The story opens with Stephen Costigan arriving in the fictional town of Cross Plains, reflecting Howard's own move to this area. Costigan, like Howard, is an aspiring writer of pulp fiction, drawing heavily from his personal experiences and the vibrant characters around him.

As Costigan settles into small-town life, he becomes entangled with various local figures who inspire the characters in his stories. These include brawlers, drifters, and dreamers who embody the rugged spirit of Texas. Much of the narrative delves into Costigan's struggles to balance his writing career with the demands of daily life, including financial instability and his relationships with friends and family.

The narrative arc follows Costigan's journey through personal growth and professional challenges. He grapples with the isolation of a writer's life, the thrill of initial publication success, and the subsequent pressures to meet the expectations of his readers and publishers. His interactions with other residents of Cross Plains—some supportive, others antagonistic—help shape his worldview and literary output.

The draft concludes with Costigan contemplating a move from Cross Plains, driven by a desire for new experiences and the need to escape the confines of small-town life that, while nurturing his early career, now feels stifling.