While waiting for the film production to begin, Robert wrote Farmer in the Sky.
November 20, 1949: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
…I’m working fifteen hours a day; the book-length version of Farmer in the Sky is now with the typist and the serial length for Boys’ Life is being cut-slowly, because I have so little time. I’ve got it down under 40,000; there will be much tedious work before I can get it down to 20,000 and probably will not finish it until after the picture is finished. I’m working seven days a week and getting six hours of sleep, and I can’t speed it up beyond that.
March 6, 1950: Lurton Blassingame to Robert A. Heinlein
Boys’ Life found suspense problem. Scribner’s very pleased with book.
April 24, 1950: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
I am glad to hear that [Boys’ Life editor] Crump is taking the serial [published in Boy’s Life as “Satellite Scout”], since I need every cent I can scrape up for [house] building. Nevertheless, I would turn down his bid of $750 if I could afford to. It occurs to me, however, that, if he had me in a squeeze before, I have him in a squeeze now. He has scheduled it for the August issue; the makeup date must be staring him in the face, particularly as he is ordering a color painting for the cover from [Chesley] Bonestell.
And please be sure to tell him that I am certainly entitled to as much time to make up my mind whether or not I like his offer as he is to make up his mind whether or not he likes a story that he ordered from me in the first place. And tell him that I am proud, mean, stiff-necked, and that you doubt very much if you can get me to accept a lowered word rate, since I have been known in the past to pass up sales rather than take a cut.
Don’t quite let the sale get away from you-but if you can get him on the hook and keep him there, we may be able to squeeze a couple of hundred dollars’ worth of blood out of this stone. I don’t care whether he gets sore or not; this is my swan song with Crump; sales to him are not worth the trouble and worry.
Don’t get yourself in bad with him; blame it all on me.
Even if you have cashed the check already, I hope you will call him up and twist his arm a bit.
April 21, 1951: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
…The transformation from Farmer in the Sky to “Satellite Scout” [the Boys’ Life version] took five drafts and consumed most of six weeks…whereupon I was left in suspense while [Crump] made up his mind whether or not he liked my condensation.
BETWEEN PLANETS
January 18, 1951: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
I am 14,000 words into the new boys’ book [Between Planets] and the villains are way ahead. The first part always goes slowly; I have to get acquainted with the characters.
March 15, 1951: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
I’ve just answered a nite letter from Miss Dalgliesh asking for a synopsis of Between Planets (formerly The Rolling Stones). [The Rolling Stones was a working title, later used for another book.] She wants the finished manuscript by the first-I can’t make it, by at least a week, but I am pushing night and day.
March 17, 1951: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
Between Planets is rolling nicely; I expect to finish it by a week from today, or even sooner. However, the necessity of smooth-typing it will keep me from sending it on earlier than about the first week in April. I have told Miss Dalgliesh.
April 1, 1951: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
Herewith two copies of Between Planets. In this same mail I have sent Miss Dalgliesh an airmail postcard telling her that the ms. will arrive in New York at the same time she receives the card (or should). Since they are so anxious to have it at the earliest possible date, will you please send the original over to her at once?