The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-01-30
How TO Write u Piece for the Paper

without at some time finding 1t neces-
sary to prepare some report, letter
news item, or similar matter for pub
LEGATION 1t is hoped the following
suggestions may be OF assistance to
those who find themselves suddenly
| called upon to do work OF this sort.
| First of all let 1t be said that the
| tools and material, pencil Tor pen
and ink paper. etc. must be chosen
| with some care TO insure good work
! II a pencil is used. it must be neither
too hard nor too soft to go with the
paper upon which the writing Is done
A hard, smooth finished paper will
| permit good work even with a very
soft pencil; rough unfinished sheets
! should be written upon with COM
! paratiyely hard lead. On the other
! hand. a hard pencil on smooth and
especially thin paper produces work
/ oftentimes very difficult to read.
II there Is more than one page, be
sure TO number every one, preferably
in the upper left hand corner, GER
tainly never at the bottom of the
sheets.
Write on one side of the sheet only.
Do not write too close to the top,
sides. or bottom, and let there be
plenty OF space between the lines. In
most cases the manuscript on arriv-
ing at our office will require some
changes. A wide margin about the
edges, and good space between the
lines will give the necessary oppor-
tunity. II closely inscribed. with
narrow margins 1t may have 10 be
entirely rewritten.
very brief communication might
possibly not require title or head
ing Most pieces, however do re-
quire a caption of some sort Better
select a title and write 1t at the top
of the page. This should usually
be no less than three nor more than
nine words long.
Allowing for the margin already
spoken OF, the lines should commence
evenly, about one inch from the left
hand margin and terminate about
three quarters of an inch from the
right hand side Of the paper. The
first line, however, should be "indent-
ed, that is, should commence a lit
tie farther in than the other lines, say
about one and one-half inches from
the left hand edge of the paper.
If the article Is from rs to $50 or
more words in length, 1t should usu
ally be divided into paragraphs. each
paragraph dealing with a particular
part of the story or subject written
about The first line of each para
graph should be indented like the
first line at the top of the page.
1t is not practical to give instruc-
tions in an article OF this kind as to
spelling, punctuation, the use of cap
itals, etc. No one need be deferred
from writing, however, because of the
fear of making errors. 1t is the bust
ness of the publisher to correct mis-
takes in spelling. punctuation, etc
The writer should, however, aim tC
place a period at the end of each sen
tence and to begin the next sentence
with a capital
Every communication should be &C
companied by the rame of the writer
or. If the piece is written by one party
. and sent in by another, the name oil
the sender will answer every purpose
If 1t is preferred that the name should
not be printed, the signature should
be followed by the words. "Do not
print.
: This piece would not be complete
without a brief comment on the i'm
portance of submitting manuscript
promptly. Publishers, especially Of
= country weeklles, find the days just
, preceding the day of issue crowded
with just a little more work than
there is time for The independent
Reporter is issued Thursday morning
The forms close late Wednesday af-
ternoon. Late news of the emergency
, sort can be handled up to late hour
Wednesday. II of great Importance
sometimes, even after part OF the
edition has been run, the press can
be stopped and an item Of eXtraordin-
, airy Importance added. The latter
procedure Is expensive, however, and
is not resorted to unless the emcr-
gency is unusual.
Thursday afternoons, Friday, Satur-
, day and Monday forenoons are the
times when manuscript Is most wei
come. 1t is then that the composing
department IS not crowded with copy
: and it is the time when communica
, tions, short or long, should he got
ten in if possible. On Tuesday anC
Wednesday, only late happenings car
be handled. Do not send In after
| Monday night, accounts of weddings
, reunions, club meetings, etc tina
have happened on Wednesday, Thurs
day, Friday or Saturday preceding. |
sent in late they may be printed, bu
J oftentimc they would have to be turn
, ed down to permit the publishing Of
later happenings.
The above IS not prepared in crit
ical spirit or with the purpose OF he
: Ing arbitrary as to the matter of news
A country weekly is largely depend
ent upon news which is voluntarily
submitted by its readers, The Re
porter is kind of family affair where
/ every reader Is entitled to send II
news or communications, or to write
articles for publication, expressing hi!
or her opinion. on any topic of loca
Interest This should be put LITTLE
J stronger than that Our readers are
not only entitled to do this. but are
urged to make use of the privilege L
the greatest extent Whenever the
news comes. we shall give it the best
attention possible. but if it Is care
fully and legibly written and the man
uscript submitted early, II will moi
only be greatly to our convenience
but errors and delays are thus avoid
ed and the result is sure to be more