New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
THE SECRETS OF PENCRAFT.
LITTLE THINGS THAT wOULD.BE 40.
THORs REALLY OUGHT TO KNOW.
MARTHA McULIocH WILLIAMS GIVES ADVICE 10
WOMEN WHO ASPIRE TO SELL MANUSCRIPT
TO BUSY EDITORS


most important Of ALL 10 know how and where 70
market It, after It is said Nature. education and
environment have much to do with the ability 10
succeed In the first two The vital third rests al
most wholly with the intending penwoman. The
best the only way TO find out where and how to
sell manuscripts is to read periodical liter
allure, not at haphazard with languid lack OF crit
cism. but aertly. comprehendingly. looking all the
while as to the why and wherefore OF everything
that goes In.
Every publication worth considering has its own
definite aim and atmosphere Aims and atmos-
phere Of course. have points Of contact. What you
need to look out for Is not their likenesses. but
their differences. once upon time submitted
story veteran publisher who has found
millions In the business In returning II he said
II like your story immensely: I should print II
but for n single line in H. You speak OF the heroine
of the county aristocracy. My public would
not bear that-would not bear. in fact. any recog-
milton OF the fact that there such things az
social class distinc lions II printed your story II
would call down on me an avalanche OF angry let
tiers. and maybe cost me lifelong subscrib-
ers."
The incident Is trivial but worth telling. as show.
ing how many things so toward determining 40
ceptance or rejection.
LEARN THE USE OF WORDS.
Another benefit Of thus reading with purpose 10
the training IL may be made 10 afford In the use OF
words. Never copy slavishy anybody's style-not
Stevenson's. not Shakespeare's. II that were
possblc-but whenever happy colocaton OF
words arrests attention make a mental note OF II,
even though the words may seem unlikely 10 serve
any immediate turn. Thus you secure vocabu-
larry Vocabular,es exceedingly handy things
TO have when your pen strike a racing gait.
A greater benefit derived from them Is that you
may escape the thral OF the hackneyed-conven-
| tional Unusual words aung with malice afore-
thought at inonending subject are In the worst
possible taste. but to use usual words unusually 10
among the master secrets Of style. II gives touch
of distinction to the simplest subject.
Yet another advantage 10 be gained by studying
the magazines and newspapers Is an accurate COM
| prehension OF the literary mode Of the moment.
Literature Is like love and war-eternal: neverthe
less II is subject 10 fashions. II you doubt II COM
| pare the books the magazine stories. even the
news Items Of years back with those OF to-day.
In poln, is the dialect story, more particu-
larry negro dialect. The epoch Of "Marse Chan"
| "Meh Leddy,' The Grandlsslmes." etc. has seen
| It's apogee Nowadays even Mr.. Page and Mr.
| Cable have taken TO other manners OF writing.
| While story with good deal Of story In 1.-THE
| only kind 10 my mind In the least worth writing
| has always a certain Vitality, II Is more than q
| question whether such tales as SAKE Hom's
II they came to-day the same in line and letter
would get more than casual attention
The actual work OF making manuscripts needs
but a paragraph 10 describe II: that Is as 10 Its
mater,a, side one point worth consideration is
always to good paper, and plenty OF H. That
| is 10 say do not cramp your sentences nor place
your lines too close.
PENMANSHIP AND TYPEwRITING
Typewrltng requires the double space. Well done.
1t adds a manuscripts chances-ill-done. 1t had
better not be done at all For grabbed or legble
| long hand. the reader may make the excuse that
1t was the writer's best. With machine. poor
copy has but one single reason for its existence
slovenly carelessness. Teach yourself TO think at
the machne-it is ridcuousy easy. Teach your
make perfect copy easily and rapidly II only you Q,
But typewriting is essential Personally
would rather read egibe penwritins than the clear
Off scratched or blotted blotchcd sheets II you
spoil sentence paTaSraph n0PfIe sSGSts take oSou;
Eve inches by eight best. Send them nat Crease
the ordinary typewriter paper One crosswise me me
smooth manila ones. which strong. neat-lookins
and cheap.
HOW TO PRESENT MANUSCRIPT.
Whether or not you shall send with your manu-
script letter to the editor Is one OF those mat
ters OF taste about which /. IS idle to dispute. But
regarding letters of Introduction. friendly criticisms
from eminent authorities and on, they are worth
10 the young writer exactly the paper they are
printed on This IS frozen sact-every manuscript
sent 10 a reputable editor gets some sort OF exam
nation If it carries its own letter on Its face. 1t Is
likely TO be read through-often more than once
Then there is but one thing 10 be considered
whether or it suits the needs OF that particular
does not he sends it back even though his most
familiar friend had commended II TO him In iac;;
}Iisns f fH letter Of Introduction may possibly
The of US 1d f 1cnv an er ss naNS s
| our own sweet and will
VIVA" 6wnys a Is gsise' someimes two minutes
talk long way IN your iavoI Iir w" RemsmbeT
The editor has other business than seeing YOU even
though you may be among om hs %Gi he paid
! salary Commonly also he bears conscience, 'nI
wishes to t. YOU Sp9 fy' xomsny YOU
may beard the lions editorial most oe
chances But If you have hobby grievance 0'
n mission in pity forbear, -, III. - ,r,,. .,,,n
the emphasis Of double leads-try TO make ca2Itsl
OF any disadvantage you may suilsr ca ~
ia,d at the reading pubIcs door hence the editor
the reading publc's middeman. has no sort OK con-
Germ with them
MANNERS AND DEPARTMENT
Another thing one that applies most to wor lns
! Journalists never permit yourself to forget mat
,h,, e unbeconning a gentewoman is doubly IN
| becoming a newspaper woman. That Is to say
| never let yourself do anything simply because
! woman's doing 1t would make the word stare
mr. Johnson said Of q woman's book that IL was
| like n dogs walking on two legs-the WONDER "as
not that It i-done. but that 1t was done al an
rho moral is take any assignment that you can
M aocenrably regardless OF sex. but take none
That might be given YOU simply because there
r,uld be a sensa tional FLIP in seeing how woman
would discharge II. 4. =. hor,y oood
| The best English and plenty OF It, Is hardy COCO
enough for real newspaper work Try arrays ~
cav what you have 10 say freshly picturssqu.s, IN
,hss feycsi possible words with the strctest pos
sibe regard for accuracy Never iane S' 20 sav
| - vou cannot find story have the courage 70 say
! so II you find nasty story nave inc sp,nnS
mai You are dependable, accurate and gwen 70
nofIng the small things which give verls.muA.rs,,
s e. &C. rnkind and sends you interviewing pray
Tor double of tact and dissretSn Is o sben
a, "a eytremely safe 10 put there the tlinss
say would like to have said, only they did not
| know them 70 say
M.es.oMM..Mva,, >Aszzl4~