Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-08-07
YOUNG WRITERS.
A Talk With Them by n Writer Of ACv
khowledged Reputation, Embodyint
Some Snrn AhNlcn.


Talk with Them by Writer of AC'
Sn''N S hepu'"t''n' Emb"dyini
7, ~ -. s"s -. 80, 49,
~ % nv io"'. ."o experience Oh al
authors VINO attain any degree of sue.
cess to receive constant requests ioi
advice and assistance from yomo aspi.
rants for fame. So frcouont hove ,hn..
reopostS boooroo l., go, ,I
oran. a., ,l,s,,-'..,... 49,, 80 "'i'' 81
s''"' l'o consequent uchaho upon my
time' that l may be pardoned for plac.
ing my OPINIONS and ideas upon this
SUBJECT before the public' since so many
young writers honor me by deeminG
them oil value.
am almost every week asked to eX-
anime manuscripts to act as critic and
ADVISER ana TO give letters of introduce
tion to various periodicals. 10 refuse
thcSc requests would be to win the rep-
utation OF selfish indifference to the
ambitions OF Others; to respond to them
all W'Ih irahkness or with Kindness
Wouiu heceSsitate oltentlmes being
cruel or holding out false hopes OF an
Impossible result.
u palhiul thlng 10 one who has
passed through all the vicsstudes of
literary career and experienced all the
a8VhleS OF nope ana despair ambition
anu DISAPPOINTMENT and won at last
some measure OF success, to be obliged,
III order 10 be truthful. to tell II young
auihor that there are no elements o.
success IN ms work, and 1t is often I'M
poss ole 10 explain 10 MN why MS work
VIII not succeed and II we hesitate in
advancing an OPINION upon his future,
ia all prooaDiiity ne VIII accuse us, in
MS hlhu' OF an unwllllngness to assist
announcer up the rugged mountaln-s:de
where we cilmDed alone
IL 10 my hearueiI wish and desire to
assist all Struggling ana ambitious
writer's 10 lhe utmost extent OF my
power ! would gladly give to them
tne knowledge nave gained by labori-
GUS experiences; Dut realize with re-
gretl more iully each year that live
ana iaDor now Impossible 1t is to be OF
valuable assistance IN helping others on
10 iame or success. have never yet
refused 10 examine any article sent me;
! th,nk II SAFE TO say that have during
the iast year read iiVe hundred pages OF
manuscript Dy unknown authors, and
lhat nave written, by request at least
G0zen letters TO editors and publishers
caillhg their attentlon TO the work OF
some new writer. am not aware that
IN one single instance the result was
favorable TO the author. Editors can
NOT accept or use an article which does
not suit their needs or the tastes of
their readers no matter how much
merit IL may contain, or what the opln-
ION OF some older contributor may be.
ihcre lew rules mat all young or
ola writer's Will ma to their advantage
10 observe Inc lrst Is; Make your
article wheiher prose or verse, as brief
rs possible IN inns busy age when
people are Obliged to post themselves
upon such variety OF 'npics, when the
lieadi mes oniy OF the Leading da!lies
are oiten all we ilnd time to read OF
current events ana when our maya
]lDcs seem larry bursting from their
coNc;s with the quantity OF their diver
siheu contents IL becomes necessary
Tor me wlsest ana most gifted to con-
uenSc thelr Ideas II they would command
attent on; Inc majority OF reading
people WIN pass ny poem OF column
length put VIII pause TO ENJOY sonnet
OF fourteen INES even when not lovers
Oh poetry. a long story Is ignored,
WINE tne snort column sketch Is
sought aIier 10 whlle away an IDLE mo-
hGht' Inc editors OF literary perlodi-
cans understand this' and there
tore lengthy article often
reJecteI without even an eXamlna-
tion. NO matter what Its merits,
thcir readers 40 not want 1t, and they
KNOW IL Another rule worth obsery-
ing S' save your strongest idea or
phrase Tor the climax OF your article.
Inns leaves your critic OF reader with a
go0u impression OF your power and
makes MN look ior your name again.
ana so you gam point Many II
winter RUNS goou articie ana Spolls a
peasant IMPRESSION Which he mas made
oy weak anu uhSustalhed ending.
ana, ilhally' IL you leei mat you nave
anything TO say TO thc world OF I'M
Portance TO u OF yourself Keep on say
ing u uhtil the worlu listehs' 30 sure
as there Is any truth or strength IN
what you nave TO oher so surely VIII
you WIN an audience at last The
world Is sSlllSn' ana u desires to be
amused ana entertained IL Is ever on
the alert ior new singers ana new ora
Tors. II IL liSs IN your power 10 40
ehythihg weil' ana u you are 6rief'
; iorcl3ic ana persistent you Will be
heard ana recognized at last.
! once heard pubic speaker say
III a man talks to an audience an
hour' ana mas not made an impression,
he had better conc:;;de that he is Dor
ing IN the wrong place or that some
thlng aus TIE glmlet' so H. alter
years OF pers steht effort to WIN some
recognition ana success IN literature,