Martin’s early success proves fleeting. He writes several more essays, including one titled “The Shame of the Sun,” which criticizes mysticism in literature. In addition, he writes and sells some hackwork. However, he must once again pawn his suit and bicycle.

Encouraged by the sale of hackwork, he devises a formula and stock narrative frameworks for love stories, allowing him to quickly outline and flesh out stories at his leisure.

Meanwhile, Martin hasn’t received any payment from the Transcontinental or the Boston newspaper. The Billow, a San Francisco literary magazine, publishes “The Pots” but doesn’t pay Martin, who was unaware that they don’t pay for publication of unsolicited submissions. The only thing that sustains him through this period are his formulaic love stories.

The Globe publishes Martin’s “Sea Lyrics” for $30. However, they change and edit his words so much that he frantically tries to get them to cancel the publication. He must endure the shame as his mangled poems are published over the course of a few months. Martin wins a writing contest sponsored by the Republican Party, which refuses to pay the prize money. He wins a similar contest for the Democratic Party, which pays him $25.