Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-07-31
Old Advice for New Writers.

Take for your motto: Whoever can
think and speak well can also write
WELL"
Make crisp, concise sentences. "Sim-
plicity is the first charm of good styles
In rewriting cut out all the tinen Of
fowery" passages. o.
Use short, everyday words. if they
will clearly express your meaning. Do
not say: "She attempted to attract the
attention of an assembly of juveniles BY
the recital of small collection of anec.
dotes," when you mean that She tried
to amuse the children by telling them
stories"
Be careful of the arrangement of your
sentences and the words in them, and
thus avoid ridiculous, and often serious.
mistakes. Do not say, for instance,
Wanted, an experienced nurse to take
care of child thirty or forty years Of
age"
Cultivate the habit of writing as you
would talk. Call red tired, not "rubv:"
speak OF "the green fields" not "the
emerald fields"
Avoid tautology. Do not write: "The
traveller, tired and weary with his jour
ney, lay down to rest"
Avoid redundancy. Do not say: can.
other old veteran has Departed
Avoid the unnecessary use of connect.
ives. Only bad writer would say ~
went to see her and spend the afternoon.
and stay to tea and spend the evening.
and have her go home with me and stay
all night"
In regard to subjects, write of some.
thing with which you are familiar. or
with which you can become familiar by
careful study. For instance, YOU NAV
tell OF your success with pansies. or read
up the subject "Sponges," to make an
interesting account for children. 1t is
said: "A mans best things lie nearest
him." You are apt to imagine that
nothing less than a trip to the Pacific
coast will furnish suitable material for
good article. The four-leaved clover
grows at your doorstep. Make the most
OF your small opportunities while you are
on the lookout for larger openings.
After selection, plunge at once into
your subject; be sure you strike KEYNOTE
at the outset to which you may return at
the close, and thus secure complete.
harmonious whole.
Be interested in your topic if YOU ex.
pect to interest others. Become thorough
y saturated with your subject before put
ting pen to paper. Fully half of the work
may De done in the mind before produc.
ing visible results. With the subject held
IN mind even desultory reading will dis
close similar ideas that would otherwise
be unnoted
Throughout your article show reserve
strength indicating that you could say
more II you would. A study of good
literature will show how this can be done.
An earnest writer anxious to succeed
cannot afford to read trashy literature,
even LOT recreation. Spend all surplus
In the study of noted authors,
ana not alone to cultivate style. The so.
cle1y q cultivated people win also prove
) 10 enlarge your vocabulary look up tho
aennlslon u every unfamiliar word you
may cnance upon in your reading.
Avoid exuberance in writing. Remefn-
, Have an object in your essay. Give
me reader fun or information or help in
'ome way; especially something that is
! 70 not attempt too much in one article.
never appear to preach. Be practical,
3,on commonplace. There is very little
T: LOT abstract or fowery literature.
lnally, be brief. Conslense, cut out
very superfiuous word or scntence.
Aona Farghar Purdy, in The Writer.