIA QUIZ
     
     ... is very simple to run.  An experienced computerist could figure
     it out intuitively, but the following instructions should be easy
     for even a beginner to follow.  
     
     1>  At the A: prompt, type MENTOR
     
     2>  Select #3, "Mult-Choice"
     
     3>  At "Blackbag," strike ENTER.  (The files take a while to load,
         so be patient.)
     
     4>  Select, PLAY
     
     5>  The only reason for the "how many questions..." question is to
         cue the scoring code.   If you have the time, select 100.  If
         not, try 5 or 10.  This is not a critically important step.  
     
     6>  At the Copyright notice, strike ENTER, and the first quiz    
         screen will come up.  
     
     7>  Just highlight your choice and strike ENTER.  
     
     
        After each answer, select INFORMATION and a useful summary of
     the correct answer will appear.  Strike ENTER again and it will
     disappear.  Then strike CONTINUE to go to the next question.
     
        That's all there is to it.  
     
     
        If you find this quiz to be entertaining, informative, and
     useful, you'll really like The Intelligence Library.  So if you're
     old enough to join the Marines without your parents' permission,
     send for our FREE brochure.  
     
     
                            MENTOR PUBLICATIONS
                               Drawer 1549-T
                           Asbury Park NJ 07712
             ************************************************
     
