This post is by Doris McCraw
I am filling in today and thought it might be fun to post a piece, edited of course, from the local paper, Gazette, dated July 19, 1873. I have taken the liberty of adding comments and hope you all enjoy.
EASY DIRECTIONS TO YOUNG WRITERS OF MUSIC, POETS, ETC.
1. WRITE MUCH
All the old masters wrote much; otherwise they would never have obtained what you and I so much desire – immortality. (How may of us have heard this over and over? It seems that history repeats itself over and over.) The article than uses as one of its examples reading a single paragraph of Mark Twain and then stopping. It then continues with: No, my dear young (or old) friend, with the voluminous Beethoven, the prodigious Mozart…for your illustrious examples, write, write, WRITE!!!
2.THINK WELL OF YOUR OWN
Nothing can be more unnatural in a young author, poet, etc., than lack of self-appreciation. …Your reputation at home and abroad, nine times out of ten, will be no “Freak of Fortune” bestowed by fairy hands, or thrown gratuitously at your feet by an indulgent public, but will begin and end with yourself. ( I think this is one of the best pieces of information from the past. We’re told to not toot our own horn, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t appreciate our work.)
3. LIVE AND DIE POOR
Here a great many fail. ‘Tis so hard to continually and effectually turn a deaf ear to the seductive wiles of earthly riches. Remember Edgar Allan Poe, who, in spite of “marble bust” –his “velvet sofa” and “purple lining”–was poor as a raven. (This one took a bit to understand, but I think they are saying don’t write for the money, write what feeds your soul.)
4. GO WEST
Doubtless up0n this more than anything else, depends your future greatness. …Where would the Mayflower have landed, had she pointed otherwise than West? ( I think they are saying go where others haven’t gone, follow your own star and see where it leads.)
The article ends with a long paragraph including this line…Remember the great undeveloped future.
I hope you enjoyed the trip to the past…the advice really hasn’t changed much, just the wording.
You can find my own pieces of writing at the following:
http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com
http://angelarainesshorts.blogspot.com
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