First, Know what you want to say; second, Say it; third, Use your own language; fourth, Leave out all the fine passages; fifth, A short word is better than a long one; sixth, The fewer words, other things being equal, the better; finally, Cut it to pieces. Any writer who will make these rules his guide in daily work will find in them an important help to literary success.
W. H. H.
THE SCRAP BASKET.
It was proposed by a recent contributor to The Writer that authors should advertise their wares, like other manufacturers. In case the idea should meet with favor, I would suggest that the practice be carried a step further in the line of business methods. During the "Robert Elsmere" craze, a few years ago, a certain soap manufacturing company advertised a copy of the book with every quarter's worth of soap sold. It is unfortunate that Mrs. Humphry Ward, whose "History of David Grieve," it is reported, is not meeting with great success in this country, did not profit by the hint of the soap company and advertise a cake of soap to be given as an inducement with every copy of her book.
A. L. A.
Windham, N. H.
THE USE AND MISUSE OF WORDS.
[Brief, pointed, practical paragraphs discussing the use and misuse of words and phrases will be printed in this department. All readers of The Writer are invited to contribute to it. Contributions are limited to 400 words; the briefer they are, the better.]