20–6889
In her preface to the American edition of this “Book for would-be authors” the author says, “No one can teach authors how or what to write; but sometimes it is possible to help the beginners to an understanding of what it is better not to write.” She tells these beginners why they fail, emphasizes the need of training, tells them three essentials in training and how to acquire them. She also tells them how to give themselves a course in observation and how to assess spiritual values. The contents are in five parts: The mss. that fail; On keeping your eyes open; The help that books can give; Points a writer ought to note; Author, publisher, and public.
“The author gives much good advice (a great deal of it very elementary) to literary aspirants.”
+ − Ath p445 Je 6 ’19 120w
“Practical in many respects, the book is of little use in teaching the ‘would-be author’ how to become an artist. Miss Klickmann’s instruction is from an editorial standpoint, not from the artist’s, and as such her volume has its value for the novice who knows no better than to believe that literary greatness and fame come with a successful appearance in the magazines.”
+ − Boston Transcript p10 Ap 17 ’20 550w + Ind 104:247 N 13 ’20 20w
“Her book is remarkably well done, and may very well help some real talent on its way; and, apart from that, it is written in so lively a style, so full of piquant anecdote and illustration, that it is a pity that the more sophisticated reader, who would really much more enjoy it than the ‘would-be’ author for whom it is written, is not likely to encounter it.” R: Le Gallienne
+ N Y Times 25:8 Je 27 ’20 900w
“Miss Klickmann’s work is adapted not only to people without knowledge but to people without brains. There is an iteration of the familiar, an elaboration of the simple, an elucidation of the clear.”