Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-02-19
new FIELD FOR
clever WOMEN
Openings for Them in Maya
zine World

New Orh, eDIuary lS.-WOmen
who aspire to literary careers, espe-
cially in the magazine field should
find a wealth of information and prac-
teal advice in a lecture delivered 1t
the New York University this week
by Sophie Kerr Underwood, an editor
ST the Woman's Home Companion
Mrs. Underwood, herself writer of
experience is able to speak from an
abundant observation. She is a Mary
land woman, hailing from Denton, on
the eastern shore, and her name is
familiar to large portion of the read
ing public. Following are excerpts
from her lecture;
The first thing to do, of course, IS
to catch your job, and that is no small
task Positions on the staff OF a good
magazine are few and far between, and
it is the general rule that one must
begin in very small place and work
up.
Probably you will be given some
correspondence to attend Ito-ques-
tons which are unimportant, except
that they must always invariably be
answered sincerely, fully and kindly.
Even if you think the question silly,
or iuane, remember that every letter
courteously answered makes friend
for the magazine-and what a maya
zine wants friends
Proofreading and Editing.
SO the woman who does magazine
work must be able to write a good
letter, clear and we'll expressed. Prob
ably she will very soon be given some
manuscripts to read and her opinion
of them asked. Thus her ability to
Judge good material will at once be
apparent, if it is there. Then she
must learn to proofread not only for
mistakes, but for good
English and in her corrections she
must always remember to make as lit
tie work for the compositor as pos
sible.
Then comes the tedious process of
rewriting and editing. Many people,
you know, can write good stuff with
out being able TO write at all-that
is they know their subject, their in
formation is correct, but their way
of presenting it is very bad It is
the part of the editor and the assist
ant editors to get this material into
shape, to have, the article we'll bal
anced, clear, leaving all the good
stuff in it, but in correct form above
all max ng it of length to fit the.
space allotted to it. To cut We'll is
an art, and to pad Or lengthan an ar
ticle which is too short is still more
Of an art.
I'm the field of makeup there is
good chance for a woman who will
inform herself by reading and other
wise about types and cuts. Learn
why certain styles of drawing will not
we'll Learn how much and
where to retouch photograph for re-
Aptitude in Expression Necessary.
AS for the personal requisites for
success in magazine work-frst and
foremost and absolutely essential is
aptitude in expression. You must have
his if you have nothing else. You
must have the ability to use words
clearly and keenly. You cannot pc
aught it.
Beyond this. there is also the
spirit of it. Too many young women
ret in magazine work and present..
become afflicted with the most high
row feelings, They cultivate these
literary feelings. This is fatal TO
good work The end of these young
mistaken souls is that they either
else their jobs, or else they drift into
for small, neVer-heard-of
where atmosphere counts
for more than energy and intelligence.
Don't fall into this error. Magazine
work is good, live work under the
pressure of boundIess competition"