The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1922-09-14


ceive any easier manner of governing the
elusive tin? Yes, perhaps you are right,
but then you might get caught.
In case you have contemplated writing,
either as vocation or an avocation, you
have no doubt asked yourself, "Just what
are my chances of success?" In answer
permit me to state that it is up to you.
There are many be-spectacled highbrows
who can teach you the rules of plot con-
struction, yet it is queer that you never
see the name of one in print, except in
paid advertisement. There are correspon-
dence schools that include no other subject
in their curriculum, and undoubtedly
course in writing would aid the tyro pro-
viding the school is reliable. There are
schools that paint luridly the highsrewards
of writing. l was sucker enough to donate
sawbuck to the cause, too, and believe
thou me l would have CLEANED more actual
information from copy of the Burlap
Center Bugle. There are professional
critics, who will in return for fee, kindly
submit the sterotyped form that they en-
ploy for romantic tales or perhaps the one
where the prodigal son returns to save the
old homestead. Play the game on your
own, brother; when you take post-grad-
uate course with US, you are supposed to be
too smart to be trimmed upon the trea-
sured traditions of your Alma Mater.
Breaking into print is bit more diff
cult than breaking into Jail, for you don't
have so much competition. Nor are there
so many to take such an interest in you
until you have reached your destination.
Who would be a white wing high
jumper, or cannon if his name could be
featured in bold black letters as the per-
petrator of most daring bit of fction3
Think of the young fortune our contem-
porary, Jessie James, might have gained,
had he been able to syndicate the story of
his life.
Can you succeed without education3
That depends. If you define the word as
meaning book-learning, the answer is yes.
You may be scholar, and yet failure.
Book education means little as compared
with education in the world. Writing is
the profession of democracy; you may hob
mob with queens or philander with hash
singers. Above all you must possess in
dividuality, for without that you will not
get far. Avoid plagiarism as you would
"works," for verify neither bringeth naught
hut adversely. Did you ever stop to rea-
son why o. Henry is an outstanding figure
in American literature? He possessed no
sheepskin, nor did his works bear the
smooth finish of highly-educated writer.
But o. Henry's style is inimitable; his in
dividuality was apparent in every line
that he wrote. He needed not the iron
clad rules, but like chemist he expert
mented, using words in place of test
tubes and liquids. Incidentally O. Henry
was at one time an inmate of penal in
stitution. That is no secret as it is so
stated in his biography. Let that know
ledge hearten you in your own quest for
editorial dollars, for you are under no
handicap that you do not recognize.
l cannot tell you why many writers fail
to bring home the bacon. l can state with
a degree of authority that many fail be-
cause they are not willing to spend time
in the apprenticeship through which we
must pass before we master any trade or
craft The budding writer thinks that all