True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-07-23
TO YOUNG AUTHORS.

Mrs. Stephens in lale article, makes
some observations on the whole subjecl
Of book making, which are SO sensible,
and SO necessary, that We commend them
TO the careful consideration Of the young
asplranIs who burden publishers with
their callOw compositions.
A sententlous line in cotemporary
runs thus: About one new book in a
hundred obtains success" Is tbs true
We think II is, And moreover, scarcely
more than one book OuI of every hundred
that are written obtains publisher. In
no branch of human effort is there So
much delusiOn-so many labOrers with so
little knowledge-sO nAle capa:ity and
large pretensIon. The success, q, few
years ago, OGseveral female writers, has
sci to wiring almost every woman in the
country who imagines herself TO possess
a thonght unspoken, and in our experi-
ence we are continually importuned to
examine and pass judgment u Jon the half
fledgrd productions Of aspiring young
misses, which almost invariably evince
good deal Of unframed ability, and a GER
tain ceverness in Furnishing up and re-
producing old material. These ladies are
not unirequently the residents ofyillages,
their knowledge and experience of life
limited to the circle Of the Sunday School
and the church, and their reading con6n.
ed to an indscrImlnate selection of the
weakest romances. Emotional and i'm
presslble above their com panions, they
find themselves the pOssessOrs Of certain
senslbillties which do not readily awaken
appreciation, and so led on by the old
silly dream of sympathy, and responsive
minds, they begin to call that genus which
is but weak sentiment, lack oil discipline
and diseased fancy. In this state of mind
they rush into plint-panl for fame,
lanother name for self worship and
dream Of vast success, obtained with eff.
ort or study. They know nothing about
the requirements OF an author. They
suppose hen career " the primrose path
OF daliance." Books are inspirations,
they think, and not efforts, They know
very we'll that man cannot make watch
without study and apprenticeship, but
they scout a. the idea Of study or labor
being required IN The more difficult and
higher art Of book making. Let US un.
deceive these ladies, (and aspiranls of The
other sex, tony. To write well, requires
long and patent study, outstanding of
powers, wide experience, large observa.
Ilon, and apprenticeship! Occasionally
an authors first book astonishes The
world but, either the writer has prev
Iously unknown, passed through pre-.
paralory discipline. or his production is
The single up llashlng Of a fittu genius,
that blazes f"r moment, then goes oul
l"rever. How many first great books
there have been, which have been follow
I'll by blanks ! how many lhnt have shot
up brilliant and towering, and never
another spark tn issue from the same
source !! We earnestly believe that true
greatness is invariably growth, matur-
lug slowly. nurlured by study and effort,
and coming to fruitful harvest only un.
der cultivation, care, and patience Of the
aborer. One Of the best evidences of
wisdom Is the knowledge how to wait
We say. therefore, to all young authors,
Walt Stud y, observe, mature then
publish, and you shall reap as you SOW.