The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-22
THE ROAD TO Sue
CESS AS nm AUTHOR.
William Dean HoweIIs, the Eminent Novelist,
Gives His IDEAS About Il; Interesting
account Of His (1ethods.

VII. come ozlt. / expect, toward the end
OF the year" said William Dean Howells
a few days ago. as he sat IN his pleasant
New York study, overlooking Central
park. Mr.. Howells is now q his ed year.
and for a generation has been engaged In
entertaining the reading public with his
genial stories. but lis personal appear
ance. as wei as the yirility OF his writ
ing. indicates that he IS still n his prime.
We" continued the novelist, in answer
to further question. y can't tell You
the title Of the new story or even Its ex-
act course, for the reason ina, those mat
tiers are never decided with me until the
actual writing is completed. or nearly so.
Doesn't Map Ont stories in Advance.
MY regular procedure Is first 10 select
the topic OF the story. This Is usually
something that has occurred TO ME. PEP
haps years before. and that has been de-
veloped by occasionally thinking about t.
The next step is the selection OF char
acters. which Is tire matter Of greatest
care and study, and I never map out the
exact course Of the story IN advance.
Naturally. have a more or less distinct
notion OF how IL IS 20 go, but | ind that
after ! begin writing one chapter sug-
gests another. and the story grows or
itself.
do receive requests for advice from
young writers? Very often, and II the
number OF such inquiries coming TO me
affords any Indication there IS To danger
OF the extinction OF the American novel,
OF which some critics seem 10 be afraid
There isn't much that can be said to
these young aspira1;s for literary fame.
The best advice I know Is: Go ahead.
do your best. write the truth that YOU
have as you see il; and IL one other per-
son feels and appreciates 1t as you Go,
the effort viii not have peen wasted
Writing is so different from other kinds
of work. It depends 50 much upon iridi-
vidual character and habits Of mind that
1t Is impossible 10 lay down any hard and
fast rules In relation to H. No sooner
have you done so than somebody violates
them all and still comes out on top Still.
1t may be possible for an Old stager, who
has kept IN more or less intimate touch
with the literary world Tor a good many
years, TO say word or two, chiefly in
the way OF encouraging and reassuring
the effort viii rot have been wasted
No Rules for Preparation.
81 will not attempt to instruct the be-
gtnner as TO how 10 prepare himself or
herself I've mustn't forget the her IN
this, for writing. AS / said before, liter
aturs is bound by no hard and fast rules.
There Is no set CT books. as n law Or
engineering, from which one must get
his first principles ! don't mean tnat
an acquaintance with the best writing
is of 10 value, but os vastly greater i'm
portance IS the ability and habit OF OBJ
serving the life that exists aoou: one,
which nobody has yet put iato a book.
II the young person We are discussing
has the gifts OF mind which Will make
him a successful writer these qualities
may be safely left to Indicate the eourss
which his preparation shall take. Only
In this way can variety. originality and
strength be preserved II our literature
From this you may Sse that I am
no, one OF those who constantly uphold
young literary workers. guess that
fact Is well enough known TO those who
are sufficiently acquainted with me TO o0
interested in what I say. The natural
development OF the novel has been from
the classic, through the romantic, to the
naturai!stic. / like the latter term bet
ter than realistic because realism, IN the
minds OF many persons. IS associated with
what IL sordid and unpleasant Or courses
that isn't true, for reality has its cheer
full and encouraging side as well as the
reverse. Realism or naturalism being the
present, and perhaps the permanent, garb
of the novel In its highest form. IL fol-
lows that the writer's only textbook which
he must never disregard is life, life in some
one OF It's infinite phases. Sincerity is the
great essential Truth Is the one motto
that the young writer should put irs
big letters above his desk. So long as
he conforms to that his work cannot be
wholly lost.
Tendency Toward Naturalism.
"The tendency Of recent years has been.
I think, toward naturalisn. By that ]
do not mean that Il has commanded the
greatest number OF readers. Mankind, at
ieas. the majority OF him, IS conservative,
sticks TO accepted standards. demands tha
same kind OF food that he has been ac-
customei 10. But think II an evidence
OF advanced and educated literary taste
that the most intelligent element OF the
reading public row demands not an alb
sorbing story. but Il strong delineation Of
character. Il bit OF nature or life trans
planted 20 the pages OF a book. II Is well
for the young writer 20 ge. Il thoroughly
settled in his mind that nobody In the
future VII be reckoned grea, who Is falsa
20 humanity ard that tlsre is no true
picture OF life which is not. by that fact.
a work OF art. The question for the writer
10 ask himself constantly and search.ngiy
IN contemplating his work Is. rs it true
true TO the thoughts and principles that
shane i.feT'
las an example OF the tendency 10 sub
tha greatest OF realists. Some OF his
stories are scarcely more than exquisite
delinea;ons OF character and motives and
yet they are masterpieces OF fiction"
''You emphasize the Importance OF
character delineaiion. In your OWL writ
ing are your characters taken from life9"
II never copy the character Of an in
dividual That would BE- 20 give a por-
trait. What Is taken represents type
Every character created by an author
comes from his own individuality.
Genius In Writing Il a Myth.
when our young person sets out In a
serious attempt 10 write, having fully
absorbed. let Us say. the life about him.
ne s. surprised 10 find that Il In hard work
He decides that re cannot hope TO become
great for ne has been taught that the great
writer the genius fl literature throws or
his masterpieces without an effort know
of nothing more discouragiug TO the young
writer than this genius theory and for the
relief Of any TO whom II sfIn exists as a
bugaboo. I will say that am pretty sire
lis myth The only genius worth talk
ing about. IN writing, as in everything
else. Il the genius Of hard work OF COURSE