Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-09-01
FOR AMATEUR AUTHORS,
H7s - SessEaPer Writers Which viii
Please the Editors

H=7+ - Newspaper Writers Which viii
Please the Editors
~, RI sure .l2: y9a have nothing
20 - AMI ,la1 =; down and say 1t.
Don't bother abou, ideas. or a5ou.
Z you haven, any. Make lib
.9r The absence Of both by gruudi,o-
.gs-. words and many Of them.
especially Il yol are writing for space.
Ea.arse upon your topic; it shows fer
'..l'g, 70 easmal. upon it indicates
pagc!ty,
Write on paper ,oolscap size, or on
wall paper Il it is more handy. 1t
creases 20 beautifully when you cram
i, into the envelope. Then. too. YOU
"tll please the compositor; he likes
the sheet Of Ms. to cover his upper
case indeed, the more it covers the
better he likes it. He shows his de-
Lightly his well-sustained profanity,
Use pale blue ink and don't aim at
legibility. The editor is fond of
deciphering hieroglyphics. 1t is likely
that he'll guess at a far better word
than the one you really used. If you
have no blue ink, black ink that has
beer frozen and thawed out three or
four times will do as well.
When your article is finished don't
revise 1t. Above all don't prune it;
that might strengthen it, but it will
also shorten it, and quantity goes far
thcr than quality.
Show it to friends who are incom-
petent to judge Of its merits. If they
praise it then it is ready to fire at the
editor.
II you show it to a competent friend
hell hesitate to tell you, out of regard
for your feelings, that it is "rot" and
That you are not called to write. You
see II he tells you the truth you'll not
send the MS; the editor will be de- |
prived OF the pleasure of declining it.
and you of the delight of getting it
back or of thinking kindly of the editor
for years because he kept it and the
stamps you sent him.
You needn't send sufficient stamns
Tor the return of your Ms. 1t can't he
explained why it is so, but il costs loss
postage from him to you than it does
from you to him. Anyhow, the aver
age literary tyro seems to think that
ii does.
If your article is excessively funnv
send 1t to the Honiietic Monthiy.
II 1t is excessively dull and beavv
send it to Puok.
II it is on theology send it to tho
Scientific american; If on science IN
the Christian al Work.
There's a great deal in sending Tho
article to the journal for which IL isn't
ut all adapted.
Wait at least two days before O
write to inquire why you haven't
heard about the article.
II you live near the publication Of
flee don't send your MS, but take Il
yourself. Read it to the editor; read
it boisterously. so that others within
hearing may enjoy 1t. They NAV
doubt the m~assiveness Of -FOUR brain.
but not the capacity Of your lungs.
Get into the editors lap, II possible;
walk all over him, fguratively speak.
ing. He enjoys such visitors hugely.
the disappointment of his life is thnt
they do not come in s%quadrons.
Should the editor, through dementin
or the idiotic fortuity OF circumstances
accept your article, send him ano,ber
right oil. In fact, keep sending them.
Load them In u Calling gun. Mako !,
target of him. Other writer's have M
business to expect a hearing. Tbor
ought TO fall bnck upon n more ND.
heian calling, -Epoeh.