The Russellville Democrat., 1890-03-27
WRITING FOR PAPERS.
Particulars of an External Kind yc
 Useful to Know.


 To descend to particulars of an ex- ternal kind, let me specify that the young writer should be careful about the exterior, the mechanical part, of his or her manuscript Articles for papers or books for publication should be very plainly written with black ink, on white or tinted paper, of which only one side
 must be used. The reasons for this rule are not arbitrary, but are founded on the convenience of several people-the ed itor who decides upon the value of the
 manuscript. the compositor who sets il up, and the proof-reader who revises it. 1t is we'll, if your hand is not clear one, or if your spelling is triflc original, or your punctuation is weak, that your article, poem or story should be plainly copied in typewriting. The cost of this copying, if you have not machine of your own, is not excessive, and your manuscript is very much better equipped for it's first venture upon tempestuous world than it is if sent forth in blind, scrawly or doubtful chirography of your own. Do not tie your sheets of paper to- gether with bows of ribbons, as girls are accustomed to fasten their school compo- sitions when entering them in competi- tion for prize. The fashion is very dainty and pretty for school purposes, but it is out of place in the regular mar ket of the world. Number your pages with care. Never roll your manuscript but if possible, send it flat and unfolded to the editor in an envelope large enough to hold iS securely. If folded, this should be done once through the | middle, in preference to any other way. and never send . rough draught, disiig- ured with erasures, corrections and af- ter-thoughts. The size of your paper Is unimportant; you may use any size you please. from commercial note to fools cap, though the small size is regarded with perhaps the greater favor in edito- rial offices. Authors use their own dis cretion about the paper on which they write, and among our own favorite con
 tributors are people who send their
 stories in lage hand on large sheets of
 paper, and others who write in minute style on dainty note. But l repeat.
 never write on both sides of your paper, and, above all things, be brief. Many
 writers, both old and young, make ab- surd misfits in their attempts to write
 for favorite paper. sending light
 sketch to profound review, paper on
 housekeeping to one devoted to politics,
 an article on games and pastimes to a
 theological magazine, or grown up
 story to a periodical which eaters to the
 juvenile world. Another mistake, and,
 perhaps, the most common of all, is in
 suppoSing that when an article is de- clined it is because of some personal
 pique on the part of the editor This does not affect the matter of decision in
 the least The beginner exclaims, with
 a sigh: If were only known, my work
 would have a chance: but l am not
 Whittier. or anybody else who is emi- nent. am only plain John Smith or
 Jenny Brown"
 Very true. and being John or Jenny
 your work ought to be very good indeed to compete on anything like an equality
 with that of the skilled, practieed writer. who like you was once begin ner and obscure, but who now has climb cd to the pFoyeFbially roomy place at the top. Of one thing be assured, good work is always regarded with respect, and remarkable work, fl from a now
 writer, meets very cordial welcome.
 Hundreds of people, however, are writ Ing, and the exceptionally successful one must have persistence, patience and a grim determination to conquer posi- ton. minding no rebuffs, but forging ahead in the teeth of repeated disap- ments.--Harper's Young People.