Jack Williamson, seen here with autograph seeker Ray Bradbury at a Writers of the Future Contest awards event, is beloved by science fiction writers and fans of several generations.

ASI: How hard was it to become a professional writer of fiction back then?

Jack: It was practically impossible. I was fortunate though. I didn’t have a job, and I didn’t have anything else to do. My folks had a little farm and ranch where I could live for nothing. I was able to keep on writing stories until I could sell them, which is what I wanted to do.

ASI: Who read these magazines and why were they so popular?

Jack: The pulps were published generally for the common man and woman. I think people were more literate then and many read for recreation. The pulps flourished because, at 25 cents a copy, one magazine could provide many hours of entertainment for a number of people, so it was a bargain.