1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature
3. magazines

HOW
W^RITE
TO
FOE
THE
A
PRESS:
H
for iSctjmntrs
^Sractical|l)antit)oofe:
in
Joutnalism.
EDITOI^,
^iT
ILonlran
COX,
HORACE
WINDSOR
HOUSE,
:
BEEAM'S
1899.
BUILDINGS,
E.C.
LO'DOK
:
BREAM's
BUILDINGS,
PRINTED
HORACK
BT
COX,
WINDSOR
HOUSK,
K.C.
COIS^TEI^TS
PAGE
CHAP.
1
Introduction
I.
Concerning
5
Choosing
The
IV.
Short
V.
Subject
The
:
17
Its
...
...
29
Treatment
39
52
Interviewing
of
...
VI.
Book
64
Preparing
...
...
...
...
...
76
Criticism
Musical
and
Dramatic
VIII.
...
...
Reviewing
..
VII.
8U
Manuscript
a
.
.
IX.
X.
XL
"
"
Placing
Some
How
Diary
...
Writing
Storj
Art
...
Subject
a
...
III.
...
...
...
II.
...
"
Style
"
...
...
...
...
a
Further
it
.
...
89
Manuscript
99
Hints
112
Pays
of
a
Literary
119
Beginner
...
...
...
HOW TO WRITE FOR THE PRESS.
INTRODUCTION,
So
numerous
and
if not
to
seem
practicaljournalism
on
of
the addition
that
authorship
list may
call for
few
a
yet another
of
words
of
way
the
men
whose
posed
guides has
as
is to
say,
been
of
the
explanation,
connection
when
they
stood
themselves
who
facts.
in
years
Now,
for
going through
a
work,
giving
much
advice
has
contributions
accepted,
counsel
beginner
the
It
some
to
in
offer
to
me,
in this
aware
spent
wisdom
his
journalism
is
nothing
barber
an
seems
not
of
daily work of a practical
difficultyin getting his own
impertinence. The bald-headed
and
to buy his hair restorer
urges
you
relatives.
in question are
near
than
to
need
in
has
have
the
and
journalist,
to
who
man
had
have
It is
the
have
they
to mention
names
quite unnecessary
connection, as experienced journalistsare well
of
by
equivocal. That
with
journalism has
oflSce of
the
themselves
place,
written
which
very
upon
others
somewhat
to
first
been
have
realm
been
the
slightest nature, men
experience of practicalnewspaper
real
taken
the
whose
men
works
such
in
success
state, in
would
this, I
majority of
that
it.
the
to
apology.
By
no
the handbooks
are
therefore, that
B
there
the
is at
and
less
who
individual
least
one
2
TO
HOW
merit
which
the writer
one,
moreover,
and
delightful
one
FOR
THE
PEE88.
of this little book
may
claim
"
of
and
practicaliournalist,
has found
who
journalismnot only a
profitable
congenialoccupation,but a not un-
it is the work
for
WPJTE
of
withal.
a
The
writer
of these pages
has
a
goodly
experience, extending over
number
of years, of reporting,sub-editing,and
of experience
editing,togetherwith a fair amount
and magazines,and he
to periodicals
as
a contributor
He
his enemies
has even
by writingbooks.
rejoiced
has edited an evening paper, a bi-weekly,
a
morning
daily,and at the present time is entrusted with the
of the leadingweekly newspapers
control of one
nected
conwith one
of the best known
of provincial
dailies.
These facts are
mentioned
in no
spirit,
vain-glorious
but are
simply entered here as the author's credentials.
the
The
write
to
reason
why the author came
form this book
has already been stated
papers which
So much
been
that has previously
by inference.
the subjectshere
the
written
treated
has been
on
of people whose
work
title to give advice was
so
advice appeared to lack practidubitable, or whose
cability
that he determined
to approach the task in
and
a thoroughly practical
depend upon his
manner,
that might
own
experiencefor producing a handbook
who
woman
or
reallyprove helpfulto the young man
for the Press,"
desirous of becoming a "writer
was
either as an
occupation for leisure hours or as a
had
actual
means
That
of livelihood.
the
has
thus
succeeded
in
some
encouraged to believe,as four of the
followingchaptershave alreadybeen publishedin the
Young Man, and there they met with much acceptance,
measure
he
writer
is
3
INTEODUCTION.
being widely noticed by the Press and attracting
the attention of Mr. W. T. Stead,who, in
especially
them
for
the Review of Beviews, heartilycommended
The
the saneness
and practical
value of their advice.
III.,YIII.,and IX.) are the
chaptersin question(II.,
the
that have
thus been published,and
only ones
author
wishes
draw
to
attention
the
to
fact that
his
particular
years in these chaptershave
been allowed to stand,as they were
written before the
necessitated the
assumptionof his present editorship
references
to
discontinuance
of much
of his work
as
contributor
a
and magazines. Their
periodicals
is in no wise affected by their date.
course,
Another
thing might be urged by the
behalf of his little book, and
that is the
to
other
while
the
been
invariably
at
the
contributor
outside
hands
the
subjectof
of those
some
have
who
the
to
value,of
writer
fact
in
that
Press
has
slightattention
issued primers of
he has never
before been
journalismand authorship,
the subject
But
of a specialhandbook.
the literary
contributor has of late become
importantenough and
this attention.
numerous
Indeed,
enough to warrant
it seems
that the recent cheapeningof periodical
to me
and
its attendant
demand
literature,
of
work, make the appearance
literary
this distinctly
opportune.
for
such
Magazine editors and the conductors
of periodicals
are
beginning to relyless
of authors
who
unreal,fame.
"250
to
for
a
have
An
"
been
editor
story by
Mr.
that its appearance
the circulation of his
B
boomed
"
increased
a
book
as
of all classes
on
the work
into,oftentimes
who
is said to have given
fessed
Rudyard Kipling has condid not add a singlecopy
magazine. The editors of
2
i
HOW
similar
statement
author
an
of
The
"
moral
going
to
and
no
is
"
names
his
worth,achieve
her
or
out
with-
circulation
a
magazines
their
on
plain:
the last-named
seen
Harms
of those
any
of this is
have
have
recentlymade
have
in its pages
of note
big
PRESS.
THE
Royal
we
the
as
greater than
show
a
the
and
;
well
magazine, as
times
FOK
Magazine and
Pearsmts
a
WRITE
TO
ten
that make
contents
pages.
is
capableunknown
the
magazinedom,
in
chance
be
swamped by writers who have
their
logs rolled by friendly
longer to
managed to get
journalists.
field which
The
lies open to the literary
contributor
in the near
future rather than become
will increase
plate
circumscribed,and it is to those who contemis offered,
enteringit that this little handbook
in the hope that within
its pages they may
find not a
will save
few
hints
that
them
periences,
galling exmany
and help,perchance,to smooth
the pathway
more
to
who
anyone
a
draperor
a!id
is in
a
trustingto
after
his
pen
business
very
for
a
an
outset,
be he
situation,
of vacating that
livelihood until he has
able to make
hours
the
work
literary
from
income
that
would
be
requirements independent of his
and woman
add a
can
salary. Many a man
sufficient for
business
to dream
druggist,not
at
warn,
good, permanent
a
for several years been
done
I would
But
success.
his
acceptablesum
each
A'ear
to
his
or
her
income
by writing for the Pres", and I am sometimes inclined
have
better off than those who
to think that they are
their pens for their livelihood.
to depend solelyupon
work
They enjoy the genuine delightof literary
; it
never
becomes
modestlyin
a
toil to
its rewards.
them
;
and
they can
share
I.
CHAPTER
STYLE."
"
CONCERNING
To
one's
use
of
writing
of
pleasure
letter
a
the
of
grace
of
reading
this
interested
a
attention
In
to
a
of
story,
wider
How
discussion
actor,
teaching
the
art
that
like
academies,
Mother
it
just
;
contend
who
is
competent
the
the
manner
often
has
scene,
his
explain why
scarce
be
may
which
critics
of
the
must
;
capable
while
of
instructor.
have
cannot
be
be
cannot
receive
others
So
his
as
in
fruitful
taught
regard
at
to
that
those
the
of
creation
the
stoutly
those
tions
generaare
;
its
in
sources
for
There
tuition
acquired
essential
of
one
disputed
art.
is
spared
is
always
actor's
being
be
acquired
are
as
style
should
pains
poet,
but
literature
acting
the
Nature
of
no
questions
the
a
to
reader
and
lost,
not
could
who
and
;
cultivation.
of
is
letter
a
thought
a
uncritical
describing
world
distinction
debatable
of
or
with
some
engaged.
was
the
style
reader
the
the
is
made
has
given
upon
in
thoughts
compared
never
with
different
who
the
sentences
one's
How
one
has
Even
influence
telling
present
direction,
literary form.
of
to
the
"
for
long
to
one's
turn
from
who
another
is
"
to
dress.
letter
a
in
progress
subtle
;
office
literary
friend
a
able
becoming
most
from
to
being
degree
some
humblest
the
for
pen
direct
maintain
the
hands
from
that
of
a
literary style
6
HOW
which
"
is
it may
to
seem
THE
FOE
of
kernel
reallythe
agree
PRESS.
literature,
although
the
more
concern
authorities
many
"
the
WRITE
TO
with
outward
in
Buffon
shell
"
thinkingthat
consider that the
styleis the man," and many
coupled with a fair
expenditureof time and jDains,
will result in its
of native intelligence,
endowment
acquirement.
is to examine
Our
brieflysuch
present purpose
and so to
the subject,
be cited on
witnesses
as
may
lying
idea of the factors underarrive at some
intelligible
style;though it is too much to hope that we
will be more
be able to bring in a verdict which
may
definite than an opinion.
of stylewho have used
One of the greatest masters
the Englishlanguage as the vehicle of their thoughts
Stevenson.
Louis
late Eobert
the
was
He
once
was
good literature,and he
he said,
replied, elbow-grease." I can always tell,^^
and over
author does not write over
when
an
again.
the mass
of
The
most
rapid writer cannot
arrange
without having
material that goes to make
up a book
asked
what
of
the secret
was
"
"
''
it out
of order
the end
the charm, and
ns
he
was
when
not
Order
there.
of literature.
certain
that you
then
Stevenson
is the
basis,
Therefore, the
have
everything
proceededto give
proper order."
a
glimpse of the scrupulousmethods
by which
sought after perfectform : Only this morning I
readingover the manuscriptof a scene in a story,
main
in
and
here
point is
to be
"
I found
out
it
follow the idea.
gloomily reading
five times I detected
characters
had
come
was
not
It would
and
to
true
joinon.
re-readingit over
the flaw.
before
not
An
I could
nature.
act
of
But
after
four
one
or
of the
something else, and
CONCERNING
rendered
his
every
7
STYLE.
subsequentconduct
impossible. If, in
word, and every sentence,
right order, and has no
great writer. His clauses may
lias every
subjectin tlie
a man
literature,
and
"
other
gift,he will be a
be unmusical, his words
colourless and inexpressive,
and yet, if the order is perfectthroughout,he will be
a great writer."
It would
thus
seem
that, to Stevenson's
mind,
but
this is a
order and
style were
;
synonymous
which few will accept ; though none
will
proposition
deny that order is an attribute of style. If order
alone were
style,then Euclid would
surely be the
None
put pen to paper.
greatest stylistwho ever
than
better
knew
Stevenson, however, that style
than
order.
As
Lord
requireda great deal more
Rosebery has said of him, he
played the sedulous
writers with a view to
to many
distinguished
ape
style. He tried to reproducetheir
forming a literary
and
was
again and again unsuccessful;
qualities,
bouts I
"but
at least,"he confessed,''in these vain
struction,
practicein rhythm, in harmony, and congot some
and
co-ordination
of parts." We
would
be correct, therefore, in regarding Stevenson
as
a
witness in favour of reading and imitation as means
to the acquirementof style.
old
writer
An
{Dublin University Magazine,
1852) claimed Dickens on the side of those who had
their styles from
other writers.
evolved
''Boz,"
this critic, has achieved
wrote
a
great thing he
in
has created a style. The
singularcircumstance
is that, by careful study of previous styles,
this case
by imitation of them, this author has produced out of
the heterogeneous elements
a
compound essentially
"
"
"
"
i
HU\Y
TU
WRITE
THE
FOE
PRESS.
differingfrom all its component parts^and claiming
merit of being original.
claiming justly the liigli
Tliat such a result should follow such a course
ought to
aim at true
writers who
to adopt
celebrity
encourage
and painstaking
this humble
system." Mr.
initiatory
George Holyoake thinks that of all the bewildering
of acquiring
stylethis is the worst. According to
ways
scent
him^ a man
might as well expect to create a new
perfumes he
by mixing togetherthe most remarkable
could collect,
to create
a new
as
styleby fusing the
authors.
characteristics of a dozen distinguished
"
"
Be
that
it may,
as
there
the value
urge
conscious imitation for
who
favours
the
Johnson,
study
and
of
of
are
authors
eminent
many
wide
reading, and even
Mr. Justin McCarthy
a time.
Shakespeare,Addison, Steele,
Burke,
and
the
Greek
and
Latin
believes
that
Lang, who
fesses
by nature," and conreading and wi'itingcome
that he never
cultivated style though some
the
first stylistof the day
thinks
him
esteem
Thackeray, Fielding,and Swift are about the best
modern
English authors for young persons to read,
Mr.
authors.
Andrew
"
"
"
so
far
goes.
importance to the
as
manner
Mr.
Grant
Allen
attaches
study of the classics ; though
that.
stress on
Mr. Baring-Gould does not lay much
He thinks that the best trainingfor good writing is
from the
the readingand copyingout of long passages
old masters.
French, in Mr. Baring-Gould's
opinion,
helps one to think and express oueself compactly,
is a caution againstinvolution of sentences.
and German
The
late Mrs. Lynn Linton also believed in studying
good models simply for the sake of their method.
The Englishpoets have been Mr. Hubert Buchanan's
much
"
CONCERNING
"best
and
STYLE."
only guides'' as
and
Mr.
Thackeray.
let
English
by Newman
"
Rides, or
thinks
an
a
Black
to
utter
Lis
would
have
set
studyof Tennyson
close
Augustine Birrell
pass without
day
a
how
to
thouglits. The late William
beginnersin literature to the
9
reading
"
says
Never
:
or
by Addison
of Cobbett's
or
Spurgeon^ one
letter of Cowper's." Dr. Samuel
essay
the words
of the
Bible
of
reallygood bit
Arnold^ a sermon
a
the
are
Rural
Smiles
and
best
most
straightforward,
though Addison, Hume, and Green
("The Historyof England"), Goldsmith (''Vicarof
Wakefield"), and Bacon's essays are excellent.
In
studyingthe great masters,
and
in
playingthe
period of novitiate,one is warned
such methods, not to degenerate
one's own
copyist; not to subordinate
sedulous
ape for a
all who
advise
by
into
a
mere
and
individuality
inclinations to
those
masters, but simply to accept the latter
guides and
them, cullinga
examples, taking suggestionsfrom
flower of
phrase here and there
vocabulary. Mr. Oswald
one's
terrible
case
in
brilliant
man
of
this
the
whispered horror
"
know
I
ruined
a
of
and
one
the
tale
of
man
tells of
I know
"
which
brilliant
very
Crawfurd
says,
with
as
for the enrichment
connection.
letters,"he
of the chosen
a
can
was
a
very
fancy
told,
letters who
has
his
style,and immensely lessened his influence,
in his youth he was
because
enthusiastic admirer
an
of Carlyle'swritings,and
his styleon
his."
formed
How
awful
time
at
;
all
Let
!
avoid
author
young
Carlylelike poison
"
I
events.
Crawfurd
the
might
and yet
stylist,
he
as
be
a
have
never
been
himself
be
considered
tells
us
that
he
warned
model
aware
of
that
in
style,
Mr.
anything of
has studied
a
for that
10
HOW
WRITE
TO
FOE
THE
PRESS.
Drydeu, DefoGj Swift, Bacou, Berkley,
Jeremy Taylor,Barrow, and Groldsmitli. So much for
those who
advise the novice
to study and
copy, and
by, the stylesof the great writers.
profit
purpose
Hall
Mr.
for the
great
was
verse,
thinks
of words
music
that
without
great prose,
no
written.
ever
natural
a
well
as
author
The
ear
as
no
of ''The
"
trainingas the
regards his newspaper
in developingsuch styleas his writings
potential
he
be said to possess.
The real turning point,"
Manxman
most
Caine
"
may
''
was
says,
haste for a
article
was
the
time
when
Having
dailypaper.
a
sore
tax
I had
on
my
arts
to dictate
Mr.
A.
a
also agrees with Mr.
it is a question of
thinking that
nothing can be written
in
a
better writer."
J. C. Hare
in
in great
leading
of self-mystificatio
simpler style grew
production. Short,
place of long and
labyrinths of words, and a
by the very method of
necessary
took
the
sharp,pithy sentences
windy ones, and I realised that I was
in
write
to
Hall
ear.
Caine
"But
interesiing
by a
waj
is
person who does not feel with his subject." There
is an
that the ear
doubt
no
important factor in
guiding one's stylein composition,and there is no
better test of
For
this
reason
a
written
those
an
sentence
authors
than
who
to
read it aloud.
dictate
acquirea
readilythan
well-rounded
stylemore
smooth-flowing,
mitting
those who
relydirectlyon their own
pen for transBut ear is not all;
their thoughts to paper.
be pleased
may
just as order is not all ; the one
and the other observed, and yet stylein its truest
be altogether
sense
lacking. For, though grace
may
be attained
and harmony of ideas may
of expression
by the expenditureof pains,the subtle charm which
^''
CONCERNING
STYLE."
gives to writing its distinctive value
of the actor
justas the individuality
his eminence
There
11
be
must
is the
inborn,
of
measure
in his art.
quitea cloud of witnesses in favour of the
propositionthat styleis largelya gift. Dr. George
is
Macdonald
thinks
has
that
"
true
every
man
with
thing
any-
styleof his own, which, for
In
sense.
development requires only common
first place, he must
that he has said what
see
to
means
may
;
say
in the
a
next, that
be mistaken
for what
he has
he
not
does
said it
not
so
its
the
he
that it
The
mean.
moving of a word to another placemay help to
what
Then
he must
remove
prevent such mistake.
what
is unnecessary
is superfluous,
or
unhelpfulto
the
The
effort
understanding of his meaning."
after style,in Dr. Macdonald'
s opinion,
ought to be
then
but
a
Say, and
removing of faults.
say
right,"is his dictum.
Mr. Bret Harte also agrees with Buffon in thinking
that the styleis the man
; though he believes that his
had to
who
journalist,
earlyexperienceas a humble
the type of his own
set
articles,and to save
up
posing
comlabour,transferred his thoughts direct to his
had something to do with condensing
stick,^^
confesses that he never
his style. Mr. George Moore
a
entirely
thought to style; his reading was
gave
five-and-twentyhe
unregulated,and when he was
and a noun,
between
could not distinguish
nor
a verb
So no tyro need despair. Mark
punctuate a sentence.
methods
he might
of no
Twain
is aware
by which
be said to have cultivated
he has
style. Doubtless
methods, he says, but theybegot themselves, in which
their father."
he is
not
case
only their proprietor,
mere
"
"
"
12
HOW
Mr.
E.
D.
TO
WRITE
THE
FOE
Blackmore
thinks
PRESS.
that
deal
good
a
depends upon luck as well as care ; Mr. Clark Russell
is of opinionthat a good stylefollows a good sense
;
"a
writer's style/'says
Mr.
Thomas
Hardy, "is
accordingto his temperament, and my impressionis
that if he has anythingto say which
is of value,and
words
to say it with, the stylewill come
of itself ;
while
Mr.
Edmund
Gosse
considers
that
style is
properlyan inborn faculty, like the other imaginative
arts, to be trained,chastened, and expanded by
"
"
labour
if it exists
in
a
in
barren
nature, but
the
ground by
But
down
Not
like Homer
Not
like Dante
Not
like
Not
like Goethe
and
lines
:
"
would
I "vrrite,
if I
might,
Shakespeare at his best,
or
the rest
myself,however
Like
myself,or
not
like one's
scribble
planted
im-
in
master-pieces
Alliugham, the Irish
neatlythe consensus
very
Like
to write
be
to
all the
all the literature of the world."
to express
lyricpoet, seems
critical opinionin these
or
not
small,
at all.
self does
without
away
;
In
not
to
mean
sit
design.
or
purpose
one's work,
taking infinite pains with
greater
justiceis done to oneself ; and, althoughfirst thoughts
are
generallythe best, the first way of expressing
them is not always the clearest,
the most
or
graceful.
Balzac, the
begrudge a
wrote
with
greatest of
whole
week
similar
to
French
a
care
noveHsts,
did
page, and the poet
fastidiousness.
and
not
Gray
Of
the
Thackeray'sstylea contemporary says : It was
result of the most
careful and discriminatingstudy."
"
Wilkie
Collins
was
another
verv
careful
and
slow
14
HOW
to
the
answer
word
when
TO
same
I could
WRITE
FOR
purpose;
find a Saxon
PRESS.
THE
using
never
to
one
a
express
where
adjectives
Latin
the
one
meaning ; never
using two
would
it could be avoided;
at all when
do, or one
dress if I could help it ; never
never
describing
using
French
word
unless impossibleto find the same
a
meaning in English,and never
quotingbits of poetry
unless really
necessary."
Dr.
Smiles
Samuel
thinks that the example of
Franklin
in
was
over
a
excellent,to read
paper
the Spectatorthoroughly,and
then
try to put it
in language of his own.
Professor Dowden
says :
In writing narrative, which
I have
had
some
practicein,I believe the most importantthing is to
discover,and then conceal, a logic,a rational order
in the sequence, of topics. A mass
of incident has to
be set forth,and the great art is to convert
what
is
into a rational sequence, where
merely chronological
one
thing leads on to another as it were
by natural
associations.
When
has
one
picked out the facts,
separatedthem into groups, and decided on the order
in which
the groups
shall succeed
one
another, the
When
I say logic,perhaps I
thing is reallydone.
in many
a
logic of the emotions rather
mean,
cases,
same
''
than
of the intellect.'"
It is
know
that Mr.
George Meredith
of avoidingobscurity.
laysgreat stress on the necessity
This may
critics to say,
heal
Physician,
tempt some
Mr. Grant Allen emphasisesthe need for
thyself.^'
I never
write even
a newspaper
patienceand work.
it three or
article now,''he says,
without going over
four times,lookingfor faults,
sentences,
strengthening
for weak ones,
substituting
strong or vivid adjectives
to
interesting
"
"
"
"
CONCERNING
STYLE.''
putting picturesqueverbs
and
verb
be
to
and
separatelyfor
ear
Labour
appearance
of ease."
advice
The
sensible
of
and
"
Mr.
Christie
of
easy
place of
I
Murray
to
Use
common
another
a
style.
"
acceptance.
Idiom
forms
eminently
To
try to be
writes.
Try
"
that he
long array
I
is the
for
example of
thoughts which
the
vice
he
one
said
foreignphrasesand
languages. There is nothing which
from.
which
Avoid
be said in
cannot
of
cream
remember
are
on
the
language.
have
often
saying of
clothed a modicum
of meaning
never
of misappliedpolysyllables
lent
excel: an
expressed.
been
in
a
over
go
is
striking,new, fine,is all faulty,"he
and you
to see
clearly,to speak justly,
road
the
specificdefects,and, last of
to the ring of each
separate
incessant
labour, gives the
as
sentence.
in the
feeblenesses.
other
various
all,satisfymy
15
man
his
friend
of
scraps
can
was
free
the dead
be said at all
English.''
Touching contemporary stylein general,Mr. Craik^
in a capital
introduction
tions,"
to his
English Prose Selecthe opinionthat the bulk of it is,at
sets down
It moves
he writes;
least,alive.
lightlyand easily,'^
it aims at a colloquial
which, as we must
familiarity
of the earliest and truest characis one
teristics
not forget,
of the
genius of the language. It is
undoubtedly often slipshodand ambiguous, and the
"
"
"
so-called ornaments
vague
rhodomontade
often
amount
which
has
to little more
all the
vices
than
of
a
than
see
more
spuriouscoinage. But, as we
may
in the
once
history of our prose, false ornament,
however
distasteful,is, on the whole, a better and
at all. A prose
more
healthysign than no ornament
16
HOW
stylewhich
TO
lest
strenuous
lest
afraid of its
and fears all that is
timidly,
it become
tawdry, and all that is
it become
exaggerated,soon becomes
shadow, and
own
have
prose can
which
does not to
a
catch, in a certain
expressionof its owm
is
Literature
current
definition
of
fashion
of
literarystyle.
spiritof the
materiallyfrom
the
differ
it will from
as
vigour
day.''
styleof to-day must
century ago,
the
measure,
bespeak
must
at all.
move
repeat the tone, and
largeextent
admirable
an
to
ceases
in it the instinct of life and
No
This
PRESS.
too
moves
gorgeous
THE
FOE
WRITE
of
that
a
time ; the
that of a
century hence.
their
into
productions;
they should seek to interpretin their writingsthe
genius of the age as it indicates itself in language;
and slang where
familiarity
always avoidingundue
that is merely vulgar without being expressive.
take it that the three things
To sum
up, we
may
AVriters
which
and
ought
marshalled
the
reader
put
To
and
verified
all that
to him
at
be accurate
choosing just the
suggest
nerves
first be aimed
should
grace.
to
the
;
is
to
are
to
be
accuracy,
have
clear
is necessary
which
words
thought in
the
for
will
clearness,
one's facts well
is to
him
most
author's
convey
to
to
know,
precisely
mind
and
places upon it ; to be
gracefulis to select sweet-soundingwords, to turn
sentences
neatly,varying their length in accordance
with the thought with which
they may be freighted,
where
a
to use
and never
an
ugly,harsh expression
after these
In striving
pleasanterone may be found.
sciously
things the individualityof the writer will unconand thus produce a styleat once
assert itself,
the
value
which
distinctive and
the
latter
cultivated.
II.
CHAPTER
To
tlie
lies in
tlie choice
of
wliicli
disappears
with,
writer
soon
is
that.
is
not
of
journalistic point
be
this
must
first
attracted
style,
of
written
with
if
of
value
it
it did
not
the
reader
and
"
than
use
has
contributor
he
paper
interest
to
interest
to
select
must
them
in
mind
;
that
:
so
that
that
might
be
of treatment
calculated
first
thing
before
he
of
what
c
to
is
from
young
to
likely
this
doing
interests
order
in
the
less
puts pen
which
in
And
to
it would
rather,
or,
"
subject
some
readers.
newspaper
bear
learn
the
attention,
his
is the
of
by
but
interesting clippings
This
newspapers.
is
concerned,
topic
copy
of
budget
a
And
elegance
were
"
as
purely
a
model
very
some
"
more
a
an
reader
any
argument
attract
of
scholarly journalist
a
be
with
deal
by
which
of
from
"
to
subject
contribution
might
clarity
as
the
reasoning,
A
polish
it,and
to
no
other
has
the
importance
newspaper
not
of
subject.
all
far
interest
be
its
give
so
but
article
an
perspicuousness
or
nature
could
to
the
since
obvious^
young
its treatment.
than
"
the
;
consideration
chief
important
view
difficulty
a
first
whether
more
even
of
point
devotes
so
tliis is
experience
the
it is doubtful
Indeed^
article
little
a
that
discovers
subject,,and
his
But
subject.
a
difficulty
initial
the
journalism
in
beginner
SUBJECT.
A
CHOOSING
him
arrive
he
not
may
at
to
a
true
18
HOW
FOE
WRITE
TO
THE
PEESS.
of newspaper
requirementslie must study
of tlie day.
of the different periodicals
contents
estimate
the
large order, consideringthe
which
issue from the press
thousands
of publications
of the United
Kingdom every week; but it is
surprisinghow a judicioussurvey of contemporary
quirements,
periodicals
give one a good idea of the publicremay
and how
easilythat can be made.
be roughly divided into four classes.
The press may
viz.,the daily
First,there is the newspaper
proper,
is the first
and
weekly journalsin which ^^news"
essential ; second, the
popular weekly press ;
third,the monthly magazines; and fourth, the trade
inducements
and class journals.All these offer many
to the occasional
contributor,and I shall consider
in the order
them
treating of the
given, when
which
most
character of the contributions
are
likely
But let me
here
to find acceptance by their editors.
of industryand
amount
remark that a very moderate
for one
to
no
great intellectual giftsare necessary
acquaintoneself with the requirements of the press
of the daily
With
divided.
the contents
when
so
This
may
seem
rather
a
"
"
newspaper
investment
the occasional
is famiUar, and
everyone
in sample copiesof the popular
of a penny
weekly periodicalsis all that need be done in
the
idea of their contents
order to gain some
; while
monthly magazines, such as the Strand, the Windsor,
be similarlystudied
and
the
Royal, may
by the
trade
watchful eye ; the
journalsbeing,like most
the easiest of all to fit with
class publications,
''
' '
contributions.
What
kind
press
of contributions,then, does
require?
What
subjectsare
the
paper
news-
likelyto
A
CHOOSING
be
19
SUBJECT.
The
daily and weekly newspapers
tliat is practically
without limit.
cover
a range
They
the Whiteleys of journalism.Everything,from
are
the literary
needle to the literary
anchor, is supplied
by them ; they are trulythe universal literary
providers.
It would therefore be absurd to attempt to specifythe
which
should treat who desires admittance
one
subjects
acceptable?
to their columns
; but
there is
infallible rule which
one
always be recognisedby those who aim at
securinga footing amongst the contributors to the
must
be of current
press : their subjects
newspaper
and
musfc
concern
interest,
things which will be in
the public mind, or
before the eye of the public,
when
the articles are
to be published. The
paper
newsis the child of the flying
day, and it must bring
its readers into touch
with every topic of interest
will be short. Every editor,
day by day,else its career
must
when
he
sits down
at his desk
to
think
out
his next
for material which
will
issue,is positively
thirsting
make
it of the greatest interest to the greatest
number
of
his readers, and
if to-morrow
some
important event is to occur, something that will be
talked about in the club or in the drawing-room,and
some
energeticcontributor has sent him an article
kindred
if
bearing on this,or touching some
subject,
the article be written in good English and
have a
in its treatment, the
modicum
of common
sense
chances
are
ten
to
one
editor will pass
return
to its author
while he may
publication,
superioressay on something that
three weeks previously.
or
This
is because
articles is that
it for
that the
the
they must
had
c
2
some
very
happened
first essential of
deal with
a
two
newspaper
topicof the
20
TO
HOW
FOE
WRITE
THE
PRESS.
without
scarcely a week
passes
several
important questions occupying prominent
of the dailyand weekly
columns
placesin the news
papers, and it is safe to say that on all such questions
butions
editors are
only too anxious to receive specialcontri-
Now,
moment.
and
to
open
the
A wide field is thus
pay for them.
occasional
which
contributor, and one
to
be cultivated with
may
Let
us
of
Government
the
of
has
difficulty
some
suppose
fair amount
a
Great
Britain
profit.
arisen
and
between
that
of, say,
Africa,
littlenegro
republicof West
and
are
threateningto blow the British
Empire to pieces (as,no doubt, they imagine they
for the
could if they tried); well, here is a chance
industrious
compilerto hunt up all the information he
Liberia,the
queer
the Liberians
find with
can
and
reference
to Liberia
articles
put together some
to
and
the
Liberians,
the
on
subject,
editors,
acceptableto newspaper
always provided they are written in decent English.
has some
If one
personal experience of Liberia,and
relate something about the place at first hand, so
can
much
the better; or, equally good, if one
knows
somebody,or can be introduced to somebody,who has
been to the country and can
supplysome
interesting
will be most
which
facts
and
about
serve
time.
it,do
the
not
"
fail to
"
copy
It is true, of course,
up
with
Liberia
many
similar
very
so
interview
obtained
that
often ; but
it is
up every
overshadowed
year 1897 was
Jubilee,which proved a veritable
The
at
without
have
we
questionscrop
him
once,
loss of
disputes
astonishinghow
not
year.
by
Aaron's
the
Diamond
rod
so
far
interest was
concerned
journalistic
; yet there were
numerous
good subjects
going a-begging. The Greek
as
22
HOW
TO
WRITE
THE
FOR
PRESS.
similar^
thouglislighter,
importance. All these suggested
of topicsto newspaper
scores
contributors;
and tlie present writer, wlio had
been within
never
miles of Johannesburg or Buluwayo, but
a thousand
the
had
of securing first-hand
information
means
from friends who were
acquaintedwith South Africa,
wrote
not a few articles dealingwith such subjectsas
Life in Johannesburg/^ About
the Eand
Mines/'
in Buluwayo/'
Journalism
Rinderpest and the
in South Africa/' which
Native
Problem
he found no
in
dential
Presiplacing." Again, the American
difficulty
Election
suppliedone with a prolific
subject,
and with the aid of several easilyaccessible authorities
in compiling a number
had no
of
one
difficulty
How
the U.S. President
is Elected/'
such as
articles,
The Uncrowned
King of America/' and so forth,
all of which
were
readilyaccepted by editors while
interest in the Presidential
The
campaign endured.
mission
of Li Hung Chang, the visit of the Czar of
Russia
to the
Queen, the loss of the Drumviond
of the
Castle,the Fenian
scare, the enthronement
new
Archbishop of Canterbury,the earthquake,and
of other topicswhich
before the
were
a
score
many
public,in the dailyand weekly press for a few days,
a few
weeks, a month or sOj afforded endless suggestions
"
"
"
"
"
"
'^
for
in
articles
1896
nor
was
that
an
year
exception to the general rule. And it may be said
for more
articles
with confidence that there was
room
;
dealingin an interesting
way with certain phases
written or published.
than were
these subjects
Let
press
and
the
would-be
study
note
the
the
news
contributor
columns
subjectswhich
to
of
the
the
his
of
newspaper
daily paper,
sub-editor
has
CHOOSING
with
headed
A
23
SUBJECT.
and
prominent type
placed
parts of the sheet; let him
about
these, either at first hand
from
little-known
first step to
I
think
wanted
I
interest
have
for
written
moment,
man
and
the
thus
and
editor
made
he
in
write
or
has
his
spicuous
conthing
some-
compiled
taken
the
contribution.
plaiu that what is
tions
daily and weekly journalsis contribuwith a first regard to the topic of the
in a
will not tempt the
style which
in the car, who
to think
with
sources,
in
it
is the average
that the contributor
has
reader,
newspaper
been sitting
late
up
Dictionary and a book of Latin and French
of the subjectis left
quotations. But the treatment
for another
chapter.
The
popular weekly press is next in our
rough
division of journalism,
and by '^popular" I include
all periodicalsof the
class of Tit-Bits, CasselVs
Saturday Journal, The Golden
Penny, Pearson's
Sheffield
JVeekly,
Weekly Telegraph,or The People's
Friend
all the penny
weeklies, in a word, that
and not upon
depend upon stories and articles,
news,
for their popularity. Here
it is not
first essential
a
deal with topicalsubjects;
that the contributor
must
though, to some
extent, articles touchingquestionsof
in a lightand superficial
the moment
stylecommend
to the editors of these publications. But
themselves
they must be lightand superficial.A learned study
of earthquakes,
of the causes
for instance,would
be
promptly declined with thanks by the editors of any
above
of the periodicals
written
named, while a clearly
a
"
contribution
relating
disturbances
would
acceptance.
some
curious
effects of seismic
probably meet with their ready
Indeed, to be perfectlyfrank, there is
24
HOW
little demand
"
a
a
TO
WRITE
FOE
THE
PRESS.
for
learningin this kind of journalism
would
be
nay, a profound knowledge of any subject
drawback
wlio sought to become
to anyone
positive
successful contributor
to the popular penny
press.
The
for
reason
this is not
far to
seek
the
:
laro-e
section of the
community who read the penny
papers
little for learningin its profounderdepths^and
care
are
only interested so long as one can tell them something
curious or extraordinary.
Superior journaliststhat is^ those anonymous
scribblers who look down
from the loftyplacesof the
and pity every
Spectatorand the Saturday Review
other
wielder
of the pen
labouring in the dark
these superior persons
beneath
tired of
are
never
disparagingthe productions of popular journalism
;
"
"
"
"
and
while
sach
it need
not
journalismthat
be denied
that there
is much
in
is not
entirelycommendable,
taken as a whole it is certainly
creditable,and it
very
with the ready acceptance of the great mass
of
meets
the community. It is invariably
wholesome, and if it
has a tendency to scrappiness,
why, that is only the
But
I have no
literature.
tendency of all latter-day
worthdesire to raise the questionof the worth
or
lessness of popular journalism; I am
cerned
onlyhere conwith
a
wide
demand
be
had
no
it
as
a
branch
of press work
which
writer and makes
no
field to the young
great
^^^lile it might
upon his intellectual powers,
tribute to one's literary
abilityto say that one
been
permittedto
in the columns
of
make
occasional
an
not
Tit-Bits,
a
few
of
our
appearance
prominent
guineas so
to-day have been glad of the
earned
Pemberton, the present
(Mr. Max
from
CasseU's Magazine, says that he made
authors
offers
editor
of
"200
to
CHOOSING
"400
a
earlydays by writingfor Tit-Bits,
and
if one
kindred
can
periodicals),
in his
year
Answers, and
bring oneself
writingfor
But
choice
I
of
weeklies
in the
25
SUBJECT.
A
it pays
of the monthlies.
to do
some
tlie work
even
better than
the
diverging a little from my theme
subject. Well, to be brief,the popular
am
"
a
articles
want
street, or
the
which
will
at
woman
the
interest
the
and
fireside,
man
will
appreciabletax on his or her mental
of
facts, curious scraps
capacity. Out-of-the
way
eccentric people,
or
lore, personal notes of famous
and
remarkable
gleanings in
exciting experiences,
the
of life's numberless
are
byways, these
any
of articles
for using in the construction
materials
such materials
for the popular press,
and
are
lying
who
thick around
keeps his eyes moderately
everyone
The
instinct
the capacity
well open.
journalistic
for
discerning the interesting side of everyday
not
make
any
"
occurrences
"
should
enable
the writer
to fill a notebook
periodicals
suitable subjectsthan he will
for the
penny
with
week
every
be able to write up
more
in
a
month.
Turning to the monthly magazines (the heavy
reviews, such as the Nineteenth
Century and the
Contemporary, are not included in this catagory, of
course),we have to note a growing tendency on the
into
to bring them
more
part of their conductors
touch
with the literary
likingsof that vast reading
of Sir George
has made
the fortunes
public which
Mr.
Pearson, and the
Newnes, Mr. Harmsworth,
other proprietorsof popular periodicals.The magazines
the magazines
that catch the popular taste are
successful magazines
that make
most
; the most
money
26
HOW
TO
WEITE
FOE
THE
PRESS.
tliose tiiat pay tlieir contributors
best, and it is
with these that all who
have
chosen
to live by their
are
It requiresno
primarilyconcerned.
very
painstakingstudy of the contents of the magazines of
the day to arrive at some
idea of the kind of contributions
Fiction is an
they want.
important feature in
thanks
to the spiritedlead of the
case, and
every
Earmsivorth
and
the Royal unknown
authors
who
can
much
chance
as
produce a good tale have now
of admission
those who
to Magazine-land as
have
Still,
already earned a reputation in Book-land.
with
is Kkely to be more
laneous
miscelsuccess
easilywon
pens
are
articles than
speciallygifted;
open
as
for contributions
with
short
unless
stories,
one
is
always
magazine editors are
attractive subjects,
on
which,
of
with
fair amount
treated
a
provided they are
readers
literaryskill,will secure
apart from the
writer's name.
Subjectswhich lend themselves to
illustration are doubly welcome.
Supposing one is acquaintedwith the details of
some
industry,and can gain admission to
interesting
he might produce an
a
large factory in his district,
series
and secure
a
acceptablearticle on this subject,
of photographs showing the people at work.
Or, say
lives in the neighbourhood,
within easy reach,
or
one
let it be
historic interest,
of some
or
place of literary
Flodden
Gad's
Hill or
Haddon
Hall or Hawarden,
Field,here is a possible
subjectfor a magazine article,
and a certain subject
if anything may
have happened
to revive
public interest in that particularplace.
hundreds
of such subjects
There are
lyingready to
hand, articles on which would stand a good chance of
acceptance by the editors of the popular monthlies.
CHOOSING
They
subjectis
and
suitable
by
about
some
But
also
nor
written
article
an
importantevent
additional
always an
dates, and any
it is generallyinteresting
time
long as
so
decently "written.
advance
has
fettered
not
are
27
SUBJECT.
A
that is to
recommendation.
in
happen
is
There
the
steady gi-owth of good intei'views among
of the monthly magazines, and interviewing
contents
be practisedby the provincialjournalist
for the
may
monthlies
quite as well as by the London
;
penman
for every largeprovincial
centre, such as Manchester,
Binningham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, or
of eminent
at least a score
men
Dublin, possesses
and
would
who
be
women
potential subjectsfor
magazine interviews.
the trade and
class journals.
Finally, there are
Many of these are publishedweekly,but the bulk of
there need be
them
Here
a month.
appear only once
in the matter
of choosing one's subject.
no
difficulty
of interest to engineers,
If one
has some
information
there
of engineering journals
are
quite a number
which
be approached. So, too, in carpentry,
may
building,printing,and all the other trades j for there
of business which
has not one
branch
is scarcelyany
in the press, the journalspublished
or
more
organs
in the interests of drapers,
and timber
grocers, tailors,
a
dealers
being
prints. By
most
''
which
any
class
advocate
of the
familiar
ambitious
"
I
papers
temperance
"
numerous
and
prosperous
publications
reform, vegetarianism,or
"
causes
mean
very
with
which
we
are
all
days, or cater for religiousreaders
affairs,
by largelydevoting their contents to religious
deal with cyclingand the cycletrade,or any form
or
of sport papers
which, in a word, are published for
in these
"
28
specific
some
reader."
with,
be
of
choice
will
journalist
of
editor
of
choice
ideas
subjects,
are
man
is
it
;
the
with
is
and
first
ideas
as
still
the
which
have
there
be
can
gold
the
for
his
this
tests,
first
by
the
point,
the
thing
for
no
in
doubt
finally,
with
thinking
editors,
brain.
and
man
young
with
in
on
trying
difficulty
no
consideration
has
is
young
suitable
most
A
capacity.
to
sure
the
acceptance
said
be
can
that
is
journalistic
one^s
of
that
subject
a
beginner
the
said
is
with
meet
the
about
Record.
Draj^er's
the
all
After
scarcely
trite
a
of
is
to
periodical
of
class
what
that
likely
said
be
can
must
seem
may
this
as
general
are
intelligence
him
tell
would
Engineer
that
native
The
concerned.
readers
this
far
so
''tlie
contributions
their
all
really
subject
a
for
not
though
and,
is
it
PRESS.
publications
which
in
topics
interested,
remark,
such
all
THE
and
purpose,
For
deal
FOR
WEITE
TO
HOW
lots
about
subjects
that
the
young
30
HOW
TO
that
material
While
one
produce but
supply will turn
all depends upon
will
has
One
to
illustrate his
with
man
a
own
my
m.e, if you
pileof
a
much
a
at his elbow
Avith
smaller
a
contribution.
better
It
of the individual.
preparing an
order
in
personal sometimes
meaning, and if I have
be
of
of his
use
tion.
commenda-
our
data
the discrimination
method
to
best
another
article^
poor
out
the
is entitled to
author
an
PEESS.
made
tie has
that
tlie extent
to
THE
FOE
WRITE
refer
to
now
to
it to
article set
for no
egotism,but simply for a
please,
readers
and to give my
desire to speak at first hand
I began
the benefit of my
own
experience.When
good many
years ago, like
no
all other
clearlydefined methods
to
of work, but with the lapse of years I have come
the value of method, and to this,as much
appreciate
writing for the
a
press
amateurs, I had
as
As
due.
a
articles of
and
quality,any
generalrule I
advance
other
any
a
this is how
discharge of
number
catch
kind
certain
will
at
or
one
is
thirty
time
;
Having, in the daily
editorial duties, to peruse
a
large
I go about
my
Here
twenty
stocks
the
on
it.
I have
of newspapers,
all the little oddities
therein.
have
made
I have
will be
a
accustomed
eye
my
to
daily life reflected
paragraph about an amusing
of
of some
account
an
strange
case, there
police-court
from
death, an
escape
happening, a wonderful
extraordinarysuicide,a surprisingadventure, or in
another
eminent
bricks
off at
humble
in
corner
there
be a
may
all
These
are
person.
to the bricklayer. My
once;
later
necessary
on
they
are
and
scissors,
envelopesbearingthe
names
witty story
as
valuable
of
to
some
me
as
pencilticks them
cut
out
by a pair of
then they are
placed
of the subjects
they
blue
THE
have
SUBJECT
ITS
:
31
TREATMENT.
I turn
pigeonholesat
and
of envelopes,
this moment
find a large
full of clippings,
like ripe peapods, and others
some
which
written such
thin as
on
are
as
early fitches,
titles as "Drawing the Long Bow^'
(American yarns),
Car Mishaps,"
Players and their Pets,'' Motor
"Stories
of the Queen," "Bairbreadth
Escapes,"
Cabinet
Secrets," (How
Revealed),
they are
English as 'tis Writ," Curiosities of Journalism,"
suggested. Thus,
to
my
bundle
"
*'
"
"
"
"
Humour,"
Scottish
on,
and
The
on.
so
empty of their
"
Woman
New
Freaks," and
bulky envelopesI
contents
and
weld
shall
so
presently
these
into articles ;
ones
day, and new
day by
are
constantlybeing added, so that for this kind of
inexhaustible
article (forwhich
there is an
demand)
there is an unlimited
supply of material.
It will be said,no doubt, that this is not very highTrue ; but
it is very
class literarywork.
decent
and it pays the young
writer a great deal
journalism,
than
about
better
the
vernal
composing poems
of
be
done
beauties
without
Spring, and it can
to me
damaging one's better work, althoughit seems
the abilitythat
that there is little to choose between
attractive article on
such
is requiredto produce an
and
that which
enables
subjectsas I have mentioned
the leader-writer
of criticism on
to spin out a column
The
is just about
last night's Parliament.
as
one
the thin
ones
creditable
stouter
to the writer
is to do both
withiu
grow
the
;
but this is
scope
of this
I know
the other.
as
a
pointwhich
treatise,and
does
it
what
not
arise
need
not
the
manner
be
pursued.
With
one's
material
described, the task
of
collected
compiling an
in
article becomes
32
TO
HOW
WRITE
FOK
PEESS.
THE
merely a questionof good taste and discrimination.
Hairbreadtli
If one
were
preparingthe article on
Escapes/^it would be wise to set out by writing a
paragraphof a generalnature, then to follow on with
a
reallyexciting story,to fill up the body of the
which
could be arranged in a
article with incidents
to each other,
suggested by their affinity
sequence
have
of the best stories would
to be kept
while one
''^
for the tail of the
article.
aroused
attention
would
sustained
throughoutby
the
end
the
settingforth
judicious
of
incidents,and the appetiteleft insatiate
various
the
at
be
this way
the reader's
at the
beginning, and
In
article with
an
:
a
conclusion
tame
is
as
One
cat.
thing to be guarded
ungainlyas a Manx
againstin compiling an article of this kind is the
temptationto dwell too long on the writer's views of
the
which
incidents
ought to
He
he
from
pass
relates.
to the
one
This
is
other
mistake.
a
without
circumlocution,remembering that his readers
as
himself,and quiteas
quiteas intelligent
the
appreciate
marvellous
stories without
being
laugh,or
or
weep,
moment
the
of
compiled by
Character,
him
in my
little books
on
marvel.
series
a
I
by
have
Glasgow
a
be
able to
of his various
circumstances
instructed
may
any
author
where
to
mind
at
Scottish
mainly on
down; but all his stories are
habit of trying to improve
spoiledby his irritating
with
his own
them
jejune
by garnishing them
the
lines
I
have
laid
opinions.
It has been
to be
knows
may
so
much
where
is
journalist
not
great erudition
as
said that the
a
to
of
man
put his fingeron
require. This
is
a
truism.
required
one
who
he
any information
For it is impossible
SUBJECT
THE
:
ITS
33
TREATMENT.
being could, in reality,
possess the
knowledge attributed to the modern
encyclopgedic
teaches one
where
But experiencesoon
to
journalist.
liuman
that
any
look
for material
and
subject,
conceivable
any
will enable him to
the journalistic
ability
for
an
article
on
although he
up with discretion and effect,
There
forgetall about it a fortnightafterward.
that
serve
may
are
numerous
articles.
from
books
packed
as
Chambers's
for
matter
of articles have
Thousands
such works
with
Book
been
endless
built up
ofDays,Haydn's
Dictionaryof Dates, Whitaker's Ahnanach, and the
When
the practised
various encyclopaedias.
journalist
information
to
gets an idea and only requiressome
he is never
at a loss for that
turn it into an
article,
of knowledge are
information.
Although his sources
open to all,everybody is not struck with the idea at
the same
time, and it is the idea that is worth the
For instance,when
we
were
having so much
money.
and the Transvaal,and there
trouble with Yenezuela
one
was
great publicinterest in these little republics,
section of
Foreign Countries
day I turned up the
handy old WhitaJcer,and in half an hour had jotted
ments
Governsufficient data concerning ''Miniature
down
which
to compilea brief article on the subject,
was
immediately acceptedby Tit-Bits,and paid for
of three
at the rate
guineas. And this was
good,
honest journalism. For there were, first of all,the
the
to marshal
idea, then the judgment necessary
and the production
facts in the most
tellingmanner,
"
"
"
of
an
article which
would
tell many
not known
peoplesomething they had
might have written such an
idea had
not
previouslyoccurred
D
thousands
before.
of
Anybody
article
only the
to
anybody to
"
34
HOW
do
SO,
or,
at
TO
THE
FOR
WRITE
all events, to
PRESS.
send
it to
the
same
periodical.
sallyof tlie
mind ; an
indigestedpiece; not a regular
irregular,
Dr. Johnson's
and
orderly composition," Tliat was
of the
it was
true
and while
essentially
definition,
in his day, it is scarcelya correct
essay as practised
know
it to-day. Like
of the essay as we
description
an
ordinarycomposition which, as I have already
whole
the essay nowabe an
days
said,must
intelligent
forward
is regular,and moves
to a given end.
treatise on
A
short
subjectmay correctlybe
any
spoken of as an essay : an essay on birds,or beasts,
definition would
rather
on
acting,or art. Johnson's
apply to-day to what we call a sketch. For this is
an
irregular,indigestedpiece," written perhaps
view to describinga beautiful
with
an
or
a
scene,
incident in everyday life,or
only for the mere
sake of the language. In such a case
literary
style
is of first importance, and
as
styleis the very
thing that the beginnerlacks,the sketch is the most
to secure
of literature in which
difficult form
early
An
essay
lias been
defined
as
"
loose
a
"
"
"
success.
descriptive
writingought to be earlycultivated.
sirable
good descriptivewriter is one of the most deof the most
and invariably
of journalists,
one
But
The
successful.
Dr.
Robertson
Nicoll
"
says
:
What
a
diligentand patientwriter of
for peoplewho
can
good paragraphs,and especially
write good descriptive
reports! That is a very rare
I have
cases
again and again known
gift indeed.
took place in towns
where
most
interestingevents
where
journalhas a large circulation ; many of
my
field there
is for the
SUBJECT:
THE
ITS
35
TREATMENT.
present at these,and yet
of them
sent
not
me
one
anything. Nothing can
who
do reallygood
hold back
the journalist
can
and who
send fresh news.
can
descriptive
reporting,
in this country said
The richest newspaper
proprietor
to me
latelythat he, too, in his great sphere found,as
who
could
I have
done in my small,that the i3eople
and would
do this well were
geniuses in their way,
This is just
and as rare
as
geniusesof other kinds."
trifle overdrawn, perhaps ; but Dr. Nicoll is an
a
all must
lift our
we
authorityon journalismto whom
hats, and there is no doubt that good descriptive
This
should
be an
couragement
enwriting is at a premium.
my
readers
must
liave been
to cultivate it.
journalist
work.
He
should try
Nor is there more
fascinating
of any historic or picturesque
his hand on descriptions
spot he may visit,keeping his eyes well open for
worthy of record,and describingthe scene
everything
and its associations in the most
picturesquelanguage
at his command, carefully
avoidinganythingapproaching
high falutin'. Those who wish to excel in this
branch
of literature ought to study all the poets who,
like Burns, Wordsworth, Longfellow,and Tennyson,
From
to nature's heart."
them
they will
get near
learn where
to seek for natural
beauty, and they
cannot
help catching something of their power of
description.
Another
kind
work is
of literary
interesting
very
biography. Nothing is more
stimulatingthan to
to
the
young
"
have
an
been
worthy
human
article to
of
recommended
of
write
on
record.
all literature.
to
the
Biography
It
can
beginner,as
D
whose
someone
2
also
is
be
there
life has
the
most
especially
is always a
36
HOW
ready
WRITE
TO
market
for
PRESS.
articles dealing
interesting
o" the
phases
present. In
some
THE
FOR
with
lives of celebrities of the past
or
biographicalsketch, of
the method
of construction
is comparatively
coursej
One
obvious.
generallybegins at the beginning in
and simply traces the life of the subject
sach
a
case,
from the cradle to the grave
scarcely
; but it need
be
treatment
must
urged that such a mechanical
compiling a
"
*'
result
in
an
unfortunate
biographicalsketches
between
sameness
all the
proceed from the one
What
is to be desired in all writingis variety,
pen.
in biography as
in
and
this is quite as
necessary
anything else. It is advisable, therefore,to vary
one^s method
of treatment
and
much
as
as
possible,
will usuallyrecord
while one
the birth of a man
his later life,or death, there are
before chronicling
in which
numerous
biographiesmay be varied.
ways
suit in one
While
a
straightforwardrecord may
it might be well to start with some
case, in another
of the subjectand work
reference to the life-work
back to his birth by contrastinghis juvenilesurroundings
with
his eventual
attainments, or in a
it might be wise to dwell largelyon only
third case
of
one
characteristic,taking up the circumstances
the
subject'sbirth and upbringing, and showing
what
influence these might have had on the development
of this leadingtrait.
I set out
to write this chapter I fancied I
When
had much
be of use
to say that would
to my readers,
and
while
have
of
not
some
conscious
I venture
been
value
which
to
think
that
my
observations
and
altogetherpurposeless,
I
to
journalistic
aspirants,
that this has been
the most
be
may
am
now
difficultpaper
of
38
and
humaUj
tell
not
licence
recall
with
being
than
a
sua
their
which,
in
v
jewel,
iter
and
in
sallet
their
modo,
that
a
that
that
brevity
who
to-day
penmen
and
shiver
remember
author
young
is
a
few
are
in
that
you
a
pens
there
PRESS.
THE
FOE
WRITE
TO
HOW
they
days
quieter
cold
simplicity
is
the
their
gave
thc-y
moments,
Let
sweat.
nothing
will
is
of
soul
the
lost
by
language
of
more
wit.
I
CHAPTER
SHORT
Perhaps
the
is tlie
number
of
and
be
kind
has
and
likely
far
demand
for
the
aptitude
for
it, may
be
In
saying
that
the
and
this
certain
It
the
of
to
care
of
some
of
is
extent
be
but
"
who
success.
I
may
true
is
themselves
of
measure
;
work
those
qualify
wi'iting
story
short
home
a
literary
diminish^
to
even
;
it finds
qualify themselves,"
certain
a
be
short
acquired
story
be
can
and
narrative,
What
he
and
do
method
opening
in
this
be
may
found
is
way
The
:
mastered
if
exercise
by
as
the
short
than
every
really good
a
class
of
suggest
acquired,
only
to
a
extent.
subjects
the
to
that
it^ or
assured
''care
art
can
them,
for
Kingdom
nowadays
before
this
the
newspapers,
United
stories
is
rather
have
the
the
Publications
wander
to
increase
to
of
result
in
appear
short
to-day-
article
possibly compute
amazing.
The
never
the
as
could
that
use
organs.
story
literary
magazines
would
conceivable
WRITING.
one
stories
short
figures
trade
If
story.
periodicals^
the
STORY
marketable
most
short
IV.
one
one
by
learns
may
of
capable
of
mechanism
study
;
plots
how
to
search
attain
to
such
in
writing
or
for
ficiency
pro-
dialogue,
description.
I
by
mean
which
sentence
by
mechanism
one
builds
to
the
?
up
a
Well,
short
I
mean
story from
closing paragraph,
and
40
HOW
TO
FOE
WRITE
THE
PRESS.
conceptionof this Ids story is
certain to be a flabby,
unequal production. Metbod
In a full
in a short story is absolutelyessential.
unless
lias
one
there
novel
is
to
room
more
and
come
rather
book
than
to
so
go,
which
opportunityfor by-play,
speak ; more
improve the
in
some
may
which
otherwise,but
short story is destructive.
a
If you
4000
words
6000
to
and
determined
have
the
"
usual
story of from
a
size for
newspapers
idea absolutely
you should have your
mind
before putting pen
magazines
"
definite
in your
for there is no room
wander
to
goal with only four
your
used.
write
to
devious
by
five thousand
or
to
paper,
paths
words
to
to
be
ending and make straight
for that, every sentence
you write moving you nearer
I am
to that givenpoint. In this case
speaking of a
short
depends for its interest on an
story which
You
fix your
must
or
kinds
and
stories,
of
incidents
of
incident
series
;
but
in which
some
there
are
many
is of no
incident
importancewhatever.
The
"
How
to
of short
be
an
easy
are
:
stories
matter
(1) Tale,
sort,like
of
many
Dumas'
direct
moral, like
;
Study,in
which
type
character
Barrie's
Frank
book,
of
Scottish
adventure
called
various
his classification.
would
They
incident
or
of
Stevenson's,or
(2) Fable
or
Hawthorne's
there
studies
Mathew's
little
excellently,
although it
story
a
or
Wilkius's
useful
extend
to
Scott's
or
a
Fiction,^'classifies the
Write
kinds
any
of
writer
able
is
a
pre-eminently
a tale with
allegory,
short
stories; (3)
study
descriptive
or
characteristic,such
of
New
England
of
as
some
Miss
people, Mr.
studies. Miss Barlow's
Irish studies,and numerous
and
Mr.
others
SHORT
that
mentioned
be
might
value
story whose
situation,or
;
(4)
depends
dramatic
a
41
WRITING.
STORY
Dramatic
on
Sketch,
dramatic
clever
a
of
statement
a
idea, like
an
"
Lady or the Tiger ? "c. ; (5) Complete
Drama, like Maupassant^s short stories. The drama
all the
other
elements
into one
combines
single
Stockton^s
"
effective story.
Now, the first class has always been immensely
than the
popular with readers,and at no time more
You
present. It is the simplest of all to write.
select your
adventure, and you are a poor student if
a study of interesting
periodsof historydoes not soon
and to spare as subjects
supply you with adventures
for your
tales.
Having secured a thorough gTip of
idea, decide in your mind how few characters
your
employ to placebefore your reader as clear
a
conception of the adventure, the incident,or the
And
mind.
idea, as exists in your
own
always
need
you
remember
the
that
better.
characters
careful
a
There
that
that
that
way
will
outward
their
character
idea
If you
as
acted
in
have
In
in
characters
be
stand
one,
give
or
the
in
those
two,
reader
and
appearance,
that he may
; so
a
way
consonance
that
with
relief ; be
in
described
bold
are
pictureof
inkling as to
mental
a
some
form
they will act when
them
quit themselves
convinces
with
perhaps two,
or
out
do
can
you
one,
to how
make
moment
will
must
that
their
an
the fewer
in
the
at
the
mind
his
crisis
the
comes.
critical
reader
their characters, then
they
you
succeeded.
writing a story
essential,and
of
this
kind
be found
it may
in
suggesting the conditions of a
background is
a few
slighttouches
historical epoch, of
a
42
HOW
tlie
TO
of
manners
a
WEITE
FOR
THE
PRESS.
picturesqueperiod,or
of contemporary
society. But sucli touclies should be put in
with a sparing hand, as the purpose
of the tale is
lead up
to this.
a:i
incident, and everything must
^Veigh well every paragraph after it is written,and
main
incident
ask yourself, Does
this concern
my
that it will
If you
convinced
iu any
are
degree ?
help your readers forward to what you have in store
connection
ever
whatfor them, leave it in; if it has no
with your chief idea,then out with it. A proper
'^
"
short story has
In
Tale
the
no
room
the
for extraneous
narrative
form
matter.
will
largely
most
speaking either in the first or
third person,
the former
being easier to maintain ;
and
dialogue being introduced
only at such points
the author considers the thoughts of his characters
as
too important to his plan to be given in the third
are
Dialogue should always be designedto give
person.
the reader a glance at the open soul of the character
talking,and dialogue should always be in short,
be
used,
the
"
''
snappy
writer
sentences, after the
manner
common
of
it as natural as possible,
always
talking. To make
read it aloud, and never
pass it until it sounds natural
and easy when
subjectedto this test. The best way
of dialogue is to carefully
to
acquirea command
and
Dickens
as
by such masters
study its use
Thackeray,and the standard novelists generally.
in a tale
that is to say,
The descriptive
passages
of the year, the
references to the weather, the season
of the country should
time of day, the appearance
be very slight,and
ought to be omitted altogether
unless one
other of these things happens to have
or
some
bearingon the incident that is to be described
"
"
SHORT
further
incident
with
any
your
reader
about
writing
will ask.
? you
in
he can,
given
have
described
your
to fillin.
good story
but
you
the
adventure^ stop right there, as
word
would
Don't put down
one
more
say.
catastrophehas happened ; don't wind up
commonplace platitudes.Leave the rest to
after the
What
when
43
WRITING.
or
Yankees
then
And
on.
STORY
he must
him
so
certain
Believe
me,
of
number
no
man
fixed number
absolutely
to tell a
by practice,
manage
This, however,
choose
means
subjectthat
a
a
of words
tale within
that
is
words
write
can
an
space.
case
a
;
a
in the first
likelyto
serve
than
words
more
no
story is worth
those that are
required to tell it, and it is only
experiencethat can enable one to judge as to this.
and
As I have alreadyremarked, tales of adventure
historical episodes are
immensely popular just now.
Cutcliffe Hyne's
Adventures
of Captain Kettle
strike me
admirable
as
examples of brisk,short stories.
He selects a strikingsituation,
works
up to it sentence
after sentence, places it before us
with a few quick
phrases,either of dialogueor narrative,and leaves us
it firmly impressed upon
with
mind.
Max
our
in his delightful Signors of the Night
Pemberton
chooses
racters,
an
exciting adventure, introduces his chathem
them
sets
to
work, moves
step by
happening at which we can only
step towards some
into a critical situation,
guess, suddenly bringsthem
far.
A
"
^'
"
''
describes
in
others,and
a
few
is
one
this is
some
finishes without
Touching the
that
words
a
in which
Fable
common
styleis
or
consequences,
further
suggests
palaver.
Allegory,it may
also be
form
of the short
very
requisite.At
said
story,and
the
it
outset
44
HOW
the
you
is obvious.
The
"
"
to
of
Study
Character, which
rendered
have
mentioned
story. All short stories
or
more
for
a
second
writer's mind
type
a
order
the
; every
for
the
of the
purpose
the work
to
attract
purpose
paragraph should
purely and
is
done
be
must
convince.
and
be
out
of the
some
being depicted,or describe
some
incidents
or
There
character.
sketch, and
character
character
illustrate
environments
making
with
the
must
facet of the character
of
the
when
less, but
simply to illustrate
in
most
artistically
Never
very
concerned
are
I have
the writers
popular,is really
good straightforward
so
tellinga
difficult than
more
tale unfolds
until your
audience
further
bear
to
PRESS.
THE
FOR
grip tlie reader with an allegory,
advantage of a pleasantstylein coaxing him
it is difficult
and
WRITE
TO
which
is
a
go
steady demand
much
the
even
the
to
be-
"
in
school
is still a power
Kailyard
work of
readers
being ready for any new
literature,
that class that is likelyto be produced. But while
one
style in
get along very well without
may
lutely
tales,this subtle qualityis absowriting adventure
''
gossiped
"
"
essential
sketch.
Jane
"
Ian
to
the
MacLaren,"
Barlow, all have
of
success
the
character
Barrie, Frank
stylein
the best
sense
Mathew,
of the
yet the touch of each is different. Nor
must
one
attempt to depictcharacter with which one
is not intimatelyacquainted. No
Englishman, for
instance, could hope to produce a Scottish sketch
word, and
productsof the
Kailyardschool ; no Scotsman could possiblysucceed
in writing Irish sketches with any
approach to the
colour of Jane Barlow's
Bogland Studies,"or Frank
that
would
rank
with
the
"
meanest
46
HOW
WEITE
TO
FOR
THE
PRESS.
fragmentary,as most otlier short stories are, but a
of a
perfectwhole, covering probably many
years
life. It consequentlycalls for the Tery highestart,
skill such as Maupassant'scan
and only consummate
make
the
of story pure literature.
Yet, with
and
much
aptitude for story-telling
this form
natural
succeed
may
will make
one
practice,
class, which
reading,and
To
an
find
matter
;
producing tales of this
pleasant newspaper
very
ready acceptance
specifyother
easy
in
for
forms
the
with
of short
five classes
editors.
stories would
be
given represent
arbitrary,though excellent, category. But no
would
be served by a further disquisiti
practical
purpose
as
upon the different kinds of short stories,
have been
we
consideringthus far the art of short
of the contributor
story writing from the point of view
an
press, rather than that of the ambitious
looks
the
to
more
author, who
permanent
to the
young
departmentof
literature for the bestowal
of his works.
of this book
the whole
occupy
adequatelywith the subjectin hand, and my
It
would
can
purpose
A word
only be
or
two
may
to
suggest.
be added, however,
to
deal
present
as
to
the
findingof plots. I use the word findingadvisedly,
for plots are
generally treasure
trove, and they are
frequentlyfound when one is not searchingfor them.
It seems
that the best way
to get a good supply
to me
of ideas for short stories is to become
a
diligent
The
student of the daily press.
reports of legal
and the policecourts
cases
yieldan endless supply of
for full novels.
The
and
even
plotsfor little stories,
circumstances
as
they stand in the bald chronicles of
seldom
the
complete in
reporter are
newspaper
SHORT
each
and
47
WRITING.
but they
interest^
dramatic
and
STOEY
frequentlysuggestive,
that is all that is required. Many items of news
of striking storyettes/'
week
contain the germ
advise
I should
writers to practisewith
young
are
''
these.
By
"
"
I
storyettes
short tales of about
mean
2000
length; for which there is a constant demand
in all classes of publications.
They should have only
one
strikingincident and onlytwo or three characters,
that happy minimum
or
only one character whenever
be wi'itten in brisk,
and they should
is practicable,
short paragTaphs.
I am
tempted to further extend this chapterby the
from
How
extracts
to
a
folloAving
symposium on
Write
Short Story,'^
which
a
appearedin the Tem.'ple
time ago :
Magazme some
Mr. Robert
of short
Barr, who is one of the masters
under
story writing,and achieved fame as a humourist
the 'pseudonymof "Luke
''It seems
Sharp," wrote:
in
words
"
"
to
that
me
a
short
like
story into
other
a
one
thousand
case
be
paid in causes
hangs, then
or
"
a
to
remark
me.
is his
is
think
should
put
his
out
three
;
the
beam
words
his
rise
to
on
story finished.
doing false
there
a
thus
his idea
puts
worH
a
worldlywisdom
once
'
above
;
the
as
;
words
late
water
hundred
which
If he
a
work.
much
was
of
for
into the
thousand
Captain Mayne Eeid
Xever
surprise the British
said; 'they don't" like it. If
boy,^ he
a
pail of
idea
; five
number
phorically,
meta-
act,
pair of balances,then
when
the
the
should
thousand
less,he
I often
a
deal
and
"
he
"
of
cup
; two
may
more
this
should
he
story writer
door
so
in
made
public, my
you
that
arrange
when
an
48
obnoxious
HOW
TO
boy
enters
down
bim,
upon
confidence
the
take
THE
PRESS.
the
room
will
water
come
readers fullyinto
your
tbe deed is done.
Let
before
long
FOE
WRITE
your
tbem
help you to tie up the pail^then they will chuckle
all through the
lad
chapter as the unfortunate
approaches his fate^and when he is finally
deluged
with
he has
delight and cry, Now
they will roar
'
his dose ! '
got
"
model
is
Euclid,whose
entitled
The
stories,
justlycelebrated book
Elements
of Geometry,'
of short
of us who
Avill live when
most
are
scribbling
to-day
stantly
are
forgotten. Euclid lays down his plot,sets inincident
at its development,
to work
no
letting
My
'
in
creep
using
no
"
Chance
and
"
"
than
more
work
the
ribs
for construction.
into form
A
like
human
a
of
even
a
his
one
tion
culmina-
of art.
make
few
a
words
tion,
mutilaof
real
story
deep
and
pathetic
sym-
life.
There
must
"
:
the
a
work
be
Charity
Many
the skeleton
or
It takes
human
The
may
a
"
fine old three-decker.
brevityto
insightinto
"
the
told in
story is
story. Not at all. It
cuttinga long tail short
the bare
"
It takes
short
a
short
like
novel
he reaches
the moment
that if
peoplesuppose
a
climax,
word, always keeping
of
Raymond, the author
said
other delightful
stories,
Walter
Mr.
a
the
to
stops."
he
it is
relation
bear
not
unnecessary
view, and
in
end
does
that
is little room
be vital and
grow
flower.
life is
a
plant.
deep into
strivingto rear its
Its roots
run
existence is a
the earth ; its whole
it bursts
moment
head into the light. In a supreme
and
colour
into
new
form, passionateor tender,
fragrantor foul,after
its kind.
That
is the
flower.
SHORT
scientist
The
STORY
hold
can
49
WRITING.
it in
his hand
and
read
the
historyof the plant. All flesh is grass, bnt there is
infinite variety,and 3^ou will be wise to pick the
Show
the
human
us
specimens you understand.
sniff of the earth
moment
a
psychological
; give us
will
below ; a glimpse of the sky above ; and you
have produced a fine short story. It need not exceed
two
words.'^
thousand
Arthur
Mr.
talented
Morrison, the
author
of
craftsman,
Streets/'and a true literary
who had a long fightfor recognition,
sent
the
of his
followingvery practicaladvice in the course
contribution to the symposium :
Little can
be said
''
Tales
of Mean
''
"
in the abstract
the
technic
may
be
to
help the beginnerwho
of the
short
the
cultivated,
story.
command
But
of
of form
would
learn
things that
is the
first;
indeed, I think it is all. Let the pupil take a story
by the perfectionof his
by a writer distinguished
be
could
better than
Guy de
workmanship none
Maupassant and let him consider that story apart
from
the book, as something happening before his
that happens
eyes. Let him review mentallyeverything
the thingsthat are not written in the story as well
review
and
let him
those that are
them, not
as
the story presents
in the order in which
necessarily
before
them, but in that in which they would come
the fiction
in real life. In short,from
observer
an
construct
let him
ordinary,natural,detailed,unselected,
unarrangedfact ; making notes, if necessary,
"
"
"
"
as
the
he goes.
Then
let him
words
of the
master.
rejected;he will observe how everything
given its just proportionin the design; he
unessential
is
fact with
his raw
compare
will see
where
He
the
is
E
50
HOW
will
TO
WRITE
perceivethat
and
and
this
To
the
time
in
every
has
its
word
every
its part in
FOR
whole.
he
PRESS.
incident^ every sentence,
value, its meaning, and
will
He
learn
may
the
see
machinery,
it for
apply
to
short
symposium
same
THE
self/^
him-
also
were
papers
Frederic, Mr. G. B.
by the late Harold
Fenn,
Burgin,Mr. Joseph Hocking, Mr. Manville
Mr. Guy Boothby, Miss Jane
Barlow, and Mrs. L. T.
of these treated the subjectin so
Meade
none
; but
the writers quoted. Their conas
a
tributions
practical
way
more
were
personal,though no less valuable
contributed
had
fi'om
found
Mr.
home."
down
and
his advice.
Mr.
stroke that is not
could
declared
till your
on
"
one
sort of
of
for absolute
out
a
pictureand then
absolutelyessential. In
that there
except
that
are
for
at
was
happy
accredited
his
is wrong,
and
: sit
liberty
is told ;
threw
5000
in which
space
stories short,and
constructing
them
nothing
feel comfortable
the method
all,the truth,I fancy,is
do
story under
write your ttory, then " boil it down."
forced to the conclusion
Barlow, she was
a
said that he
could
short
story
Burgin
go to work
Phil May, who draws
:
a
he
also the smallest
Fenn
write
of
way
said she
Meade
Frederic
experiencethat
in the
satisfactory
words, and that was
Mrs.
late Mr.
The
that account.
on
suggestion
to Mr.
deletes every
other words
As
for Miss
that,
ways
:
"
after
of many
every
single
its owner."
A
differently
expressedsomewhat
thought was
by Mr. Boothby, himself a most capablecraftsman in
this particular line,"who wrote :
short story should be
a
''The questionof how
so
to me
long
written seems
hardlyworth considering
similar
''
"
SHORT
it is ^vritten and
as
says
the
51
WRITING.
STORY
publiclike
it. As
Mr.
Kipling
"
There
are
nine aud
of
sixtyways
tribal
constinicting
lays,
And
"
to
"
"
If I
think
"
every
"
single
"
one
of
"
"
miglitsay anything,I
before
their stories out
then write
condense.
them.
The
a
E
"
is
should
right.
"
ad\'ise authors
puttingpen
that,condense
After
rest is
them
questionof
2
"
to
paper
condense
instinct."
V.
CHAPTER
THE
right
and
way
we
a
take
and
here
and
their
of
that
traditions
other
of
of
correspondent
It
has
to
grew
grafted
proved
there
that
fact
cultivate
the
"
come
most
think
;
tu
in
the
and
it
the
stay."
and
is
necessary
his
it has
the
hands
and
of
value.
greatest
debased
parlance
none
Paris
there, too,
It
Yankee
to
the
has
and
of
has
late
the
to
plant.
apologise
market
it
been
despite
slight tendency
the
real
been
branches,
of
what
The
journalism,
useful
in
consider
to-day
farce.
British
a
who,
world-famous
in
of
of
guardians
have
to
viewing
inter-
discussed
ago.
said
veriest
been
features
not
interview
it has
has
some
do
I
But
its
years
a
cerned
con-
branch
the
does
America,
of
tree
of
one
who
instrument
the
the
on
is he
Times,
into
degenerated
of
gentlemen
journalism,
is
not
am
been
has
themselves
is
in
I
a
view,
inter-
there
question
that
fifty
greatness
that
is
an
contemptible
British
the
journalistic
a
the
Blowitz,
de
M.
conducting^
those
interview
there
as
thing.
or
by
did
the
than
been
the
journalist
predecessors
inventor
granted
esteem
of
ablest
the
his
again
pride,
Chinese
the
for
point
a
but
;
of
with
is
over
art
way
in
art
now
That
journalism.
over
high
praiseworthy
a
as
it
of
amount
INTERVIEWING.
a
wrong
may
certain
OP
exactly
it is not
Well,
ART
for
place,
54
WRITE
To
UUW
PRESS.
THK
yOR
performsa most valuable function in
bad
interview
of the public. The
the education
itself with some
concerns
posing nobody (of whom
the stage furnishes an
endless supply),and tells you
which
interview
how
that person
of food agrees
and what
he
the
she
breakfast,what
her
her
or
sort
digestiveorgans,
everythingunder
about
thinks
ideal interview
topicin
interview
world
to
of
attention
Blowitz
has
the
often
which
discussion
some
public.
sent
to
the
In
all
the
over
world.
say, the
it becomes
to
is
attracting
M.
de
way
with
interviews
this
Times
But,
current
some
of
in Paris, which
leading statesmen
greatest public value, and have
cabled
of
is the outcome
thought. That is
its highestoffice when
discharges
the
contribution
the
his
best with
or
or
sun.
The
a
his
takes
have
been
even
been
of the
quoted
when
and
such
no
and
interviews with men
are
publicquestions
stirring,
whose
and
who
women
personalityis interesting,
have
something worth saying, constitute a branch
of journalismin which
need ever
be ashamed
no
one
to
engage.
of the clever interviewer
The
qualifications
are
no
One might search the whole
ordinaryendowments.
and not find a
staff of many
a
leading newspaper
thoroughlyequipped for the work. In
singlemember
who
seeks to
the first place,the man
woman
or
be widely read and able
practiseinterviewingmust
almost
to
discuss intelligently
topic that
every
comes
within
the
scope
be
a
of
the
Press.
Then
the
good address,
capableof meeting his lordshipin his library,her
as
ready a
ladyship in her drawing-room, with
interviewer
must
person
of
THE
if
"
OF
ART
tlie
mariner
cringingflunkey. He
must
grace
the
as
to
with
the
tamer
in
his
"
,
though
veritable
a
must
must
host
have
be
in
in his
the
lion
cage,
think that
interviewer
The
!
with
his
in
would
journalists
art
a
study, and
not
exactly
as
"
home
at
no,
triumph of the
tact, patience,and
forbearance
;
he
and
impressionsof
good, picturesque English ; he must
able
to
write
acutely observant,
These
endowment
There
not
dressing-room,or
sensational
some
author
''
and
his
in
actor
born/'
also be
famous
the
bishop,or
55
INTERVIEWING.
are
and
down
a
shrewd
are
qualifications
of every
various
his
his
student
not
the
be
of character.
common
reporter in the land.
kinds
of interviews.
There
is
the argumentative,the interrogaconversational,
tory,
the one-sided, and the descriptive.
These
are
view
five very distinct forms, and probablythe best interis neither one
nor
another, but a blend of
the
several.
But
we
shall take
each
kind
and
consider
it
separately. The conversational is probably the most
natural,and in some
respects it is the most diSicult
in writing
deftness
to write ; for it requiressome
it appear
and
natural
as
dialogue to make
easy
running as it should be. It reports,or pretendsto
report, a leading question by the interviewer,and
in colloquial
then sets down
phrasing the replyof the
the
to
as
interviewee, with
perhaps a remark
apparent mood of the latter in his speaking. Another
come
questionis suggested to the interviewer as the outof the
interviewee's
reply;
this is set down
and
then
the response, and so on
until the subjectunder
discussion has been
exhausted, the words which the
interviewer
placesin
his
own
mouth
being fewer
and
56
HOW
subordinate
WRITE
TO
always
to
FOR
PRESS.
THE
tlie responses
of
the
person
interviewed.
Some
interviewers, and
notably
Blatbwayt,aspire to higher things
instead
Mr.
than
of
making their own
parts of
merely small connectinglinks in the
conversation,have
(as they may
the
person
debate and
means
what
article in which
an
much
exchange
the word
the
largerthan the
the ground
on
is defended
an
combat
the
of
chain
and
fute
con-
think) the opinionsexpressedby
interviewed
producing a sort of
; thus
looms
method
fortitude to
the
the
Eaymond
this, and
dialogue
of views,
means
;
interviewer
This
interviewee.
that
I don't
but of this I
quently
fre-
am
an
care
interview
one
straw
convinced,it is
for any interviewer
to thrust his own
impertinence
to argue with
a
opinionsto the front,or to presume
who is,in all probability,
man
a recognised
authority
under discussion. What
the subject
the reader wants
on
is that man's opinions
viewer
; not the opinionsof the interthose opinions. Therefore, T would
advise
on
to avoid the argumentative
style.
journalist
any young
The
interrogatoryinterview is generallya stilted
from
that
at the opposite extreme
affair,and errs
It consists of a stringof questions,
justdescribed.
asked often without the slightest
regard to the preceding
and
the questionsand
repliesare
answer;
baldlyset down justlike the report of evidence at a
of recording an
coroner's
inquest. In the case
the
opinionsthis is sometimes
expressionof political
an
best method
attempt
The
fourth
"
at
follow; bat
literary
grace it
to
one-sided
kind,
for
"
want
when
a
more
be
some
be recommended.
cannot
interview,
of
there is to
as
I have
named
a
expressiveepithet.
THE
ART
57
INTERVIEWING.
OF
times
popular form, yet there are
the
when
it is distinctly
the best to employ. Here
interviewer
never
puts a singlequestion into his
talk
the interviewee
own
mouth; he simply makes
each
new
paragraph suggesting the question.
on,
of this kind
in
As thus (I quote from
interview
au
Actor's Art") :
little book, "The
my own
is not
a
very
"
the
on
experienceis tliatthe begiunei*
only ready and willingto accept advice from
"
No
;
my
competent
to
"
the
simple word
"
what
the
interviewer
has
suppose
each
are
the
are
I
of these
saying
same
to
"I
"
"
curse
an
am
cases
implied,and
suggest
certainlybelieve in
societies ;"
Long runs ! Why,
of modern
Yes, I
acting;
enthusiast for Shakespeare.^' In
the questionsof the interlocutor
dramatic
they
ai'e
the person
interview there are
been
Again, in the
paragraphs commencing :
amateur
who
those
is sufficient to
no
interviewed.
not
is auxioiis to receive." "c.
give it. but tliat he
Here
stage is
the
interview
becomes
"
in effect
an
interviewed.
by the person
is to secure
Where
the one
objectof the interview
an
important expression of expert opinion on any
given subjectthis is an excellent plan to follow.
interview.
Perhaps
Lastly,we have the descriptive
unbroken
I
"
cannot
statement
do
better
Celebrities
at
Home
than
"
refer
series
my
of
readers
The
to
World
the
for
examples of this at its best. In this class of interview
is introduced, the
statements
no
dialogue whatever
made
by the
celebrity are all rendered in the third
Obviouslythis method is only suited to cases
person.
wherein
of the interview
is merely to
the purpose
celebrityin his
present a personal sketch of some
"
"
58
HOW
WRITK
TO
PRESS.
THE
FOR
pressions
exsurroundings,and would not do where
of opinion were
required. It calls for
journalistic
abilityof a higliorder ; tlie observant
of
student
the
ready pen, and the shrewd
eye,
home
character
to which
But,
the
already said, perhaps a blend
the best interview
stylesmakes
these
You
cases.
"
of
^^
one-sided
interview
article with
the
commence
then introduce
descriptive,
probably arrive at a pointwhere
and
articles
World
in these
seen
I have
as
ordinary
touch
be
I refer.
of
some
all to
are
would
of
in
a
dialogue,
some
feel
you
a
bit of
subject
to specially
emphasise some
opinion,then
particular
another
touch
of the conversational, followed
by a
minor
gatheringtogetherin the third person of some
observations
that may
made
have
been
by your
subject,and a concludingparagraph in narrative or
think best.
as
dialogue,
you may
which
an
Having dealt thus far with those qualities
interviewer
Ave
now
conduct
an
come
an
should
to the
wishes
to
necessary
letter some
more
interview.
appointment
put
here.
and
possess
with
upon
A
enable
what
your
interview
an
is,
practical
questionof how to
has to arrange
First of all,
one
the
the
good
great
rack.
way
man
or
woman
Diplomacy
is to
mention
he
is often
in your
subjectin which you know your quarry
is particularly
interested ; this arouses
sympathy,
and
often
results in objectionsto the interview
There
is never
being overcome.
likelyto be any
interview
experienced in gaining an
difficulty
with
are
people who
reallyinterestingand have
something worth saying : it is the upstarts who are
the most
difficultto approach. My first interview (I
THE
a
late
Professor
interested
I
as
59
INTERVIEWING.
OF
with the
journalismthen) was
He
Drummond.
appeared quite as
last
and this meeting was
not our
was^
in
youngster
was
by
ART
means.
any
Supposing
have
you
interview^be
that
sure
the
arranged
your
yourself
fortified
have
you
for
time
life and
with
sufficient knowledge of the interviewee's
work
with
thereable to discuss any topicconnected
I browsed
that may arise. In this way, I remember
to be
"
Drummond's
on
LaAV
Natural
in
Spiritual
the
fortnightbefore I met the author, and
he warmly complimented me
the grasp I had
on
got
able to
of the subject,
well as the knowledge I was
as
in
and his literarycareer
evince of his other books
him
for a London
literary
general. (I interviewed
weekly which had a brief but brilliant existence).
in this direction,
Spare no pains in informing yourself
World"
and
for
think
a
well
of what
commit
subject;even
not displaythat when
is to start
secret
that
suggests
and
moment,
a
have
to ask
decided
in
conversation
the
by
to
do
great
natural
some
way
of
the
powers
for
circumstances
conversational
your
your
but
questionsto paper,
The
talkingwith him.
your
itself
trust
you
the rest.
the
Should
important question arises.
Mr. Stead,
take notes as he goes along ?
interviewer
I
I believe,relies mainly on memory,
and, personally,
But
have
generally followed Mr. Stead's advice.
Here
an
shorthand
Before
let
me
"
the
quote
appeared
an
own
from
in
interviewer's
are
often
opinion
on
note-book
expressing my
which
ago
and
a
the
rather
Young
(Mr. A.
this
curious
Woman
H.
desirable.
some
Lawrence)
point,
article
time
inter-
00
HOW
witli
view
WRITE
TO
FOR
interviewer
an
THE
PRESS.
(Mrs. S.
A.
He
Tooley)!
wi'ites :
I take
'"
few
a
notes
indicate the channel
should
the
find shorthand
think
tend
it must
taken.
has
conversation
liindrauce
than
more
I
"to
afraid I
am
help.
a
me,
I should
and to prevent his
subject,'
your
worry
But I don't presume
fluent and natural.
to
being
give adT^ce
to others
that
to my
'
in this matter.
In my
own
is the better course."
memory
I discovered
Then
a
longhand,"Mrs. Tooley told
to
conversation
to tmst
in
another
that
I find
case
held
quite divergent views
where
one
suggested that, especially
we
on
is
point. I had
the
trusting entirelyto memory,
writing-out of the article
should take place soon
after the inteiwiew.
But
Mrs. Tooley
held quite the contrary opinion,
and told me
that she thought
it best to let an
interview simmer
gently,so to speak,before
places,
puttingpen to paper, as in that way you get rid of the commonand retain only salient points which have indelibly
fixed
"
"'
themselves
in yoiu* mind.
elapsebefore
that,in my
write
YeiT
the interview
own
often two
would
tlu'ee weeks
be wi-itten.
I had found
exj"erience,
the interview
or
I had
the best
would
explained
course
was
to
whilst one's
fresh,and
impressionswere
Mrs.
Tooley's difference of opinion rather staggered me.
when one
considers the number
of appointmentswith
Certainly,
celebrities
which
Mrs. Tooley has, tliis method
of work,
with the various subjectsand topics interlacing,
and with only
the briefest longhand notes to go by, indicates the marvellous
of her memoiy,
retentiveness
when the faithfulness
more
especially
of the result is considered.
In brief,Mi-s. Tooley'smetliod is to
of the individual interviewed,and with this
get at the personality
that by the aid
so
objectin view .shetakes as few notes as possible,
of her excellent memory
and descriptive
she may be able to
ability
out
"
"
record the result of her chat in such
Now,
me
way that the reader is,in a
of the interview,and makes
transportedto the actual scene
under
personalacquaintanceof the celebrity
sense,
the
a
a
weeks
my
vote
goes
to
Mr.
discussion.
Lawrence.
most
extraordinary
thing to
pass
between
the conversation
It
let two
and
seems
or
to
three
its report-
62
TO
HOW
carefullyfulfilled.
is
the
fixes
of
onus
FOE
WRITE
PRESS.
THE
good policy,as it
the
statements
on
right
It is also
the
shoulders.
There
does
is
not
town
a
may
by
the
editor
of
staff
the
more
or
I have
as
any importance that
of potential
subjects
cityof
or
score
a
possess
interviews,and,
be practisedby
for
as
not
the outside
alreadysaid,the art
contributor
as
easily
with
journalist.Communicate
or
periodical,
newspaper,
the
magazine
suit,before you
you think the interview would
to do it you
write it,and if you
get the commission
state in asking the "subject" for an
can
appointment
which
requestedto inter^^iew him or her
publicationin question,thus strengthening
considerably.
your application
well paid as any other class of
Interviews are
as
contribution,five or six guineas being the average
have
that you
for the
been
for
remuneration
an
illustrated
the
magazines, though
and
I
have
even
heard
frequentlygiven,
thirty sovereignsbeing
paid for an inter^-iew contributed
popularillustrated magazines.
suited to
The work
is especially
of the best of
the fair
ladies how
the
case
well-kuown
an
to
do
of
a
to
of
one
and
women,
interviewers
In this connection
sex.
from
lu
our
of
one
is
10?.
of
in
interview
are
the
some
among
the
folloAving
graph
paraarticle in Atalanta, tellingyoung
an
interview,may be quoted :
"
societywomau,
the
iuterviewer
has
to
fall
iu
upon the furuiture aud the styleof the house, to cli-ag
allusions to the lady'shusbaud, her family,her dogs and other
back
people have rarely anything of
that iu
to impart,aud it will be observed
nature
the teai^otplays a xerj importaut part. There
pets.
Such
an
such
are,
interesting
iutei'views
of
course,
THE
exceptious
has
or
will
the
then
when
this,
to
ART
be
important
able
a
lady
of
belongs
the
her
to
wife
social
of
historical
an
public
a
duties
of
treadmill
mere
63
INTERVIEWING.
being
speak
to
than
the
of
advantage
OF
She
man.
something
as
balls,
family,
dinners,
more
and
teas,
luncheons.
This
the
is
other
that
a
that
rarely
Society
"
hope
it
like
to
French
it
is
falconers,
or
in
the
competition
his
is
and
however,
her
fly
anything
say
But,
interview
who
"
have
demand
a
"
impart
to
these
for
of
days
humble
ideals,
at
cannot
of
nature
There
and
here.
People
interviewed.
realise
I
and
kind
a
interesting
an
Tooley
necessary
encouraged.
be
subjects,
journalistic
cannot
to
be
not
us,
is
think
of
anything
should
keen
to
Mrs.
give
shorthand
or
scarcely
ought
interview
journalists
book
I
of
kind
the
lady
note
indeed,
"
often
scribbler
we'll
"
so
we
see."
e'en
YI.
CHAPTER
BOOK
Can
"
give
you
up-to-date
all
on
is asked
this
the
of
people
criticise
a
without
the
or
into
dinner.
Considerable
essential
in each
and
art
have
all three
mentioned
as
such
to
able
to
this
I
of
one's
literary,
one's
and
dual
while
capacity
and
dramatic
with
would
knowledge
entitle
;
the
write
to
not
wide-reading
literary
or
is
valent
pre-
take
as
and
in
this
a
mentioned
success
By
subjects.
to
easily
as
cases
been
ever
aspire
may
the
than
become
preparation
of
Nothing
readers
my
may
literary critic,
critic, foAv
one
one
achieved
have
men
many
on
that
picture,
a
sort.
warn
critic, just
art
or
I would
how
-book,
a
on
specialist
like
frequently
review
to
of any
quite
am
strange
judgment
trained
and
is
?
paper
I
as
very
it
able
are
pronounce
belief
the
dramatic,
For
year.
your
Something
land
in the
they
the
delusion,
fall
editor
slightest training
to
for
especially like,
every
play,
do
to
literary topics/'
fancy
absurd
more
of
-work
any
of every
course
many
are
me
I should
re-\-ie"vving
Book
in
REVIEWING.
authority
suggest
of
two
opinions
the
that
jects
sub-
thereon
to
respect.
In
well
the
class
devoting
that
I should
unattached
of
this
chapter
state
to
before
contributor
literary
work.
Book-reviewing,
proceeding
stands
As
I
have
in
it
further
respect
already
to
were
how
this
hinted,
BOOK
65
REVIEWING.
applicantsfor employment mention reviewing
like to do.
as
a thingthey should
Well, I
especially
afraid that most
of these applicantsmeet
with
am
of
disappointmentherein.
Reviewing on newspapers
dailies and
importance such as the London
any
weeklies, and the great Provincial papers, like the
Guardian,
Glasgow Herald, Scotsman, Manchester
Birmingham Post, "c.,is generallyentrusted to a few
many
"
contributors
have
of
specialknowledge
some
which
of their inside
members
or
the
books
be
to
reviewed
gentleman, probably a
do
or
College,will
University
a
subjectwith
deal.
may
medical
Thus,
professorat
"
"
the
staffs who
the medical
a
some
books
;
scientist will
to review ;
get the scientific works
of the
novels and poetry will be given to members
the
who
or
editorial,
reportingstaffs,
sub-editing,
fancy for the work, or perhaps, as in the
many
have
case
a
o!
and
the leadingof
some
papers
sheets,the occasional services of outsiders
London
Provincial
will also be enlisted here.
How
can
one's
get
one
Influence,I fear,is
the
services
It is essential to procure
literaryeditor before one can
door.
with
some
indeed, that
books
to
review
enlisted ?
"
to this
open sesame
introduction to the
an
"
only
so
hope
for
;
to
be
entrusted
it is very
rarely,
standingaccepts a review
contributed
spontaneouslyby an outsider,although
How
such
to
a
thing is not unknown.
get this
introduction
any
I
to become
of
paper
cannot
a
of
advise
reviewer
opinionthat you will
Supposing,however,
to an
editor,and
if you
of books, I am
but
;
find it
there
F
mined
deter-
strongly
indispensable.
has
one
are
secured
is the
an
hope
tion
introducof
getting
66
HOW
WRITE
TO
THE
FOR
PRESS.
do ; it is desirable to have something in
"
written
the way
of credentials.
Have
ever
you
reviews before ? " the editor asks.
"Oh, no; but I
reviewing to
think
I
do the work
all right/^
you
replyblithely.
The great man
strokes his beard and says,
M'yes/'
or
something equallyencouraging. Whereupon you
would
be if you
feel how much
stronger your position
could produce a bundle of reviews wi'itten by yourself,
in some
obscure
even
print. Now, there are
I know
of fairlyprosperous
lots of sach
papers
follow the practice that do
Provincial dailies which
not mind
encouraging" ambitious young litterateurs
by giving them books to review, and allowingthem
the books
to retain
by way of quid pro quo, thus
! Do not despisethe
filling
space very economically
such
a
day of small things; do not despiseeven
to printas this.
humble
avenue
of the reviewing in the better class papers is
Much
and briefless barristers,
done by young
Universitymen
of journalism.
it is a fairly well-paid branch
and
than this I cannot
More
experience
say ; for my own
confined
been
work
to my
as
a
of reviewing has
of the permanent staffs of the various newspapers
member
I have
been
in which
permitted to write,
coveted
outside
and
an
early attempt to secure
well-known
not
from
work
a
brilliantly
dailywas
Professor
successful.
Saintsbury in his charming
of
Tears
Twenty
chapter of reminiscence,
People will grumble at anyReviewing," says :
thing,
But
for my
of course.
own
part, I do not
consider
but a very great man
can
think that any one
he receives,as used to be the
himself underpaidwhen
can
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
average,
"3 lOs. for work
which
should
on
the avej'age
67
EEVIEWING.
BOOK
evening to read^ and not the whole of the
But this happy condition of
next morning to write."
thingsdoes not generallyobtain to-day^and the very
fascination of reviewingis the reason
why it is less
paid than it was ten or fifteen years ago : so
liberally
for the work.
the aspirants
are
many
We will now
proceed to a brief consideration of the
and the function of the
of the reviewer
qualifications
review.
Touching the first pointythere can be no
take him
an
of doubt
that every man
Even
fitted to review.
manner
who
can
write is not
to pass
an
honest,
thereby
date
sensible opinionon the latest novel by the latest candiof the criticsome
for a nine days^ boom/^ requires
"
knowledge
one
should
of fiction
''
say,
this
as
art.
an
It is not
that book
or
is
enoug'h that
good, because
it
is
bad, because I do not like
it." That is the attitude of the generalreader; but
have argument to back up his opinion.
the critic must
be able to pointout wherein
the book fails
He must
set forth the reasons
to pleasehim, and
why he fails
woman's
The
the book.
to be pleased with
"just
do in criticism,
will never
and
because
a review
pleasesme
; or
that
other
"
is all
which
no
one.
opinionand
Therefore, no
to
pass
novehst, unless he
presume
demonstration
no
judgment
has
studied
writer
young
on
even
the
can
a
vince
con-
should
common
standard
authors
respect to their imaginative qualities,their
of characterisation,
plot construction, their power
in
their
literarystyle,and
this is very obvious.
conditions ignored?
and
works
women
anxious
True
;
of fiction before
but
how
often do
How
to
It may
on.
so
ventilate
be said thai
often
are
these
find young men
theii- ideas about
we
they have given the slightest
F
2
68
HOW
thought
WRITE
these
to
mentioned
TO
FOE
bare
lady
young
gossipsgayly about
who
Crockett,
Mr.
herself
critic,but
a
to review
presume
Mr.
or
is
she
as
book, by
any
which
I
have
the
drawing-room
productionof Mr.
Hall
Caine, esteems
far removed
is from
the east
as
in
the latest
Weyman,
critic's condition
PRESS.
essentials
The
?
THE
any
from
the
Don't
the west.
writer,and least
by a wi'iter of note, until you can say that you
studied those abidingqualities
have carefully
by which
the trained critic distinguishes
good from bad.
of all
of the
function
The
subject,and yet
Saintsbury puts
time, if
not
what
few
remarks
which
to
a
to
me
how
is
of
an
discussed
often
definition.
Professor
tersely. The public "has
very
the other necessaries,for reading
to be
told,and ought
perhaps without
to
read
it.
That
to be
the addition
is the
told,
of
a
function
good review ought to perform.'^ That seems
be. But it is
state the case
as need
as
clearly
feared
to be
it
it wants
read, not
to
it is easy
it had
everything;
review
that
the
average
reviewer
is somewhat
is
reviewer
forgetfulof this function; the young
taken up with the thought of scintillatin
so
generally
of some
at the expense
poor beggar of an author that
at
he does not give a figfor his function,but rushes
the book
papers
are
in
like
a
bull at
still admit
this
the
a
gate. A few of the London
work
of reviewers
but
stage of self-worship,
when
the
they
sillyold
"slating"reviews are largelythingsof the past, and
of the Pall Mall
Gazette
if they lingerin the pages
for it needs
dash
of
a
that is,perhaps,a blessing,
to liven that dull sheet.
nonsense
inconsequential
in initiating
Besant
discussion on
a
Sir Walter
time ago,
reviewing,in a London eveningpaper some
70
HOW
bad.
And
TO
when
thoroughly bad
merit
don^t
can
has
THE
PEES8.
convinced
are
you
that
that is to say, when
your
say so in as few words
"
failed
FOE
WEITE
"
display temper.
live,and there is
a
book
search
as
for
possible;
No
thoroughly bad
in flogging a
sense
no
is
book
dead
horse.
Mr.
whose
He
Andrew
to correct
"
:
"
an
author
an
and
journalist
having.
this
opinion on
writes
is
Lang
subjectis well worth
opiniona critic ought to
In my
author
his author
where
be able
is wrong,
and
to the information.
Clearly,
only a little,
books
of history,science, scholarshipcan
only be
As
knows
the subject.'^
criticised by a person who
is only interested
regardsnovels, If he (the critic)
in the art of fiction,
fairlywell read in it,intelligent,
need
ask
we
honest, and giftedwith a pleasantstyle,
to
add,
if
"
no
We
more.
encounter
literal.
the
often
get
prejudiceand
Everything that
Theseum,
and
is
as
But
much.
we
at
once
personal and
partiality,
writes is praisedin
Jenkins
abused
in
the
Herseum.
The
and Jenkins
never
gets
changes proprietors,
seldom
from it. Novels, in fact,are
so
a good word
good,and perhapsnot often so bad, as the reviewers
Theseum
declare."
and
Lang touches the personalquestion,
writer ought to be
this is a pointon which the young
warned.
Never
allow yourselfto be prejudicedby
If you
personal circumstance.
get a book to
any
who
be
review which has been written by a man
may
the
feel tempted to gloatover
and you
your enemy,
Here
Mr.
has written a book on which
an
enemy
be honest
unsuspectingeditor has asked your opinion,
about it. Try to forgetthe man
; think only of the
fact that your
and
bookj
if you
to
someone
manage
editor that
as
you
not
rather
would
you
book,
the
this^do
do
to
cannot
tell your
else reviewed
hesitate
71
EEYIEWING.
BOOK
the
know
author, that you and he are not friends,and your
opinion of his work might be (not to put too fine a
On the other
point on it) open to misconstruction.
hand; don^t become, under the greatest temptation,
There
are
that contemptiblething : a
log-roller.
of them
scores
rollingtheir logs every week of the
and
year,
is,
"
the
Scratch
distasteful
sightis a
my
back
Their
one.
yours,"and
I will scratch
and
motto
in
well-known
men,
operationin which many
certain literary
are
circles,
frequentlyengaged. Let
considerations of friendshiptempt you to praise
no
unfriendlyfeelingto an
a
book, just as no
poor
towards
into any
lead you
should
author
injustice
it is
an
his work.
In the
discussion
I
to which
have
alreadyreferred,
George Gissingtook part, and he
point of great importance. He wrote
Mr.
habit
survives.
It
is
still too
touched
a
One
"
:
"
bad
find
to
common
little
a
uttered by a character in
quoting sentences
from the author himself
as
a novel
though they came
of misrepresentation.
form
a
irritating
peculiarly
The ordinaryreader is too prone to talk about a book
in this uniutelligent
way ; a reviewer should be careful
to give the habit no
encouragement." The justiceof
Mr.
Gissing'splaint is apparent. Too often do we
find sloppy reviewers
cuttingout a slab of dialogue
from a novel and saying, Such are the morals of Mr.
reviewer
"
"
So-and-so."
the
that
reviewer
have
been
Of course,
saddles
this is not
the
placedin
novelist
the
mouth
so
serious
with
of
some
the
as
when
opinions
character,
72
HOW
without
TO
WRITE
FOE
THE
PRESS.
givingthe reader an inklingas to how
they have been conveyed.
Then
Miss Edna
Lyall protestedagainst another
common
failing:''the lazy review."
By this she
the
so-called review
which
meant
is simplya brief
outline of the novel with a word or two of perfunctory
the end.
comment
at the beginning and
The review
is mainly composed of clippingsis also apt to
which
be overdone
have
nowadays^ although authors can
leas objection
of the other faults we
to it than
to any
have been considering.
But^ to pass to a largerquestion Xever be led into
even
"
the ludicrous
ecstasies to which
reviewers
some
of today
show of
Try always to preserve some
when
even
sobriety^
praising a work of which you
tliink very
highly. As an example of how a review
should
be written, let me
never
quote this from a
London
review of a very slovenly
written book which
better
than
no
was
a
sixpenny pamphlet,
many
although a publisherhad the fortitude to expect the
for it :
publicto pay six shillings
are
Not
prone.
novelist,but
a
the modern
in
wilderness
slumps, of mushi'oom
in'ophetess.A
and
evangelist.A plaintivevoice crying
an
of stocks
millionaires.
soul
A
sister
shares, of booms
A
dreamy seer.
pityand divine
burstingwith
sorrow.
spiritual
and
of Harriet
and
A
tragical
indignation
Beecher-Stowe, of
of JosephineButler, of all adorable women
Nightingale,
like
is freelybroken
passionatelywistful womanhood
Florence
whose
preciousointment
Olive Schreiner
Her
written
of
a
not
sob,
Tom's
on
Cabin
in
aching
feet of humanit
y.
Such
is
"
Trooper Peter Halket, of Mashon
aland," is
ink, but in blood.
every
"
the
!
book,
new
over
is the echo
In every sentence
Not since "Uncle
the stain of a tear.
page
set the whole
world
a-weeping
has the
passionof
BOOK
I had almost
so
fiercely,
fierily,
passionate
for, indeed, there is a ferocityof comferociouslj'^
I do not
wrath
in Olive Schreiner's gentle soul.
itselfuttered
pitygot
said
73
REVIEWING.
so
forth
so
"
think this book
is
temper
multitude.
will sell as
well
lofty,too
too
Its
pathos is
Cabin."
Tom's
Uncle
"
as
Its
ethereal, to allure the
reticent, its sentiment too reserved,
noble, too
too
pleasea publicwhich insists upon having its emotions marked
in plainfigures. But in a dim, gradual,secret fashion its leaven
will work
thi'ough the social lump, softening,purifying,
all
times.
We
of our
are
humanising the materialisms
We
all shout the shibboleth, Expansion is
Imperialistsnow.
Olive Schreiner reminds us of the claims of the
everythingI
shall it profita
ideal, asking us the teiTible question What
soiU ?
nation if it gain the whole world and lose its own
this Gospel,this Evangel, this
I shall not try to summarise
ing
I might as well try to summarise
the Gospel accordParable.
to
"
"
:
to St. Johii.
There
not
only one
pretty word,
a
suits
"
the
case
magazine in which
clippinggives no
at the
guess
While
we
it is not
Rot."
:
a
As
clue
;
and
so, I
writing of
paragraph from
are
quote this
October, 1898:"
The
and
they appeared in
We
leave
"
It is
of the few
one
the
acknowledgesno
tradition.
is new,
are
both
author
books
It declines to be classed.
and
which
It is of
cast in
its
the
dread
ether
of
no
Its form
a
conception,the tremendous
of the human
passionswhich
into
make
to
shrewd
you.
do
it,I
of
Academy
criticism of
a
a
a
new
may
22nd
novel,
evening contemporary last Saturday.
an
the title and
not
the
excerptsfrom
followingare
appeared, my
think, could
how
or
newspaper
review
I could
but
of
the
to
absurd
the
writer;
thing; it is
literaryword^ but it
for that sort
word
is
to
readers'
ingenuity
defy comparativecriticism.
oui*
school.
is new,
giantmould.
It
owns
:
no
lineage,
its ethical message
In the grandeur of
sweep of its action,the sublimity
wrestle in it like Titans, it soars
-(Eschylus,the
awful
altitudes
of
74
HOW
TO
Milton.
.
.
In
.
WKITE
all literature
whicli can
love-passion
glimpsesof the fires in
the cinders, the
But
crater.
we
THE
we
of
are
flames
PRESS.
recall
can
with
compare
the volcano.
tongues
in
FOR
study of
no
the
Others
.
They
show
us
lickingthe
give us
the smoke,
edges
of the
in the very heart of the volcano
all
the time.
It may
during
be
conjBdently
the
last
said tliat of
decade
is
Absurd
such
no
an
work
produced
estimate
true.
panegyrics of this sort are more
pernicious
than
the vicious, slatingreview, and
ought to be
avoided by the young
writer like poison.
first-quoted
Finally,let us return
again to our
authority.Here are the great essentials as set forth by
Professor Saintsbury:
Study of literature,range
in it, opportunityof comparing different kinds, of
remembering the vastly different estimates held of
different works, or even
work at different
the same
times
of even
are
more
importance to the reviewer
than formal
teaching in criticism. The latter will
him a great deal of time and trouble,will put
save
him and perhaps keep him in the right road; but it
will not accomplishthe journeyfor him.
The journey
itselfmust
be performed ; and it is only at
the end of it,or rather (for that end never
comes) at
becomes
advanced
a fairly
a
stage of it,that a man
wide
But
reviewer."
to study and
really qualified
readingwe must add yet againa final pleafor honesty.
''The
review
that
the worst
great merit of even
retains some
shred
of honesty is," says Professor
Saintsbur}", that however
blunderingly,however
it at least upholds the principlethat
unsuccessfully,
that mere
there is a good and a bad in literature,
good
intentions will not make
performances.
up for bad
"
"
"
...
"
In
insists
an
that
tliat
bad
art
itself;
falls
not
to
falls
perhaps
"
who
trouble,
trouble
it,
to
chooses
and
itself."
the
than
while
that
rejoice
to
in
take
exceeding
is
art
worse
and
all
understand
bad
almost
thing,
the
and
art,
an
and
nature,
very
admire
to
;
terrible
is
literature
artist
its
in
review
tlie
shorty
75
REVIEWING.
BOOK
a
letters
and
disastrous
of
production
the
produce
few
to
of
man
the
to
inevitably,
to
admire
good
it,
to
"
it,
a
is
the
very
great
portion
small
reward
of
one
every-
amount
of
of
that
YII.
CHAPTER
DRAMATIC,
A
GOOD
deal
done
by
outside
little
art
there
that
Irving
of
one
is
do
large
for
of
centres
of
important
newspapers
theatrical
criticisms
work
is
In
the
other
employ
who
made
Mr.
are
who
terms
charge
to
playhouses
in
the
London
news
stage
but
;
no
accept
to
the
indeed,
;
the
of
members
by
very
tives
representa-
willing
ever
undertaken
Metropolis,
probably
London
that
provincial
these
on
people
salaried
way
their
The
staff.
and
has
the
from
latest.
and
Except
where
actor
any
the
to
saw
drama
by
them,
efforts.
are
generally
reportorial
for
admission
is
on
Jones's
A.
a
herself
or
any
pestered
population,
this
on
or
H.
are
free
most
secure
papers
Mr.
their
retained,
are
of
to
theatres"
the
opinion
an
also
ever
himself
consider
is
criticism,
who
being
Roberts,
editors
reward
ample
human
pronounce
fee, considering
no
a
and
Press,
dramatic
of
case
criticism
musical
the
to
not
Arthur
to
that
'^
to
want
to
Shakespeare's
result
and
the
is
does
quite competent
from
dramatic
In
CRITICISM.
ART
contributors
suppose
stage play
a
of
criticism.
I don^t
AND
MUSICAL,
held
Clement
of
of
the
by well-known
Scott,
a
special
journalists
formerly
"
of
the
will
contributor
Such
drama.
chester,
Man-
daily
leading
cities, the
services
study
Glasgow,
Birmingham,
great
the
a
in
posts
the
in
names
Telegraph,
78
'"'Masks
the
worth
well
late
accept the opinion of
Henry Irving,my
"
will also
study of
serious
the
to the
more
of the
student.
a
World";
books, are
If I may
critic as
Sir
a
"
on
The
Actor's
introduction
handy
of
to the
stage.
criticism
Musical
falls
found
be
of
brood
some
Theatre,"
"Theatrical
little book
own
the
competent
so
while
Cook's
Dutton
attention
;
"About
his
and
Faces?"
or
of the
any
Art
studied
carefullyread and
Arclier's books, sucli as
Mr.
PEESS.
THE
FOE
be
also to
or
WRITE
TO
HOW
is
a
outside
branch
of
contributor
journalismthat
than
the drama.
pretendedthat anyone is competent to
without
quently,
criticise music
especialtraining. Consenearly every paper of any importance in
contributor
the provincesemploysa special
London
or
how
seldom
for this work; as it is surprising
one
for musical criticism.
finds a staff journalist
qualified
for one
who has a
thus many
There
are
opportunities
thorough knowledge of the art, and is capable of
or
an
writing a good critiqueof a concert
opera,
For
it cannot
be
Where
one
lives
in
the local papers may
of a paid musical
work
Press
get remunerative
becoming an inside
to
member
a
small
not
be
critic,it
of
to
do
without
staff.
newspaper
town, and the editors of
a
able to afford the
is
probablyworth
luxury
while
for the mere
sake of getting
doing the work gratis,
offer no practical
advice on musical
into print. I can
I was
able to distinguish
note
criticism
never
one
as
another
from
beyond saying that what I have set
in the chapter on
down
book-reviewingapplieshere
equally "Be honest."
With
of the secondmost
on
regardto Art criticism,
rate newspapers
an
ordinaryreporter is supposedto
"
"
"
DRAMATIC,
able
be
of
journals
do
"
to
"^lio
aid
ART
lias
is
but
;
if
there
iu
tlie
no
one
is
in
specialised
and
enlisted
79
CRITICISM.
"
pictures
standing,
staff
outside
then
the
first
permanent
AKD
MUSICAL,
the
on
Art
the
of
case
criticism,
outsider
will
"
the
be
probably
collector,
show
who
do
into
his
be
the
to
for
on
own
prove
a
the
of
which
with
irresistible
in
the
student
the
the
pretty
the
Art
desire
certain
Press
had
such
magnet
that
be
John
to
the
It
a
of
left
Ruskin
steel.
one
him
equip
to
best
or
Press.
library
certainty
as
is
calculated
enormous
and
;
serious
advise
to
me
Art
can
writings
Newspaper
best
an
the
who
a
of
regular
is
his
and
pages
study
There
in
a
some
But
thereon,
the
has
contributor
Art,
writer
into
course
devices,
as
as
for
supererogation
in
Art,
taste
of
work.
the
a
way
columns
the
would
as
work
good
force
to
has
the
gallery,
who
work.
ability
or
Art
one
the
to
open
originality
any
anyone
to
always
are
papers
local
or
for
qualification
particular
the
dealer,
picture
a
of
curator
books
to
his
will
YIII.
CHAPTER
A
PKEPAEING
The
tliink
Tvlio
make
so
success,
taste
is
of
the
of
eccentricities
have
such
immediately
been
thei
a
foolscap
pages,
end,
a
rolled
by
several
And
this
been
had
with
prepared
been
somewhat
for
picture.
such
a
I
spots,
kitchen
lavish
other,
in
their
!i
screed
lection
recol-
written
in
a
plentifully
which
use
would]
vivid
a
and
at
to
whole',
it
awful
indicating
table
end
the
manuscript,
hand,
have
hundred'
which
have
to
instance,
one
and
the
in
receives
the
from
I
as
writers
of
to
unwind
feminine
a
style
a
stitches,
spindle,
grease
on
joined
to
receiving
written
the
upwards
worsted
fancy
no
sprawling
bespeckled
of
page
minutes
is
that
the
essays
uponaneditorwhenhe
wooden
a
take
great
of
seam
round
of
each
and
respect.
Imagine,
senses.
consisting
story
editor
an
this
such
in
for
manuscript
Only
and
thought
produced
mpression
serial
the
their
of
bereft
stories
fashioned
suggest
one's
in
tlie
make
carelessness,
writers
received
and
hand
a
the
young
personally
of
important.
most
of
For
beginner,
a
preparation
shortcomings,
the
knows
in
those
but
;
mistake.
great
to
seem
may
special chapter
a
a
the
in
manuscript
a
especially
qualities wliicb^
one
of
wortliy
scarcely
be
of
preparation
mere
MAiajsCEIPT.
that
the
of
it
had
eaters
butter.
I
A
PREPAEING
81
MANUSCRIPT.
scarcelyadd that I also retain a recollection of
sending the thing back to its owner.
is a
Nor
be it thought this that I have mentioned
rare
experience; most editors who have passedmanymanuscriptsthrough their hands could recall similar
And
cases.
only a few days before these lines were
written^I received a ''letter to the editor^' consisting
of eight foolscapsheets, gummed
together, end to
end, the whole, when unrolled,making a sheet nearly
need
nine
feet
actuates
in
one
which
It would
*'
a
of well-known
copy.''There
work
whose
clean
up
a
what
me
reason
manuscript;
we
can
thingsdown to freaks of the human
defy analysis.
be an easy thingto write a chapter on the
eccentricities
their
making
so
to
mystery
a
such
only put
mind
It is
long !
I
had
once
in the
eminent
with
dialectician,
who
dealings,
some
of paper,
sheet
one
was
authors
but
them
envelopes,slitting
opening
them
out
to
make
down
small
used
never
all his articles
wrote
old used
of
matter
on
the sides and
sheets
:
these, and
blank
what he used
pages of letters from friends,were
Another
in lieu of copy paper.
popular author of my
utilises all sorts
acquaintance likewise
for writingon
of paper
pencil,and thinks eighteen words
odds
and
uses
a
ends
the
quite sufficient,
extremelyfine
hundred
of scraps and
he
; but while
pen,
words
inconvenient
first-mentioned
and
into
crammed
that
wrote
about
space.
to
page
with
an
three
No
a
or
matter
four
how
eccentricities may
be to editors and
of reputation can
afford
to
compositors,authors
practisethem
the doorway
these
;
of
reputationfor
but not
so
those
who
journalism. Geniuses
bad writing,and
some
strugglingat
are
seem
to have
folk think
a
that
82
HOW
TO
WRITE
FOR
THE
PRESS.
genius. Some
tliat if the great Mr. Soauthors may
suppose
young
and-So
writes his articles or his stories in this slovenly
fashion and
yet has them all accepted,so may they.
is eminently calculated to
A
little bit of expei'ience
two
be no
There
can
destroy so foolish a notion.
opinionson this question: clean, tidy,well- written
manuscriptsare the best.
first point to discuss is the choice of paper.
The
in this
considerations to guide one
There
are
many
different kinds
I have used many
matter.
Personally,
to favour
and sizes ; but experiencehas brought me
for handwriting and the other for
two
sorts : the one
Many people use
typewriting. Of these anon.
to
foolscappaper for manuscripts; but the objections
It is so largethat it requires
this are
considerable.
of
in it to bring it within the compass
four fold-marks
and when
a foolscapenvelope,
opened out, after being
It also
so
folded, it is rather clumsy to handle.
presents at one glance so much matter to the eye that
to read it is tiresome ; and these are
things which the
by
writing badly
one
may
become
a
writer should strive to spare the worried editor.
young
serious
still: supposingan
article written
But more
foolscap gets soiled on the outside pages before
to
to its author, he has
being returned
go to the
these two large pages, whereas,
trouble of re-writing
the task
with smaller sheets,the danger of soiling,
or
have
been
of re-writing,would
proportionately
should
offer too large n
writer
not
The
reduced.
surface for editorial finger-marks,
just as the general
should not show too long a front to his enemy.
these editorial fingerA
marks,
good plan to circumvent
found
which
I have
and one
successful,
very
on
PREPARING
though I
have
not
seen
others follow it^is to
two
your article between
the front one
bearingthe
and
address^and
83
MANUSCRIPT.
A
the back
enclose
separate sheets
title and
of paper,
the author's name
If your
being blank.
article comes
back unaccepted,and showing on these
outer pages
signsof handling,it is a simplematter to
detach
with
fresh pages
them, and replace them
before sending the manuscriptaway
again. This is
another
this
the
reason
in favour
of small paper
foolscappages would
plan with
clumsy appearance
paper.
For
one
of
;
for
to
add
only
article,and
the
follow
to
waste
convenient
size
manuscript article the most
of sheet is the ordinaryessay paper, known
as
quarto,
and measuring about
6| inches across
by 8j inches
from
This gives one
little more
a
top to bottom.
space
in use
a
per page
than
in newspaper
uniform
usual
the
offices ; and
of
octavo
as
"
"
copy
paper
is ruled
the paper
be inscribed
on
writing can
the editor in reckoningthe
every page, thus assisting
lengthof the article and decidingwhether he can find
Quarto paper also goes into a
space for it in full.
foolscapenvelope with a singlefold lengthwise,or
into another size of envelopewith one
fold cross-wise,
and
attractive
more
consequentlypresents a much
cap
to the editorial eye than the great foolsappearance
with its four fold-marks.
The
qualityof the
be
should
sufficiently
good not to show
paper
marks
of handling readily,and
sufficiently
light
be an
not to weigh too heavy for postage,as this may
has fifteen or
"item of some
one
importance when
with
of articles out at once,
a
score
postage paid
a
both
amount
ways.
G
2
84
HOW
WRITE
TO
THE
FOR
PRESS.
For
typewrittenarticles about the length of a Globe
front page
turn-over/' or an
Evening Standard
special that is to say, about 1500 or 2000 words
'^
"
and
"
for articles two
even
three
or
times
that
size, an
sheet,about 5j inches by 8 or 9 inches,is the
best.
With
a
typewriterone has to choose between
this size and paper
justdouble, the latter having the
octavo
objectionof
the
regular foolscap. Nothing
than an
article typewrittenon this paper
neater
line running the long way
of the page, of course.
Eight to
ten
column, and
such
pages make
be read with
can
an
as
average
much
with
envelope, known
folds
two
into
or
the
in
the
across
the
narrow
trade
way
"
regulation large square
fold.
only one
convenient, and
It is at
the
the
once
"
as
advantage
the
usual
'^No.
6,"
of the
paper,
envelopewith
neatest, the
size for
economical
most
the
"
newspaper
the
ease
as
column
itself.
It also has the
newspaper
of being small enough to go neatly into
business
looks
most
written
type-
articles.
Now
a
word
There
relative
the
two
or
merits
is
to
handwriting versus
writing.
type-
difference of opinion on
some
of the
of favour
balance
as
old
seems
and
system
to
be
the
on
the new;
the side of
but
writing.
type-
In
the editor of CasselVs
reply to inquiries,
Family Magazine says, Yes, MSS. should be typed;"
Pearson's
the New
Yes, most
certainly
says,
;
Revieiv,"Certainly;" Windsor, "Invariably;" Pall
Mall Magazine, "All MSS. must be typewritten
;"/dier,
the
Harmsworth
''Yes, emphatically;
Magazine,
National
Cornhill, Fortnightly,
Review, and several
"
"
"
'^
others also
answer
in
the
affirmative.
Blackwood'
Harper's,Longman's, Magazine of Art, "c.,
8,
say,
86
TO
HOW
WRITE
THE
FOK
PRESS.
to preparingthe final draft
blessingwhen it comes
for despatching
It is an easy thingto
to the editor.
of the machines
the manipulationof most
at
master
market^ and typewriting is a rehef
from
the continual
scratchingof the pen or pencil.
if one
afford to employ an
But
can
amanuensis, or
present
get
can
the
on
of his household
member
a
to
assist him
by
be made
then the typewritercan
typinghis articles,
three fold.
two
to multiplyone's productiveness
or
the typewriteris an
economiser in the
And, thirdly,
of postages; for thinner
matter
paper
can
be
used,
less space is occupiedthan in handwriting.
When
preparingan article either in manuscriptor
and
place invariablyat
typewriting,
page,
the
above
title,
your
From
J.
name
top of the first
and address,thus :
the
"
Wellington Jones,
2, Little Cash
Street,
Tinkletown.
And, if you follow my advice as to the protecting
the end, you will Avrite
at the beginning and
pages
the number
of words, and
the title of your article,
your
and
name
in this
type these
The
Search
For
the
North
address
the front outside page,
on
manner
:
or
"
Pole.
(2500 words).
J. Wellington
2, Little
Cash
Jones,
Street,
Tinkletown.
A
to
very
write
good idea,and
your
article in
generallyknown, is
ordinarypenny pass-book.
one
an
not
PREPARING
For
short
87
MANUSCRIPT.
A
recommended
to
especially
those whose
caligraphyis good enough to do "without
the aid of the typewriter. It is easy for editors to
so
written, and the
glance through a contribution
batters of the book
in good
keep the inner pages
condition,while there is no
danger of any leaves
going astray.
When
separate sheets
of
case
leaves
contribution
a
editor
the
well, and
is
few
pointsof
finger.
MSS.
such
notebook
in the
separate
a
circumstances
roll
than
irritating
writingsthat has been
moment
every
of the sheet.
bottom
post
the
runs
stamp
is
;
leave
but
manuscript
never
one
as
to
will
a
pose
purserve
fit of bad
by one of the
prickingan editorial
the
sent
never
rolled.
folded
as
Never
manuscript. Nothing
task of reading a pileof
a
rolled
the
flat,or
until
hand
it curls up like a
is relaxed
the
from
Besides,a roll in going through
risk of being damaged when
the
applied.
It is well to write
lines to
for this
of worsted
fastener
paper
snail
ordinary
sanctum, caused
invariablybe
possible
never,
; but
any
The
anything
as
them
fasten
to
catastropheas
a
more
and
except
corner.
should
as
under
date
a
taken
stitches
editorial
brass
be
good
as
avert
in the
remper
the
in
top left-hand
although a
;
little
should
care
"
fastener
paper
is
written
and
"
always be used, because they are much
convenient
for flipping
over
as
they are read by
securelyat
as
used
are
should
more
the
stories this is
room
for
should
free
make
suSicient
with
corrections
always
from
any
aim
space
or
at
interlineations
additions
or
between
the
tions
slight addihaving one's
as
possible,
emendations
88
HOW
unless
and
these
of
WRITE
FOR
really
are
effect
Andj
TO
the
need
?
paper
Press
work
it
on
simple
ver}"
set
two
at
in
This
rule
loss
a
of
a
fi'om
understand
but
article
is
written
easier
fill
in
will
for
alike
to
on
single
this,
be
the
!
of
the
seen
editor,
It
straight
the
paper
last
the
the
rule
for
also
of
the
the
of
the
and
in
positors
com-
be
cut
many
endless
to
sides,
and
deviation
no
to
it
a
Press
the
an
and
would
other.
in
read
only,
paper
preparing
contributor,
as
easier
than
then
economy
to
lead
is
is
ahead
and
to
both
on
the
has
given
a
that
to
page
there
side
one
^^Tite
side
one
even
it
oflSce.'
newspaper
of
happens
"
any
written
admits
it
obviously,
which
the
be
article
writing
were
sides
jjractical
must
an
ceivable
con-
both
on
to
and
would,
no
with
often
It
pieces
there
under
write
only,^'
type,
more
if
that
Contributions
"
"copy^^
men.
the
one
paper
up
or
confusion
hence
the
the
to
different
must
explanation.
distributing
into
said
perhaps,
of
completeness
unacquainted
regulation
side
one
be
Those
are,
stereotyped
the
to
whole.
finally,
the
PRESS.
necessary
circumstances
of
THE
be
So
it
to
that
manuscript,
provides
compositor
IX.
CHAPTER
"
Not
tlie least
"
PLACING
MANUSCRIPT.
important factor
literarycontributor
which
A
is
the
likeliest
in
the
discrimination
success
that
of
a
tells
publicationsto accept an
article that the writer lias justcompleted and prepared
for despatch to
probable purchasers. Indeed, we
this is the
that
most
important
might almost
say
question of all. There lies an interestingarticle,well
and
written
acceptable
neatly prepared, quite an
manuscript, in fact ; but unless it is brought to the
is wanting just such an
attention
of the editor who
for
article,all these excellent qualitiesshall count
obvious
This
too
a point to call
seem
naught.
may
for exposition; but there
is not an
editor in the land
all
that the greatest failingwith
will not tell you
who
criminati
is their
contributors
surprising lack of disyoung
in choosing their
market.
Mr.
Max
is now
of our
successful
most
one
Pemberton, who
editor
of CasseU's
novelists and
Magazine, confesses
short
that in his early days he wrote
a
story of a
E evosemi-historical
lution,
nature, dealing with the French
and running to about five thousand
words, and
it
this he sent
to
Temj)le Bar, for which, of course,
was
utterlyunsuited ; and after seriouslythinking of
it came
back
committing it to the flames, when
one
are
the
90
"
HOW
TO
declined with
WRITE
FOR
THE
PRESS.
thanks/' he decided
try Chambers's
Journal,which acceptedthe story immediately.
While
few will take
such
an
optimisticview as
Mr. John Hollingshead,
who
What
editor
one
says,
another is bound
to take ; what
one
rejects,
publisher
another
is bound
to print and
it
circulate,"
spurns,
is a fact that the great mass
of manuscripts which
returned
week
are
by week to their writers by the
editors
whom
submitted
to
been
are
they have
rejectedbecause of no intrinsic faults,but because
they are unsuited to the editors' respective
ments.
requireIt is no
uncommon
thingfor an editor of a
religiousjournal to receive the manuscript of a
sensational story, bluggy
enough to suit the taste
of the immortal
Toddy, though eminentlycalculated
the readers of a religious
to shock
publication;yet
this story submitted
editor of a
to the
periodical
to
"
"
"
which
made
a
feature
probablymeet with
hand, it is quiteas
such
sent
themes
to
"
as
editors of
of sensational fiction would
And,
acceptance.
for
common
The
articles
Foundations
popularpapers
and
the
on
xerj
other
dealingwith
of Belief
"
to
be
journalsof light
literature.
When
is
ness
busia firm whose
traveller,representing
the supplj'ing
his
of machinery oils,makes
a
calls
possiblecustomers, he does not visit
upon
to force the cashiers
lawyers'offices and endeavour
into
buying
some
purposes;
call at
of
nor
his
machinery
does
the
oil for
keeping
book-
traveller for inks
engineeringworks and strive to
for oilingmachinery. Anybodj^ who
these things would
be looked
upon
but irritating
lunatic.
Yet there are
sell
some
did
either
as
a
young
ink
of
harmless
writers
''.placing"
a
doing things as
stupid every
words
editors who
about
the
91
manuscript.
day^ and
refuse
to
using hard
buy articles
they have no possibleuse.
be
must
A constant
study of current periodicals
made
by all would-be contributors who desire to have
of disappointment in their work ; for it
a minimum
for which
should
be
understood
that when
a
man
succeeds
it is
stylehas so greatlyimproved,
literary
because
his capacity for dealing with
not
a
given
subjecthas been widened, but largelyon account of
his having arrived at a better knowledge of editorial
of the
requirements through studying the contents
it is not only
of the day. And, moreover,
periodicals
with the periodical
to keep in touch
press
necessary
as
a
whole, but to regularlywatch the columns of
write for with
he can
thinks
such journalsas
one
ness
watchfulfor this constant
acceptance. The reason
lies in the danger of submitting to an editor an
article on
a
subjectwhich may have been recently
treated in his paper, and thus
making it almost
the manuscript. By so
to return
for him
necessary
followingany particular
journalthe young writer will
which
at once
see
subjectsto avoid in submittinga
will also receive
contribution
its editor, and
to
suggestionsfor fresh subjectsin those that have been
The
treated in its columns.
present writer learned
this from
bitter experience; but profiting
thereby he
eventually saved himself much
disappointmentby
three points before sending any manuscript
settling
:
first,that nothing on the same
subjecthas
away
in the journalto
appeared for at least six months
which
the article is being submitted; second, that
the
subject is likely to interest the editor and
not because
his
92
HOTT
readers
of
WRITE
TO
tlie said
within
a
of the
articles
journal;
words
two
or
score
FOR
THE
PRESS.
and
of
the
third, tliat
average
it is
length
published in that journal. If every
contributor
paid attention to these simple rules
countless postage stamps would
be saved^ editorial
labour
be
would
lightened,and a great deal of
disappointmentavoided.
A
good plan when writing an article is to have
in view several papers
it might be suitable,
for which
and so guard against introducing anything into it
it with any of these possible
which might disqualify
And
when
customers.
sending a manuscripton its
the one
start with
rounds to these papers, invariably
wisdom
of this was
The
the best.
pays
I
in upon
borne
some
me
forcibly
years
ago, when
it to a certain periodical
article and
sent
wrote
an
which
which
would
than
a
guinea had it
paid more
proferred manuscript, but it declined
not
have
accepted the
it to Leisure
Hour, where it
it,and I then forwarded
was
publishedand paid for at three times that figure.
in
It is a sound business principle
to offer your
wares
will pay the highest in
the first place to those who
the event of their purchasingthem, and onlyto try those
that pay less liberally
after the first class have refused
to
be
accept.
other
But
with
the
considerations
writer there should
young
the immediate
than
amount
remuneration, and perhaps the greatest of these
of a journal
columns
is to gain admittance
to the
ginner
To
the bewhich
publishessigned contributions.
who
is not
dependent for his livingon the
earnings of his pen, the advantage of having bis
of
name
worth
he publishesis
any articles which
be said that many
It may
guineasin the end.
attached
to
94
HOW
The
pleaof
I send
taste is
;
PRESS.
"
originalsonnet.
regardthem
in the
My sister,whose literary
possessedof unnsiial merit.
same
favourable
light.
"
been
it
of the
one
finest
indeed,I would
an
not
article
from
paper
publicationsof
for
issue
miss
an
on
subjectwhich
a
the
first,and
its kind
a
in
the
great deal.
I
am
sure
I
will
state that there are
I may
a
lai'ge
who
would
be especially
in this town
interest your
of my
number
readers,and
pleasedto
it in your
see
of your
reader
a
herewith
enclose
THE
styleis somethinglike this
have
world
FOR
considers the lines
excellent,
Another
consider
WRITE
relations
an
you
I trust you may
I
TO
friends
columns.
style in which silly
very common
of their pens to
people send the firstlings
young
editors ; and it is morallycertain that no self-respecting
This
last is
editor
for
Think
a
looked
ever
moment
a
will suit
editor what
manuscriptso proffered.
of telling
of the impertinence
an
the reason
his readers, and
why
at any
apparent. The
pleaof poverty is even better ; but all such attempts
editorial opinionare vain, for they are
to influence
ness
the outcome
of pride,
in every case
egotism,or selfishsuch
a
"
plea is
ineffectual is at
could
what
be
once
selfish than
more
to
ask
an
simplybecause
and the only thing that can
its writer is hard up ?
of an editor is the manuscriptitself.
the mind
sway
editor of the Windsor
The
Magazine says that
the letters which
manuscriptsare nearly
accompany
always needless," but he printsthe followingas a
to
which came
business-like specimen all too rare
him printedin bold black type :
editor
to
publisha
worthless
article
"
"
"
Dear
Sir,
consideration.
"
I
If
beg to
submit
acceptedfor
"
the enclosed MS.
insertion in Your
for Your
kind
pages, I shall
"
be
receive
pleased to
MS.
'
95
MANUSCRIPT.
A
TLACING
at the
payment
usual
rate.
Should
uti.snitable,
Postage for its return is enclosed.
be
"
the
I am,
Tours, etc.
this is
I think
a
sensible
very
manuscript (though the capitalY
the article has
but where
been
of
way
is
sendingout a
too flattering)
;
written
with
a
certain
mediums
in view, or with two or three possible
paper
that fact in
to mention
in view, it is quitelegitimate
such
a
Sir,
Dear
that
lioj)e
directed
and
:
Herewith
"
it may
beg
enclose for your
and so, which I have
suitable
be
envelope enclosed
should not prove
available.
is short and
This
I
article entitled,so
an
the
this
as
way
to
for all
"
I am,
to
for yoiu* columns.
of MS.
for return
kind
sideration
con-
written in
Stamped
in
it
case
yours, etc.
point,and ought to suffice
though all that is necessary in
to an editor who has previously
the
ordinarycases ;
sendinga contribution
the same
from
work
accepted some
pen is to enclose
an
ordinary visitingor professionalcard with,
be
Trusting enclosed article on, so and so, may
acceptablefor (name of journal),"or words to that
"
written
effect,
in
But
the back.
across
cases
where
the
has
article
special circumstances, with
approachingevent or celebration,or
under
of
an
exclusive
desirable to draw
note
don't
value
''God
Irish
nature
is set
a
been
view
where
written
to
some
tion
informa-
forth, it is always
the editor's attention
to this in
the
manuscript; but be brief,
words
waste
on
sugary compliments,for editors
the
these
much
the passer-by values
as
as
bless you, kind
gentleman of the importunate
beggar who hopes for a copj)er, and when he is
accompanying
the
'^
96
HOW
does
disappoiuted
do
other than
long and
which, both
a
then
him
an
if you
it for his
submit
may
subjectinterests him he will most
If the
consider
be
must
If the
treatment.
and if he does
article,
the
it there
accept
style or
on
him
likelypromise to
not
has written
one
item, it is well to write
periodicalfor which it might be
be
may
of
suitable, asking
approval.
Then, when
bless."
ways,
editor
the
implorethe Deity to
hesitate to
not
PRESS.
important manuscript, the postage
a
to
'^
THE
FOE
WRITE
TO
fault in the
some
subjectdoes
not
interest
will tell you so, and thus save
you time and
to
postage stamps, and enable you to write at once
it may
interest.
other editors whom
he
always a wise plan to enclose a stamped and
addressed
envelope for the return of the manuscriptin
It is
of
case
In the
rejection.There
it is a
first place,
which
article,
written
clean
back
forced
from
soiled and
into
a
smaller
that in which
carefully
of its
having been
shaped envelope
differently
on
or
it
a
neatly folded and scrupulously
its author's hands, to come
was
creased
for this.
reasons
thingfor
common
it left
when
several
are
account
sent.
was
This
be avoided
can
by alwayssupplyinga suitable envelopefor its return.
In the second
place,loose stamps may go amissing,
the chances of getting
and once
they have disappeared
an
unsuitable
minimum;
contribution
and
in
the
returned
third
reduced
are
place
envelopeexpeditesthe return
manuscript, for time is always at
stamped
a
of
directed
editorial
sanctums,
and
the
a
to
a
and
rejected
premium in
task
of addressing
rejectedarticles is a
a
of
envelopesfor the return
to an
one
editor,whereas it
unprofitable
particularly
is an easy matter
to slipsuch
profferedmanuscripts
"placinq"
as
be
cannot
07
manuscript.
a
accepted into
the
addressed
envelopes
providedby their writers and so send them on their
homeward
journeyswith as little delay as possible.
It is reallya very importantpointthis of enclosing
a
sending a
stamped and directed envelope when
stated,
manuscripton its rounds, for the good reasons
and
there
also because
are
many
editors who
will not
rejectedcontributions unless they
are
accompaniedby the necessary envelope,no matter
number
the writer has enclosed the requisite
whether
of postage stamps.
undertake
to return
there
While
are
editors who
many
seem
to take
a
cabalistic figures
some
on
delightin pencilling
one's unfortunate
manuscript,and so making it
for the writer to rub them out, or perhaps
necessary
will
authors
write the page
over
again, if young
I have given, they will have
follow the advice
no
in keepingtheir pages
clean and
tidy
great difficulty
until
to his
some
good editor hands them over
for an
earlyissue." The
compositorsto set up
sendingout a soiled manuscript
importance of never
In
little bit of
be overrated.
a
cannot
delightful
of "An
Editor's Sorrows,"
autobiography,descriptive
Dr. Robertson
Nicoll, editor of the Britisli Weekly,
oh ! good people! dear people,
And
written :
has
send an editor
never
dear ladies in particular,
never,
a filthy
manuscript. For one thing,it has no chance
fierce
"
'^
"
"
whatever.
a
He
knows
proofthat
it has
he knows
that
and
well that its condition
very
gone
the
rounds
his brethren
have
is
of his
brethren,
sharp eyes and
things readily.Besides that he draws
I cannot
certain inferences,and
they pain him.
understand
why it is that men
very rarely send a
do not
pass
H
98
defaced
filthy
so
good
A
the
of
article
he
the
number
and
the
submits
to
minute
It
to
guidance
placing
of
"
a
if
the
beginner
they
at
the
I
for
venture
value.
as
And
writer
meeting
with
events,
they
writer
a
contributor
a
to
think
they
one
the
book
a
periodicals,
articles
to
in
tell
can
a
finished
just
a
of
copy
thus
guard
essential.
an
laid
any
down
difficult
for
the
of
task
fairly comprehensive,
ought
minimum
of
to
out
and
editor,
are
not
in
rules
as
evolved
an
result
ment
disappoint-
described
be
may
has
such
is
they
out
in
enter
may
here
are
followed
one
in
in
paper,
brevity
lines
the
manuscript
present
given
when
size
periodicals,
has
one
fire."
average
given
this,
any
hand.
young
are
all
experience
such
at
is to
in
article
it is the
the
columns
doing
an
that
me
the
and
which
be
not
seems
;
By
pieces,
contributor
column
of
discursiveness
against
the
editor
to
to
various
in
editors,
number
length
may
mind
in
sensible
their
whether
two
proper
which
the
to
therein.
or
the
words
average
published
for
place
scruple
story
a
fit
appear
guide
without
dropping
keeping
must
of
will
actually
only
which
articles
PRESS.
women
is
the
for
THE
re-addressing
it
that
plan
which
and
"
until
editor,
after
FOE
while
and
addressing
and
WRITE
manuscript,
on
go
is
TO
HOW
of
his
altogether
own
and
as
out
with-
CHAPTER
SOME
The
is
There
the
Not
his
asset
a
but
I
This
!
year
No
view.
spend
without
coming
if
much
has
one
the
obtained
better
and
away
with
the
knack
;
Therefore,
writing
for
counsel
colour'^
I say
Press
which
from
exaggeration,
I
to
and
the
of
the
commends
H
2
point
eye
can
Continent
articles
short-story writing,
all young
it
thus
may
with
to
in
their
;
so
be
realistic
people
found
as
myself
same
for many
introduced
have
have
journalistic
subjects
of
last
to
foreign holidays
part
any
in
Continent
"
an
time
the
really
copy
striking backgrounds
''local
the
has
in
two
effect.
that
holidays
my
who
or
of
could
spent
"
been
was
ful
success-
were
the
on
to
home
I
weeks
with
value
since
one
week
a
the
and
consistentlytreated
some
him
have
may
for
vouch
can
copy-suppliers,
and
wherever
a
that
me
three
I
the
long
"
holidays
for
fancy dictated, supplied
for
of
His
or
in
holidays
assured
;
when
ago^
vinced
con-
travel
foreign
of mine
mistake.
Germany,
or
of
my
"
firmly
more
years
many
Street
valuable
France,
so
Fleet
Travel
am
value
spending
greater
most
I
immense
of
in
no
which
journalistic friend
a
toiler
make
HINTS.
of Foreign
of
the
habit
the
country,
a
Value
journalist.
in
FURTHER
nothing
than
X.
who
this
are
book
respect,
100
HOW
TO
WRITE
abroad
PRESS.
THE
the most
you can^ make
holidays; the harvest of the journalistic
eye
travel
your
much
FOE
as
foreignlands
is often
as
golden (guinea)one !
it is taken
Of course,
for granted that
holidaying abroad one has a fair knowledge
country,
own
the
in
times
is not
of London
birth.
in his
The
and
his
cities is
I
and
fine
as
a
I
This individual
the
hotel
that
had
never
and
has
been
utterlyignorant of
land
idiot
the
life,althoughhe
who
man
is
own
like
Switzerland
to
in
a
Alps the other summer.
tellingeverybody in
ten
as
and
of
ten
the
of his
met
had
been
been
north
Londoner
a
times
in
dehghted
he
by
in Switzerland
the natural
the life of
specimenof
was
before
beauties
of
provincial
thorough-pacedfool
the
great
wish to meet.
ever
The
Use
of Photography
.
greatlyin favour vdih the
Indeed,
magazines and weekly journals just now.
illustration.
the tendencyof all journalismis toward
articles
Illustrated
are
much
back
there was
years
of the future having to be an
journalist
talk
few
A
reporterswere
young
far
of art work
so
the
camera
who
those
thus
as
the
well,
ledge
acquirea knowthat could be taught. But
as
curiouslybelied the propheciesof
and
has
artist
of
urged
counselled
us
a
to
few
years
ago ; it
be said that the
who can
journalist
late
manipuhand-camera
is quite as well equipped as his
a
artist
is something of an
and it is so
brother who
may
now
"
much
easier to press
the button
and
let the
camera
do the rest !
Look
Black
at
and
the
Illustrated London
White,
The
West
News, The Sketch,
End, or almost any
102
PRESS.
THE
FOR
WRITE
TO
HOW
they have been obtained,and whether they are
photographerstake a
copyrightor not; for many
delightin lettingeditors use photoswhich they have
for
them
on
copyrighted,and then coming down
how
substantial
careful, therefore, in
solatium.
Be
securinga photo from
anyone
that
of yours,
if so,
copyright,and,
that
condition
make
you
the
illustrate
to
enquiry as
whether
yoa
the
of
name
article
an
to whether
it is
it
use
may
on
photographer is
acknowledged,or what charge he will make for its use.
had
I have
splendidphotos taken for half-a-crown
and I have had to pay a guinea for others not
apiece,
for the
fee demanded
average
of a copyrightphoto is half a guinea,but many
use
photographersare quitewillingto forego a fee providing
whit
one
better.
The
in
acknowledgment of their courtesy is made
will save
publishingthe picture. A hand-camera
however, and prove
deal of money,
assistant to your
a
most
you
valuable
will not
be forced
a
pen.
Dictating.
Most
to
of the readers of this volume
of
try this method
yet. But
I
regard it
as
who
woman
The
time
inclined
am
a
hopes
manage
the
when
of the ideas that
dictate
to
of
putting
to their
words
get through
a
to
a
I
man
or
journalist.
successful
most
feel that
of
the
their
into
pen
aid, and
is
shape
seethe in their brains.
comes
their
to
time
some
subject,as
successful
course
work
for
the
one
a
they
the
the art of dictation
to
become
to
in
comes
touch
to
important
very
lives
journalists'
sadly unequal to
fourth
producingarticles
by
a
Here
ing
learn-
stenographerthey
great deal
more
work.
of
Many
novelists
our
103
HINTS.
FURTHER
SOME
write
never
of
line
a
their
of revisingthe manuscripts,
books, except by way
of dictation to produceso mucli
and contrive by means
that people stand aghast at their fecundity and
work
editors manage
industry. So, too, many
newspaper
to attend
to the harassingdetails of their papers, and
to turn
out
a
good deal of originalmatter with
the aid of
amanuensis.
an
of
people are naturallygifted in the way
their thoughts,others have to slowlyacquire
dictating
it.
the art, and
master
others
never
again can
Touching this question,I find my scrap book yields
the
by Dr. Robertson
following interestingnote
Some
Nicoll
For
:
a
number
of years
if you
I have
accustomed
been
dictate
to
lose the
fall into this way
once
everything,and
you
of writing. If your shorthand
writer takes a holiday
power
a thing which
ought to be prevented by every available means
"
the
"
burden
dictation
a
of
is not
You
year.
be used, and
cannot
writing. But
this
you
art
to
until you can
member
of
as
an
average
articles one
shoidd
have
on
with, and
you
want
come
to
to
for
say
The
you.
style somewhat
to
be
plan
and
drawback
and
that
as
you
as
arts, with
ought
you
The
to
will
words
is, I think,
use
more
to
what
know
then
make
to
spirited. Against
more
copy
slow
catchwords
few
a
begin.
you
least
nearly as quickly
speaks. For elaborate
efi'ect of dictation
clearer
the
set
Parliament
a
at
of
dictate
to
come
all dictation
before
is
be learned, like other
may
art
dictated
also find that dictation
perseverance,
go
take
acquire. It will
long time that your
all easy
find for a
at
The
intolerable.
becomes
existence
this
words, and
is
tend
to diffuseness.
There
is
one
that is the fact
from
your
point
that
amanuensis
Dr.
Nicoll
when
you
for
does
not
touch, and
get a dictated
revision,you seem
article
to read
104
TO
now
WRITE
FOR
THE
PRESS.
it with
the eyes of an
to
impersonalcritic it comes
you with a freshness and an interest which you do not
hand-written
position
comexperiencein revisingyour own
"
and
are
likely,in
consequently you
correcting it, to give it those finishingtouches
which might be omitted in an article written by your
tion
hand.
own
Personallyspeaking,I have found dictaof immense
have I ever
value, nor
experienced
in practising
it.
I have
tributed
congreat difficulty
any
;
in
the extent
duties
onerous
would
not
own
words,
of revision.
of
articles to
newspaper,
not
of which
one
I
This, togetherwith
paper,
large weekly news-
have
editinga
been
possibleexcept by
any
young
the
of dictation.
use
I should
advise
to feel their way
may
to
to be able
valuable
when
asset
who
man
Writer's
beginning
are
is
in
thoughts is
world
of to-day,
journalistic
productionis expectedof one man.
can
dictate
the
can
look
the
eye-balls
; a
embarrassment
no
to possess
in the
Cramp straightin
even
sister
success
to dictate your
much
so
The
arm
who
men
work
to pracliterary
tice
dictation,in preparationfor a time when
they
be compelled to such an
expedient. In any
case,
a
to my
of ten thousand
except by way
wrote
the
week,
one
to him
If
!
of
Demon
one
broken
has
a
brother who is a shorthand
writer,
younger
enlist her or his services : it will be good practice
for
or
a
dictator and
NicolFs
stenographeralike.
One
point of
Dr.
I don't
agree with ; he suggests that when
the art of dictation you lose the ''power"
you acquire
of writing. This is absurdly
of course
; and
wrong,
that
is
why
lose much
I have
of the
passed it
inclination
over
to
until
write, but
now.
You
that is all.
Nor
is that
to walk.
But
cyclistloses
repine!
The
pitj.
a
he does not
Whe7i
This
each
is
suits him
(orher) ;
putting pen to
for
has
to
mood
overcome
fits; for he must
that
presSj
and
would
fain throw
the
when
which
practicaljournalist
the
of working only when
plying his pen with an eye
be
to
time
:
postulate
of day best
The
his
when
tells him
often
has
to
is oftenest in the mood
one
paper.
the habit
the clock
on
it is useless
find out for himself
must
the inclination
Write.
to
which
point on
a
105
HINTS.
FURTHER
SOME
write
his
goes
paper
hardest when
to
he
to the dogs. With
pen and paper
of
the yoke of " the hour
contributor
outside
"
does not
gall the neck^ and one is
press
free to follow one^s fancy. The
contributor^
average
going
to
employed at business during the day,will most
work ; and
naturallychoose his eveningsfor literary
well-known
been, and
although there have
are,
hath
the morning hour
authors
who
believe that
to say that the great bulk of
venture
gold,"we
may
is still,
the world^s reading has been, and
produced
who
is
"
''
after dark."
Evening in
"
and
even
merits
The
a
the
which
quietof
convenience
out
turn
far
wee
study seems
sma'
to be the natural
'oors ayont the twal'
"
time ;
have
noisy daytime does not possess.
and
the night is at once
an
inspiration
but the ready journalist
can
; for few
the
"
"
copy
with
noise
and
distraction around
to
This, perhaps,appliesmore
particularly
resident ; as in some
town
quiet country house,
turbed
removed
from the city's
din, one may be as undisin the cityafter it is bedded.
at high noon
as
them.
the
the
lOG
To
HOW
write
drone
and
TO
with
in at the
midnight
and
the
smells
more
call
of
the
PRESS.
THE
of
disturbingthan
the
one's
ears,
in
birds
country garden stealing
is, after all,better than
open window
oil in a citystudy. But circumstances
inclination
the
be
must
and
matter,
FOR
nothing
of bees
the sweet
WRITE
each
left to his
and
this
in
determining forces
scribbler
the
resources.
own
MS.
Submittinga
fullywith this subjectin the
chapter on
Placing a Manuscript,"but I received
from
to my
a contributor
own
paper the other day two
I have
dealt
very
"
or
three bundles
very
The
and
sensible
articles
on
of
were
"
way that I considered
business-like,and worth
noting.
"
copy
in
a
but they were
type-written,
not
the lines I have
advised
;
instead
of
a
prepared
letter
drawing my attention to their abounding merits or
belaudingmy valuable paper, each article bore a card
these words
pinned with a paper fastener,containing
the
If this article is not suitable,
in neat printing
:
at his earliest
editor will obligeby returningthe same
"
convenience
to
""
here
the
name
and
address,
very little
properlyspacedout, followed. There was
danger of that writer's articles being lost.
Another
pointin submittinga contribution : never,
notepaper on which you have printedyour
never, use
and described yourself
author,
as
a journalist
or
name
No real journalist
works.
with a list of your famous
his noteauthor
on
ever
or
parades his profession
do this
set those who
paper ; and editors invariably
for presumptuous amateurs.
down
RecentlyI received
of a story from an individual who had his
a long MS.
and
form printedlike a ham
merchant's.
memo
egg
107
HINTS.
FURTHER
SOME
as
"Journalist, Author, and
describing himself
and
Dramatist/' enumerating his stories, articles,
if I am
not
mistaken, to supply
dramas, and offering,
these
shortest
the
on
notice,
and
in
all varieties.
surpriseto find that this individual
Judge of my
his precious story
requiredno payment
; if I used
a few
copiesof the paper would suffice." But I did
he sent
no
as
not
accept his tempting offer, and
postage stamps for the return of his MS. it went into
into the unit had vanished
known,
my waste-basket,whence
when, later,he wrote for its return.
Always use privatenotepaper,unless you are already
of official
when
the use
employed on a newspaper,
"
"
"
paper is
Heaven's
a
kind
sake
author, or
Here
is
an
for the Press.
editors
label
do not
both
When
of introduction
to
editor ; but
an
yourselfas
a
for
or
journalist
!
the
LiteraryMarket
if" Brisk.
for the
important consideration
To know
at
what
seasons
writer
of the
year
is
contributions
especially
open for outside
to know
something of real value. A few words on
this subject
will therefore be profitable
readers.
to my
Pursuing our order of dividingthe Press, let us first
deal with the dailies morning and evening. Every
less political,
or
generally more."
dailypaper is more
the Talking Shop of the Nation,
Therefore, when
otherwise dignified
with the name
of ImperialParliament,
is in session,
the dailyPress is so largelygiven
to reportingits debates,and
over
paragraphingits
are
"
"
obscure
that
celebrities,
is
an
article not
the
space
for outside
tributions
con-
greatly curtailed. Consequently many
of actuallytopicalinterest is declined
108
HOW
by editors
TO
when
WRITE
shut,and
a
So far
thus
"
dead
:
season,
would
probably
of general
is happily
send
to view
real
of each
end
the
session with
delight.
concerned, they are
periodicaleruptions of
the weeklies
as
but which,
session^
articles
your
the dailies when
Parliament
learn
feelingof
"
PRESS.
THE
is in
Parliament
duringthe so-called
be accepted. Moral
interest round
FOR
are
affected
by the
political
volcano,and may
not
the
regarded as affording
all the year round ; this applying to
an
open market
weeklies alike.
and the "popular'^
weeklynewspapers
As for the monthly magazines, one
importantthing to
bear in mind is the fact that they go to press so long
look
in advance
of publication
that contributors must
articles for them.
ahead in -writing
Thus,
a g-reatway
supposing you have a good idea for a spring article,
write that earlyin the winter,or probably
you must
and
in the summer,
be
be
its appearance,
while you
articles in the springtime;and
for
story stands much
month
of
of
chance
In this way
May.
wait
to
content
nine
months
winter
your
Christmas article or
do
must
no
acceptanceafter the merry
will always have
a
one
balance,so to say, of accepted articles in the
floating
hands
of mag'azine editors,while
pegging away at
the lightof type for another
work
which may
not see
year.
Duplicating
.
By
than
this I
one
editor
riskysystem ;
an
at the
in
same
but I must
effective one,
objectedto.
seen
sendingcopiesof
mean
That
and
do
time.
one
MS.
It is
a
to
somewhat
confess that I have
not
see
it is disliked
the fact that Tit-Bits for
more
found
it
why it should be
editors is
by some
a time
publisheda
110
chance
the
I
TO
HOW
article. It
roused
fancy,that
and
it is
for
thus
the
black
But
in
THE
PRESS.
publications
appeared the
two
same
FOE
WRITE
was
an
occurrence
the ire of the
day
same
with
of this nature,
editor of Tit-Bits,
danger to be carefullyguarded against;
might a strugglingcontributor get into
a
books
the
of two
editors
of monthhes
case
at
stroke !
one
I have
found
dupHdanger
catingvery successful,and there is littleor no
of clashing. Send
out
two
copiesof your article
is accepted
at the same
time, and immediatelyone
write to the editor holdingthe other and ask him to
it or
return
destroy it, as another magazine has
accepted it. This suggests to the editor a certain
of independenceon the part of the contributor,
amount
if the more
and
dilatoryeditor is sorry that a more
alert brother
has snapped up, before his very nose
it were,
as
an
article,he will be more
interesting
mitted
ready to g-iveearly attention to the next MS. subwriter.
by the same
it is possible
to place
By thus duplicatingMSS.
less time than by relying
a magazine article in much
on
submittinga single copy to one editor ; and, I
tributor,
must
say that,speakingboth as an editor and a conthe practiceis to be
I fail to see wherein
cerned
condemned, so far as monthly publicationsare conwith
meets
is
a
book;
say
of
editor who
an
How
Here
case
weeklies,when
a
is in
either to
no
hurry
contributor
use
his MSS.
return
or
in the
or
;
that
I
to
Avoid
Writer's
Cramp.
I find in my commonlittle scrap which
place
interest my
it may
readers, and I may
tested the value of the advice
have
with
given
sufficient
of
the
between
for
others
a
back-handed
a
little
The
first
hand
and
again
refreshed.
almost
in
and
is
arm
this
way
the
thus
with
hand
in
this
of
kind
on
the
sympathetic
and
removed,
by
exhausted
convenient
strain
the
unlimited
old
of
method
energy,
using
the
and
fingers,
most
any
intense
fingers
absolutely
is
upright
or
practice
adopted.
two
It
rest.
methods
place
thumb,
second
and
first
the
exhibit
will
instead
and,
said,
is
it
one,
established
the
and
fingers
front
two
No
"
who
pencil,
or
pen
:
cramp
ignore
to
courage
holding
the
writer's
from
suffer
will
results
satisfactory
Ill
HINTS.
FURTHER
SOME
pen
the
use
write
to
with
but
way,
style
nerves
when
a
he
and
be
can
muscles
can
a
of
the
in
the
is
man
start
entirely
CHAPTER
XI.
HOW
This
"
for
writers
interested
give
to
front-rank
men
who
know
shall
we
of
series
the
such
alongside
of
statement
the
contribute
who
rewarded
at
of
column
per
care
to
go
Man
of
Kent
prices
The
;
and
"
present
fact
is, much
day
places
that
the
Nicoll
is written
rewards
that
a
Kipling
might
have
brilliantly
so
of
ten
shillings
This
scribbler
poor
a
journalists
words.
can
as
information
that
find
we
about
chattering
writers
by
what
Yet,
Rudyard
rate
strange
continually
that
remuneration
is
it
yet
prices
believe
to
edits
any
might
concocted
hard-working
as
more
fabulous
interesting
thousand
not
journalist
Dr.
he
surely
that
facts.
us
?
prices
Street
Grubb
near
the
into
way
which
on
generally
paper
a
the
me
magazines
other
any
magnificent
about
is
the
brings
that
the
the
reader
well-informed
this
fact
their
subject
a
wanting
of
to
it find
about
of "8000
sum
why
strange
about
stories
short
eight
to
are
a
Nicoll
acceptable
placed
are
of
it is
than
authors
Robertson
Dr.
It is
nothing
say
with
to
sillystories
paid
topic
remuneration
written
The
fascinating
general
what
been
has
named.
the
writers.
their
to
nonsense
be
for
know
to
and
referring
periodicals ;
the
most
a
press,"
the
articles
many
so
be
to
seems
PAYS.
IT
the
is
as
will
"
A
big
obtain.
about
of
journalistic
journalism
and
HOW
IT
113
PAYS.
absurdlyhigh,or absurdlylow. Mr.
Stead is credited with sayingthat it takes a jouraalist
"5 a week, while I remember
of great ability
to earn
to the
a contributor
popular press assertingthat
"400
could make
a
by occasional
year
anyone
literature either
"
"
"
"
contributions
the National
;
whereas
I find
an
writer in
anonjTnous
"
saying: There may be, perhaps,
some
twenty or thirtypeople in England who make
"200
are
a
year by magazine writing; their names
draw
safe
well-known
to the public,and
are
a
;
of magazine
while outside there is the large army
contributors whose
earningsaverage, say from "20 to
"50 a year ; hardlyenough, indeed,to keep body and
.^^
soul together
which, althoughI am not yet
Now, my experience,
has been fairly
extensive,does not bear
a greybeard,
I know
I am
of those assertions.
out any one
only
stating facts when I say that there are hundreds
of no marked
of very ordinaryreporters, men
literary
writers and clever newsbut good shorthand
ability,
than
Mr. Stead^s
more
gathers,making considerably
be some
scores
five pounds a week ; and there must
than
"200
of men
a
more
by
making much
year
magazine-writing.As I write I have a letter on my
desk, received the other day from a young journalistic
friend in London, formerlya sub-editor
on
a staff of
threw
his
I was
the literary
which
chief,who
up
Revieic
'
^
post and
me
that
went
in
one
to
London
week
as
he has
a
earned
year has averaged "500, this
spellof holidayon the Continent.
a
fi'ee lance
:
"23, and
allowingfor
He
he
tells
during
a
good
has done
very
however, for the monthly magazines,directing
little,
his energiesmainly to the popularweekly press.
I
114
TO
HOW
FOR
WRITE
But, bear in mind, I do
not
PRESS.
THE
for
suggest
one
moment
inexperiencedyouth can take chambers in
Chancery-lane, write his "copy," send it out, and
The young
realise such an income straight
man
away.
of seven
I mention
or
was
a trained journalist
eight
give
years'good provincialexperience. Let me
another case.
Again a smart young sub-editor and a
former
colleagueof mine ; about twenty-one years of
the
that
tri^d
He
age.
Tit- Bits
with
article,it
an
was
followed,with equallygood result.
all his spare time was
Then
spent at a type-writer
;
articles were
produced by the score, and found ready
publicationin Tit -Bits, Answers, Pearson^ s, and
other popularweeklies,with occasional contributions
another
accepted;
week
he
than
"200.
one
of
matter,
Then
the
and
of those
Reciew's
There
an
came
he
"2
sub-editingat
during one year
offer of
a
per
less
not
situation
that took a great
papers
London
he
went
to
at
work.
deal
from
of
his
salary of
able to augment considerably
was
by
either
Neither my own
nor
experience,
cases,
tallies with
made
have
must
"300, wliich
outside
While
monthlies.
the
in
Mr.
nor
another
many
Stead's
five
I
pounds
a
could
or
mention,
the National
pittance.
is
no
work
journalistic
doubt
whatever
in
my
is
mind
that
and more
nerative
remubecoming more
and the field is rapidlywidening.
I cannot
all the stuff published in the Royal
i";ay I admire
Pearson's, the Windsor,
Magazine, the Harms icortJi,
or
any of the popularweeklies ; but I think it is very
not sought
are
big names
gratifyingto see that
after by them, with the result that the capable writer
of average
abilityhas a chance of earning a good
"
"
IT
HOW
that tlie enormous
and
living,
been paid to authors who
have
like
tongue
and
the
Nicoll
Dr.
which
suras
which
money
become
"
''
"
will
editors
roll
to
begin
have
widely diffused
more
have
allegedto
boom
enjoyeda
sums
loves
morsels
sweet
115
PAYS.
"
his
beneath
dwindle,
to
their
at
mand
com-
literary
amongst
workers.
To
to
come
of remuneration;
particulars
with
the monthlies.
the
Gentleman's,
Such
Fall
as
the
let
start
us
Strand, Pearson's,
Mall, and
most
of
first-
the
magazines have no set rate of pay ; but reward
accordingto the merit of the story or article. Ten
writer
guineas for a short story by an unknown
(though these are not very often used) is what the
Strand
is generallyforthcoming
pays ; and a similar reward
for an
interestingarticle dealingwith some
curious facts,the writer of which
be a complete
may
novice
for all the editor cares, so long as bis matter
Cornhill
interests.
The
gives a guinea a page (one
of the smallest magazine pages) ; Leisure Hour
pays
the
absolute
fairlywell, but reserves
copyright of
for
"3
received
everytliingit publishes I have
class
"
an
article
for which
gives
about
of
a
very
\s. per
"1
Leisure
in
pages
it.
Macmillan's,
standard
high literary
is
and
the
page;
llhisfrated,which
complete tales.
two
is
so
does
required,
English
to short
largelygiven over
Sunday at Home is the
now
The
same
as
of the
more
only the articles are
goody good
description.The NineteentJi Century
known
gives "1 Is. a page and upwards ; but young, unwriters need
time tryingits editor
not
waste
Hour,
"
"
with
their
Avares
gets these
:
"
he
and
believes
often
in
"
"
names,
nothing else.
The
rally
gene-
Quiver
116
HOW
the
TO
WRITE
FOR
THE
PRESS.
lines
which
as
Ca.9sell's,
financially
pays a pound a page ; but only articles and stories of
kind are required.The Sunday Magazine,
a religious
in my
than a
own
more
experience,averages slightly
guinea a page ; while the Temple Magazine, the
three to
Young Man, and Young Woman
pay from
and
five guineas for articles and stories,
praisebe to
is
run
on
same
"
Mr.
F. A. Atkins
I have
the two
"
of what
note
no
last named
the
pay, but if it is like the
it won't
it is associated,
which
ance.
accept-
on
pay
Woman
Home
at
British
may
be
Weekly, with
princely. Temple
give "5 for a short article; and Good
Words, being a companion periodicalto the Sunday
the latter.
The
as
Magazine,pays the same
Royal
than any of its higherMagazine is more
generous
priced contemporaries,for it gives "2 2s. a page
Bar
will
"
pay, indeed
the
about
excellent
will
;
and
the
Harmswoi'th,I believe,
The
good for
a page
(small); and Atalanta,the girl's
half-a-guinea
Chambers's
a page.
magazine, about fifteen shillings
Journal
for ordinary
half-a-guineaa column
pays
the Boy's Own
contributions
Paper and the
; while
pay
Girl's Own
reward
sovereign for
columns
The
such
their
page
poor
weekly
papers
Tit-Bits and
as
guinea
them
very
"
a
a
column
same.
writers,I
of
pay,
is
Argosy
three
told,with
am
a
long
and
closely-set
are
most
stable
indeed.
whose
rates
Answers.
of about
1000
Both
words
of these
;
but
have
are
give a
both
of
specialrates for exceptionally
interesting
its
Premium
articles.Tit- Bits printing such on
Page" at two guineas per column, and Ansivers
article each week
with a specialfee
rewarding one
of "5.
CasseWs
Saturday Journal, and the Golden
"
118
HOW
column.
sixpence
The
or
their
2s.
A
guinea
a
only
completeness,
before
take
we
is to
secure
is
mean
returns
the
literary
standard
nothing
but
;
of
and
they
but
lucre, and
in
to
the
vailing
pre-
attempt
at
necessary
are
the
If
desire
one's
months,
if
one
more
and
the
money
can
a
elapses
capacity,
all, is
made
be
less
therein
that, after
year,
its appearance.
has
require
a
often
that
article
an
to the
magazines
nine
;
time
success
of
which,
periodical -writer, the
for
cultivate
weekly
;
a
as
weeklies,
while
them,
no
subject.
the
quicker,
are
average
another;
data,
words
waiting
being
profit.
the
with
But
acceptance
With
of
and
the
things
weary
be
indicating
as
anonymous.
years
the
between
out
the
are
two
of
reputation
largely
beginner
even
leave
a
magazines
work
here
further
few
a
week,
his
to
this
of remuneration,
rates
Glasgoir
less.
upon
down
set
the
every
with
one
papers
condescended
is
course,
the
:
knoweth
perhaps
others
in
much
pay
specials
"
would
provincial
Having
being
rate
f!
"
deponent
as
more,
standing
several
column
cases
some
of
contemporaries
uses
a
the
taking
World'
the
"
paid
ai'e
farthing, three-
penny
line
London
column,
k2
articles
brief
very
papers
which
Herald,
PRESS.
line.
per
as
THE
penny,
per
Provincial
same
a
more
FOR
and
Paragraphs,
halfpence,
the
WRITE
lineage rates/'
"
at
TO
exacting
brings
not
you
thing.
every-
THE
DIARY
Under
the
OF
above
title
contributed
Sun
under
(then
M.P.),
of
the
first
The
article
fell
into
line
I
much
it
clipped
the
tale
my
I
of
but
spirit;
attracted
had
who
find
the
other
either
by
I
desirous
as
a
birth
whose
entering
certain
waiting
luncheons
of
entering.
without
It
lists
briefs
in
"'
any
first
be
what
is
"Well, I had
appeared
Fleet-street
to
do
restaurants
far
in
to
that
of
dii-ection.
section
of
of
out
of
the
I should
a
be
profession
have
to
shot
was
at
I
the
at
beyond
I had
into
venture
desirous
so
Bar,
and
who
consuming
friends
start
ment,
employ-
newspaper
proverbially irregular
little
"
Postbag
"'
totally unconnected
Why
friends
regular
fii'st instance,
ninety-nine
regular
to
of
large
a
was
that
egotistical
no
in
member
;
for
year's experiences
like
I
asked.
a
thus
the
counsel
have
may
tonic
a
the
feature,
any
arrows
as
number
in
uninteresting
I foimd
one
efforts, that
me
been,
seek
to
and
"
of the
with
as
profession
at
recital
honest,
initial
popular
friendship
sanctums.
for
have
that
prove
unsolicited
the
Sun
an
literarj"
a
so
considerable
a
giving
vainglorious,
uo
paper
O'Connor,
as
it
WeeMy
:
begin by stating that,
or
P.
followed
joiimalistic aspirants,
free-lance,
editorial
in
fortmie
not
I will
hundred
brief
good
it, may
readers.
was
the
by
that
as
own
has
article
it
me
experience
WeeMy
towards
I think
column,
and
the
to
of
article
reproduce
since, imdoubtedly,
subscribers
the
T.
short
my
who
and
this
writing
am
one
advice
Mr.
struck
now
journalist
young
of
a
with
and
out,
''
Postbag
of
year's experience
free-lance.
so
"
14, 1897,
his
BEGINNER.
correspondent
editorship
March
account
LITERARY
a
to
the
on
A
on
the
of
im-
while
heavy
Stock
120
HOW
Exehauge
whose
brilliant.
Then
for
An
me.
eri'ors
some
giving
time
astonishment
its
in
paper,
happen
figures. I
and
A
friend
You
will
get
Ss. 6d.
UltimatelyI got
point it out,
to
up
technical
MS.
editor, but
to
my
as
of
short
a
cutting remarked,
pounds for that, I expect."
it was
a
beginning, however
the
I showed
Still
same
in the form
appeared,not
the
the
at
Greatly
the date the cashier of the
modest, and from
mind
my
certain
information.
least three
at
made
more
reporting
acquainted,
perpetrated
letter to
whom
to
which
considered
a
wi-ote
delightthe
article.
hardly be
to be well
additional
some
PRESS.
THE
occurred
I
unpaid contribution, a
an
"
incident
an
which
in
FOR
prospects could
evening
subjectwith
WKITE
TO
Gazette sented
preto enclose
compliments, and begged
first year of
remittance due, ".c. The year justpassed was
my
and it was
Jitttrateur,
real work as au
during the
irresponsible
a MS., accompanied by
of January that I first submitted
month
and advice
cuttingfrom the Globe, for the inspection
a piiblished
me
of the
course,
"
with
Postbag
was,
on
his
"
editor.
the
The
criticism, which
followed
in due
whole, encouraging. In plainwords. I
was
evident I did not possess the
although it was
very
knack of story-writing,
upyet,by stickingto carefully-selected
chance
of
stand
the
should
I
tion."
publicato-date subjects.
always
stories that same
I destroyedmy
Sunday night, set
out articles only,and
to turn
probablyfor a
mvself forthwith
beginnerthe result may lie considered as satisfactory.Tuniing
MSS.
altogether134 articles,of
lists,I find that I wrote
to my
told that,
'"
which
78
accepted,leaving
were
acceptedcontributions,
second, ten
at the
at the
sixth, and
43
got
home
of
balance
a
at
the
fifth,two
at the
this that
It is evident from
at the seventh.
Of
the first trial,18 at the
third, eight at the fourth, one
one
5'6.
comparison with that of a gentleman
who
latelyconfided his experiencesto the Author, who had a
it
of asking1 As
contribution taken at the forty-ninthtime
the lucky
to where
add some
as
particulars
may be of interest to
that aU were
published in
found a homo, I may mention
"mes
Twelve
London
panning out as follows
journalsor periodicals,
my
cannot
pertinacity
bear
:
in
morning
penny
papers
; two
in evening penny
thirty-seven
in penny
fourteen
weekly
in
morning halfpennypapers,
papers,
papers,
"
one
ten
in
in
a
Sunday journal,
sixpenny weekly
''the
and
journals,
of
fish
that
two
articles
the
big
diary
may
actually
the
in
by
demanded.
ten
this
to
over
but
editors
be
permitted
to
upon
if not
merits.
ladder
the
viousness
I
to
I
the
conclude
joined
they present
as
"
Postbag
ray
the
to
competence
rejections,
to
regards
a
diary
this
on
"
diary.
of
hope
every
even
this
and
to
lower
be
the
to
themselves.
editor,
and
far
who
of
is
of
knack
Hei-e,
put
result
the
increased
his
first
because
I
journalistic
work,
imper-
seizing
with
me
firm
my
with
\\nvd
be
entirely
view
the
may
must
surpassing
of
first
were
behaviour
Postbagites
by
or
tested
year,
rungs
made
it
;
carried
there
declare
point
merit
expei'ience
my
read
was
mercenary
has
submit
that
is
opportunities
track,
writer
proves
there
submitted
the
am
in
the
about
of
twenty
post
convinced
honestly
can
satisfactory,
was
efforts.
it
I
From
startling,
year's
anything,
MS.
eveiy
connection,
think
go
said
If
I
the
in
is
deal
patience,
therefore
are
miscarried
forth
bring
wanting
or
it
effect
the
to
essays,
and
which
losing
unsuccessful
contributors.
somewhere.
that
its
for
which,
a
boomerang,
a
might
out-of-date
great
outside
their
to
exaggei-ation
belief
A
of
note
morrow
decision
seven
waste-paper-1)asketed.
of
the
of
editor
the
like
one
month.s
four
months
two
came
published,
not
while
year;
what
being
as
of
considei'ate
fifty-six
the
to
accepted
were
it
immediate
destroyed
were
during
and
to
hands
only
was
quite
For
the
back
then
as
the
As
in
lay
courteous
a
against
words.
6000
length
average
there
words;
1000
review,
;
The
magazines.
at
of
type
uncertainty
militated
these
taken
half-a-ci'own
accompanied
I
be
composition
well-known
that
monthly
them,
among
favourite
was
in
121
beqixner."
literaey
a
of
my
on
ujiou
kindest
the
right
/"3
In
8i'o..700
demy
pages,
price 7*. 6(7.,the
Edition
Fourth
of
AN ANECDOTAL HISTORY
OF
THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT,
FE03I
THE
PERIODS.
EARLIEST
\SITH
PARLIAMENTARY MEN, AND
NOTICES OF EMIMENT
EXAMPLES OF THEIR ORATORY.
COJIPIIiED
JENNINGS.
HENRY
GEORGE
BY
SOt'ECES
AUTHENTIC
FROM
CONTENTS.
Part
Part
Part
Eise and Progressof Parliamentary Institutions.
More to John Morley.
Personal Anecdotes
Sir Thomas
:
2. Privilege; Exclusion of
Miscellaneous:
1. Elections.
3. Parliamentary
Strangers : Publication of Debates.
4. Varieties.
Usages, "c.
I.
"
II.
III.
"
"
Appexdix.
"
of
(A) Lists of the Parliaments
United
and
England
of the
Kingdom.
(B) Speakers of the House of Commons.
(C) Prime Ministers. Lord Chancellors, and Secretaries
of State from
of
Opinions
"The
work,
things,is
more
which
than
It is
a
work
Present
the
ever
Edition.
"
Globe.
popularity.""
both a practical
and
that possesses
altogetherunique in character."
""
of
Press
1892.
to
has Ion? bsen held in high repute as a repertory of good
Scolsmati.
rich in both instrtiction and amusement."
latest form
in
and
its
of useful fact and
anecdote,
amusing
It is a treasury
should have increased
"'"
tlie
1715
"
an
historical value, and
is
KeiilisfiObserver.
whatever
be
We can heartilyrecommend
this work
to the politician,
may
his party leanings." yorthern Ei-ho.
in Parliament,
or who
""Its advantage to those who
are
seeking seats
may
parable."
have
occasion
to a3.sist as
speakers during the electoral campaign, is incom""
"
"
.Gala's Journal.
of Parliamentary celebrities, past and
have the whole
company
to repeat their best and moat
present, reduced to puppets, so to speak, and made
which is not
entertainment,
approved rhetorical performances for our leistirely
less enjoyable from being allied with edification.'' LirerpoolCourier.
'"
Here
we
"
HOEACE
Law
Times"
Office,Windsor
COX,
House.
U
Bream'e
Buildings.E.C.