The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-07-12
NOVEL WRITING,
MRS. ALEXANDER TELLS HOW
HER STORIES ARE PRODUCED,

NVvAA VA1x1NUs
MRS. ALEXANDER TELLS HOW
HER STORIES ARE PRODUCED.
The Author Of 1.-THE Woolng O't''
and Her Literary Methods-rhe
Making of a Novel-Piots Built
Around Charlottesville Princi-
pal Heroine an Important Factor.
1t is very usual for outsiders to ask
authors how they set about their books
and how they write them. us they
would ask for the receipt of IL palata-
bic pudding, having probably vague
IDEAS of literary cooking. Unfortun-
atcly, the ingredients of the literary
mixture can not be set down in clearly
defined quantities, neither can the en-
act amount OF ncedful mental simmer
ing be metcd cut. Yet, this process
Of inc ubation is probably the most i'm
portant factor in tho operation.
We have all wondered at the system
attic application of Anthony Trollopc,
as revealed in his aitobiography-the
mechanical regularity with which he
turned out so many pages IL day--and
the easy, unlaborcd flow of these pages
when read. There must have been
some very unusual combination OF
method and spontaneity in tho intel
lcct that produced them. Il combin,-
tion rarely to be found in men of
genius. Again, many charming and
successful writer's trust to the inspirY
tion of happy moments, making little
or no plot, and hoping that ono Incl
dent or one character will suggest an
other, begin anyhow, expecting their
personagcs and events to dictate their
own terms and clucidatc the complica-
tions they have brought about.
10 come down to my own very sim
pie work, | find that am greatly
dominated by my people: To me
character is everything. Place the
workings of heart and mind vivillv
before your readers. aud the incidents
which put them in motion are of small
Importance relatively. Of course Il
stirring, interesting plot, with dl9lnu-
tls pcrsona who move and feel like
life, makes an idcal-;l perfect novel
such as few can produce.
My own stories have always been
suggested to inc by some trait of char
acter or disposition, which | have OBJ
served and adapted, rather than repro
duccd. This. acted upon by adverse
and sympathetic natures. will always
create certain amount of action, OF
conflict. of victory. or defeat, which
makes sufficient material for story.
The first idea with me is always of
my leading woman Il understand
womcnD Then follow the people
grouped around her, tho influence for
good or evil which they exercise, the
plot or succession OF incidcn Is which
bring them together.
Then, most important Of all. try
to SEQ MY people. CAT this stage they
cease TO be my puppcts.) Certain out
ward and visible signs must be the cx-
terror garment of particular inward
and spiritual graces or vices. vet this
outward seeming is Of infinite variety
and endless subtle tones shading into
one another. Sometimes IL complete
contradiction in manifestation mis-
leads. but by searching carefully the
Glow to the inner spirit may be found!
Now. before | put my creatures on
paper must see them, see the shape
of my heroinc's head, the turn of her
throat, the expression rather than the
color OF her eyes. the curve of her lips,
the proportion of her mouth-and, oh,
l must hear her voice! II must no: be
too loud nor too low; there must be
character in its modulations Then l
must see her little defects, and resist
the temptation to make her too perfect,
physically or mentally, for love my
heroines! How hard 1t is to put down
all this, to show my readers the picture
in my own mind. yet to keep my hand
from celebrating too much.
After my heroine come her lsinsfolk
and acquaintance, who help to mold
her character and destiny. These,
too, 1 must scc-scc clearly their
oddities, senerositlcs, mcanncsses,
fulsehood, fidelity. their unexpected
CLEANS OF goodness, their disappoint-
Ing tumblcs into seltishness and frailty,
with the outward and visible garb of
beauty, ugliness, grace. or grimncss in
which they were enwrtppcd.
Then comes that appalling person.
age, the hero! | confess quail before
him. Men are somewhat of Il sealed
book to me. have known few, save
In their dress clothes and best man
ncrs! Had | possessed half a dozen
brothers, and lived with them in the
disillusioning lightof domcsticity, they
would have been a mine of literary
wealth! AS it is, touch my men with
cautious. hesitating fingers, only ven-
turing to depict them in the society of
ladies'. A bright and kindly critic
once wrote of inc: "Alrs. Alexander
never trusts hcrsclfalone with IL man,"
and ! acknowledge the truth of her
observations.
Having grouped and identified my
characters, ! let my mind dwell upon
them collectively and Individually.
II is marvellous how meditation devcl-
ops IL subject. The variety of views.
tho many-sidcd aspects which present
themselves as the original crude idea
ripens and expands from the dilnncss
OF its first conception to full complete
ness. This process, of course. con-
tinues with increasing intensity all
through the long yet happy hours OF
mechanical work, happy i'll spite of
occasional bitter moments. when tho
impossibility of depicting wildly the
images so clear to my own inner sight
tormcnts me with IL sense OF failure.
| always begin with a certain joyous
ness, IL feeling Of being introduced to
IL new and interesting set OF people
with whom am to journey for
while, following their vagaries and
observing their lido syncrasics which
somehow appear to be quite indcpcnd-
ent Of my will.
Still it is not all smooth sailing;
sometimes cross currents Of incidents
which ara nnpnSSarv ynt yvi11 not b1nnd