Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11
WRITING Under PRESSURE.


AutnorN no tappA Sohut-
lions and Those who do Not
From The Continent.
1t is a curious thing" remarked smiti 81
the Unconventional Club the other even ag.
but unless all the conditions are favorable
am absolutely incapable Of writing"
That Is because Won are an auth or instsad
OF Journalist" suggested Dixon. III news
paper men waited for especially favorable CON
ditions before undertaking 10 write I'm fisid
there would be precious few newspapers he
Journalist has no time TO spend in thinking
about this matter Of favorable condition enl
il is fortunate for him that he hasn't He GER
orally is called upon to write at the spur Of he
moment, and often under very distracting cir
cumstances, and 90 be able TO 40 thi. be mut
cultivate rapidity Of thought and expression
He must be able 20 concentrate all he
activity OF his brain upon the matter In hsnd.
he must learn TO work amid all kinds Of ,si.-
fractions, and under all conditions OF phvs,.l
discomfort A newspaper cannot defer M.
publication OF an article for day because th-
man whose duty IL IL 10 write that article does
not feel in the mood FOR writing at the isae.
II ne cannot control his mood he must give
place TO aman who 10 not subject TO those con-
ditions
"For nv part" observed Claiming. volru,-
inous writer for the editorial page OF q LEADING
daily, 'for my part l do NV best vork Y
euAUh, uhuet the spur OF circumstances. Wren
have 70 write an editorial in very limisei
time IN order 20 catch the presses. IL seem. 20
me can express myself with a degree OF sim
picity and clearness that often I cannot ccsp-
mand under what would seem to be much more
favorable conditions. Perhaps the neceasit, n,
an unusual degree Of concentration enables sos
10 nix my mind upon the subject with . stronger
grasp than might be able TO exert under
normal conditions"
Il lind, said kemhle. book reviewer :or
one of the weeklies. that the short storie. that
appear IN the daily press. and that evidently
have been written under inspiration ION ths
spur OF the momeut). often are FAR more bright
original aud artistic than the more carefully
finished short stories that appear in the mara
zines and that have the names Of well-knosu
writers attached 10 them"
Naturally thew should DO better ..id R.r
ton, an artist lately returned from Paris. "Any
work that Is done under strong impul.. 70
stronger. brighter and better than work by the
same man done at intervals. after ne fAncis, Re
has studied the subject eNhaustiy.ly In thu
hrst case, he will not try 90 give a comples.
description OF every detail. but will endeayoc
10 present the subject a whole-to convey
strong impression, full Of suggestion. A mna
OF ability has some chance 90 accomplish what
he sets out TO do in impressioniztic study.
but even the best literal portrayal falls far
snort OF success from the realistic standpoint
Really, paradoNical as AZ NAV appear the I'M
presslonlst Is far more realistic in his eNpr.s-
sion than is the htsrallst. and tho reason fcr
this IL that ne does not attempt more than IL -
possible Tor man TO accomplish. The msn
who studies out every detail OF a subject eith,-r
in art or literature. accumulates a mass Of do
tan that Is very likely 10 swamp him. especially
II ne IL not an excellent judge In the matter q
selecung the essential points and rejecting
those which are non-essentlal and cumbering"