The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-20
LITERARY WOMEN.
Some of Them Tell of Their First At
tempt at Writing.

Some of Them Tell of Their First At
tempt at Writing.
1t is unquestionable that women are COM
ing to the front in authorship. Of her first
book Mrs. Emily Lovett Cameron writes
from London as follows: "The first thing
ever wrote was story in two parts called
Poor john which was accepted by Tins
ley's Magazine, and appeared in two con-
secutive numbers with illustrations which
were not altogether beautiful. The notices
of this short tale were so flattering that /
was encouraged to write something more,
and / set to work at once upon my first
three-volume novel, 'Juliet's Guardian,
which ran for year through Belgravia,
a monthly magazine, and was afterward
brought out in three-volume form. Since
that time, now fifteen years ago, / have
been constantly engaged either at novel or
serial work"
''My first candidate for public favor"
says Octave Thanet, twas little story en-
titled 'Hugo's Waiting 1t was published
in the Davenport Gazette, at the request of
a good friend of mine who was temporarily
acting as editor. / was just out Of school
at the time, and very pleased to appear in
even local print. l had sense enough to
recognize the crudeness of my work, and
for long time after this did not attempt
to publish in any more ambitious form.
At the time that Hugo appeared l sent
my raw studies all around, and saw for
myself that the editors were right. Some
years later a friend advised me to try
again. l had been studying and writing,
but not sending what l did anywhere. 1
gave the matter two months serious
thought, very serious thought.
"Then / wrote the story that is published
{ TX ! Il r
A Communists Wife | sent it to the
three magazines, the last of the three,
Lippincott's, accepting and publishing
it. Since then, while for some time my
wares were obliged to travel a good deal
for their market, they always did find one.
Now / only write to order, which has both
advantages and disadvantages. l have
found the criticisms of editors most valu-
able, and feel hearty gratitude to the blue
pencil; while my relations with my pub
fishers have been of the leasantest I can
only hope that they are as well satisfied as
l. Perhaps l have not expected the earth
knowing how small portion of it / really
deserve.
"When I shall write something that will
stir my own enthusiasm ] may expect both
enthusiasm and its price from others. So
far have not been so fortunate. As the
negroes say, 4 do try and endeavor' to in
terpret life according to the facts, to view
it sanely and temporarily, and to do no
mischief to the English language. These
may not seem difficult ideals, but Just try
them for awhile! They have plenty Of
scope for work.
II have spent hours over the style of
single crucial page; I have, indeed, spent
hours seeking for the right word; while /
could not count the hours that I have
toiled at unlimbering my style, in order
that my sentences might not go on like
the patter of feet, each separate, each al
most like the other, but rather might be
like the foliage of tree, parts of one har-
monious and necessary whole. New Y ork
Commercial Advertiser.