Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23
"DoNT's" FOR YOUNG AUTHORS.
An English Writer'S Advice to Her
Sisters in the Craft.

Mrs. r. Kefsh in the Pail Mall Magazine
1t is a delicate matter to offer. however
deferentially, useful hints to seekers after
literary success; but were asked to write
a list of literary dom ts,''L some of the fol-
lowing would be among them:
Don't put your RELATIONSHIP book. It is
too great price to demand of them for
being related to you, which, after all. they
cannot help. Nm
Don't try to make epigrsms, for, unless
they are .utheys will-like a bad
sauce-be quite unpalatable.
Don't use the same word twice in a SEN
tence, especially In Imaginative writing, If
you can find a suitable synonym.
Don't write on subjects of which you
know nothing: don't Tor instance. attempt
to describe an American girl or a French
girl If you have never met, one. Try a Ger
man-they are less Characteristic and any
ordinary, heavy, sentimental At type win serve
Don't describe society h,hivhish .ypn L have
never mixed nor sceneTy oyo You have never
seen. Yes, dear lady, Clarke, Russell may
or may not have written his sea stories
without having been at sea, but the chances
agination OF a Clarke Russell.
Don't under any circumstances tell a
story, however good. to an editor when he
Is interviewing you. Write 1t or send him
d SyuOpSlS, OF, Detter SIlll, tell 1t 10 a
friend. You may possibly lose your friend,
especially II III very long story, but your
editor will not necessarily be permanently
out when you call.
Don't. when you head your stories with a
quotation. forget where you took it from.
and don't forget to be accurate in small
things Women are notorious sinners In
this respect, and I remember recommend
ing really clever novel to a man who
refused to read 1t on the ground that he
was sure 1t would be trash, simply because
he unfortunately opened the book and saw
some allusion to dinner party and to a
bottle OF excellent champagne. from which
was extracted a 'fine, swelling cork"
Other things to avoid are religion (unless
you have the intellect and restraint of
Mrs. Humphrey Ward-which is also UNI
likely. inpropriety. PLAGIARISM Every i'm
portant hint, which includes too much
reading). dullness and as many Latin
words as possible
As to what 1t is well to do" In litera-
turs l strongly recommend all writer's to
take back an order IL the editor does not
like their story. 1t is better to face the
present loss than future lack of orders
Try to give your editor what he wants
He may be poor judge of your inestima-
1,s wof r Dut ne Is often very good
Jeoge OF what his readers want.
II a manuscript comes back to YOU mare
than once read 1t carefully again; rewrite
It II 1t does not please you, and try to
sriaclse It as though It had been written
Try altering the title. have often sold
q story after having 1t returned two or
three times by this small alteration.
II you have an interview with your ed
itor say what you have to say and 70.
Don't try to fascinate him and talk him
into taking work he has told you he doesn't
want; because, unless he's an idiot as well
as an editor. 1t will not influence him in the
slightest degree. '.-'
when sending OF manuscript send a note
with II quoting the papers for which you
write ana mentioning your price. but don't
Wy 70 persuade, either by writing or per-
sonar interview, any man or woman to
take your work.
AZ to other hints, am not a great he.
lever In note books, but think II is Wall
to get into the habit OF writing out short
accounts OF things: also 1t is advisable To
have all your work clearly Typewriter. to
send It away clean and tidy and as little
corrected as possible, and not to forget to
incaose stamps; always to be accurate and
sympeineuo and original and to do your
and take for your motto In your literary
strivings the well-known text from the we'll.
eth to do. do 1t with eli thy might"