Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-07-03
Old Advice for New Writers.

Take for your motto: "Whoever can
think and speak well can also write
we'll"
Make crisp, concise sentences. "Sim-
plicity is the first charm of good style. !"
In rewriting cut out all the " fine" or
" flowery {" passages.
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 aneo.
dotes," when you mean that She tried
to amuse the children by telling them
stories.n
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 a child thirty or forty years Of
age.n
Cultivate the habit of writing as you
would talk. Call red "red, " not g 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 a bad writer would say: ~
went to see her and spend the afternoon,
and stay to tea and spend the evening,
and have her 60 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 may
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 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
ly saturated with your subject before put
ting pen to paper. Fully half of the work
may be done in the mind before produce
ing visible results. With the subject held
IN mind even desultory reading win dis.
close similar ideas that would otherwise
be unnoted.
Throughout your article show reserve
strength indicating that you could say
more if 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 for recreation. Spend all surplus
moments in the study of noted authors,
and not alone to cultivate style. The So
ciety of cultivated people will also prove
beneficial.
To enlarge your vocabulary look up the
definition Of every unfamiliar word you
may chance upon in your reading.
Avoid exuberance in writing. Remem-
Der to be natural
Have an object in your essay. Give
the reader fun or information or help in
some way; especially something that is
alive.
Do not attempt too much in one article.
Never appear to preach. Be practical,
even commonplace There is very little
demand for abstract or fiowery literature.
Finally, be brief. Con,lense, cut out
every superfuous word or sentence
Mona Farghar Purdy, in The Writer.