"You only want material.

Nobody can make bricks without straw--to sell--and very few people can evolve books out of the air that any publisher will look at it.

You get material for your scraps, and you treat it unconventionally, so the scraps supply a demand.

It's a demand that's increasing every day--for fresh, unconventional matter.
Your ability to treat the scraps proves your ability to do more sustained work if you could find it.

Get the material for a book, and I'll guarantee you'll do it well." Elfrida looked from one to the other with bright eyes.
"What do you suggest ?" she said, with a nervous little laugh.