The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-06
How to Become a Writer.

"
The following letter proposes a question
which many young men in New York will
doubtless be pleased to have answered by
The Sun:
Sir Will Tm kindly exercise its undoubtcd ability
TO advise me ON question which many young
literary aspirants IN New YORK;
ITO what Kind OF prose writing Is It best young
man TO devote his literary talents tsupposing him to
posse ability in order to maintain himself in New York;
Respectfully. JANIS fRAScis. 1885 Eldrilse street"
Unquestionably nowadays II a young man
wishes to earn his living by writing, the
newspapers offer the best field for his
Efforts. But the literary work on our lead
ing newspapers is SO good that he cannot
hope TO equal 1t until he has had prepara-
tory training. however respectable his in
telcctual abilities and however marked his
aptitude for journalistic labor The number
of reporters who cau detail facts with sim
plicity and clcarncss or describe events
graphically and picturosqucly. II now large
In New York. for there Is greater demand
for their labor here than in any other city Of
the country and they can get better paid
for it, Really capable newspaper writer's
who have served their apprenticeship ON
the provincial press are constantly coming
our journalism. They have n decided adj
vantage over noyccs, who know nothing of
the methods and requirements II newspa-
pers and SO they serve to make il hard
for the inexperienced to compete with them.
No literary training away from ncwspa-
pers can supply the lack Of that which may
be acquired 10y work upon them. Therefore
ii sometimes happens that graduates Of coll
leges of good Intellectual ability and
cultivated literary tastes are soon dis
cuurGged after "A trial Of writing for
New York paper; though in THE
Sun Office, as IN others here, are
many college-hred men who are very skilful
reporters. The theory that university
education units young man TO become a
successful newspaper writer is not sound. Of
course; for whatever trains him intellcctu-
ally, and brOadens the scope OF his knowl-
edge. makes him better fitted 10 write for
the public, provided he learns to understand
what they want and gets the knack of put
ting things attractively. The other notion
that newspaper work can be thrown Of care
lessly is just as untrue, II a journal is prop
erly edited, il permits no work OF that sort in
its columns. II Is as sedulous in keeping
bad English and cheap writing ont Of its re-
ports a. out Of its editorial discussions. II
an editor cannot exercise this sort Of super
vision over what he publishes, or see that il
is exercised, he would do better to reduce
the size of his sheet. and get its reading mat
ter within limits he can control.
A young man who profits by his expert
ence In newspaper Office vigianty con-
Quoted and which Is resolutely hostile to
wishy-washy writing and the dilution of
ideas, will learn profession which will al
ways give him fair living. But il he fan
cies he is genius who can make bricks
without straw. can write without thought
and study he will find he has a hard time
OF IT there, and may expect To be out at
elbows. Men who keep sober, are indus
trious and have the perception OF the tastes
Of the public in the way of newspaper read
ing, are always in demand 10y the New York
journals. Unfortunately, ,here are fewer OF
that sort than Of the shiftlcss kind, and
hence the good repute Of Il Woodworking
profession is made to suffer
If young man wishes to learn to he a
newspaper writer, he may proiltably spend
some time in the Office Of journal pub
lished in one Of the smaller towns. There
he will get, II he have the stun in him, the
art of putting things as newspapers re-
qurc, and gain the habit Of quickly Selling
the points Of interest in any matter about
which he has to write Then he may be
ready to make trial on metropolitan
journal. If he does really good work. he
will soon find place for it.
There are other sorts of writing which a
young man may try, but they are not so
certain Of earning Il steady and substantial
reward in the long run as n capable news
paper man can win. The magazines pay
fair prices, but very few Of their writers
can really earn a living out of them. A
man may count himself lucky if he Sue
cccds in selling n half dozen magazine
essays or stories year; and then he must
wait patiently for their publication. The
weekly papers furnish market for literary
work of various kinds, and on them may be
got the training which will enable a man to
graduate successfully into Il metropolitan
journal.
But unless "A young man displays at the
start good deal Of aptitude for literary
work, he will W. wise II hc abandons the
attempt, 4 trade 10 which he Is fitted
10 far hnttor for him. Many young fellows
fancy that, because they can turn OF pretty
verses. they have exceptional literary ca
pacily, whereas the number Of men and wo-
men vino can do that thing just as well ~
they is enormous in the country; and very
few Of them are III for mcthOdical and con-
Socutiyc intellectual labor They are not
geniusss at all, though they think them
selves So but only share knack at rhyming
possessed by thousands of people who do
not dcludc themselves will, the idea that
they are ByRoNS or Millions 1t is we'll
nnnugh 10 cOnsi rmct nice Xerses. hMt the work