The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-07-03
Old Advics For New Writers.

Take for your motto; Whoever can
think and speak well can also write we'll
Make crisp, concise sentences. Simplic
iiy Is the first charm OF good style. In
writing cut out all tho "fine" or .Aowery"
passages.
Use short, every day words, IL 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 anecdotes, when
you mean that She tried to smuse the chil
dren by telling them stories.
BE careful OF the arrangement Of your
sentences and tho words in them. and thus
avoid ridiculous and often serious. mis-
takes, DO not say, for instarce Wanted.
an experienced nurse to tase care oi child
thirty or forty years ofage,
Cultivate the habit Of writing s you
wonld talk. Call red red not ruby; speak
OF the green field, not the emerald field.
Avoid iautology. Do not write: The
traveller, tired and weary with his journey.
lay down to rest.
Avoid redundancy, Do not say Ano.
ther old veteran has departed.
Avoid the unnecessary use OF connec.
tives. Ooly a bad writer would say: |
went to see her aud spend the afternoon.
and stay TO tea and spend the evening. aud
have her go home with me and stay ail
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 may tell OF your
success with pansies. or read up the sub.
ject Sponges. to make an interesting ac-
count for children. II is said. A mans
best things lie nearest him. You are apt
to imagine that nothing less than trip to
the Pacific coast will furnish suitable ma
terial for good article. The four leaved
clover grows at your doorstep. Make tho
most Of your small opportunities while
you are on the lookout for larger open
ings
After selection. plunge at once into your
subject; be sure you strike keynote at
the outset to which you may return At
the close, aud thus secure complete,
harmonious whole.
BE interested In your topic IL You ex-
pect TO interest others. Become thorough.
ly saturated with your subject before put
ting pen TO paper Fully half Of the work
may be 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 il you would. A study Of good
literature will show how this can bs
done
An earnest writer anxious 10 succeed
cannot afford TO read trashy literature.
even for recreation. Spend oil surplus
moments in the study Of noted sutbors.
and not alone to cultivate style. The
society Of cultivated people will also prove
beneficial
To enlarge your vocabulary, look up tho
definition Of every unfamiliar word you
may chance upon 10 your reading:
Avoid exnberance ia writing Remember
10 be natural
Have an object in your essay. Give
be reader fun. or information, or help
n some way; especially something that il
Iliye.
DO not attempt too much In ons article.
Never appear TO preach. BE practical.
sven commonplace. There Ia very little
lemsnd for abstract or Howery litera-
ure.
Finally. be Lrief. Condense, Ont ont
very superfuous word or sentence