WRITING FOR THE PRESS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 135, 8 June 1881, Page 4

WRITING FOR THE PRESS.

'Causeur' knows that he willl deierve and win the thanks of all managing editors if he can but impress these few simple rules upon the minds of those who write for the Press :-—

I. Write upon one side of the sheet only. Why ? Because it is often necessary to cut the page into " takes " for the compositors, and this cannot be done when both sides are written upon.

; 11. Write oleerly and distinctly, being particularly oareful in tbe matter of proper names, and words from foreign languages. Why ? Because you have no riphfc to ask either editor or compositor to waste their time pozzling out the results of your selfishness.

111. Don't write in a microsoopic hand. Wby ? Because the compositor has to read it across hie case, at a distance of nearly two feet ; also, because the editor often wantß to make additions and other changes.

IV. Don't begin at the very top of the first page. Why ? Because if you have written a head for your article the editor will probably want to change it ; and if you have not, which is the better WBy, . he must write one. Besides, he wants room in which to write hie instructions to the printer as to the type to be used, where and when the proof is to be sent, etc.

V. Never roll your manuscript. Why ? Because it • maddens and exasperates everyone who touches it—editor, compositor, nnd proof-reader.

VI. Be brief. Why ? Because people dor't read loDg stories. The number of readers which any two articles have is inversely proportioned to the equate of their respective length, That is o half-oolumn article is read by four times as many people as one of" double that length.

VII. Bave the- fear of the waste baakefe constantly and iteadily before your eyes. Why ? Because it will save you a vast amount of useless labor, to say nothing of paper and postage. VIII. Always write your full name; and oddreßß plainly at thg end of your letter. Why? Because it will often happen that the editor will- want -to c ommunicato with you, and because he. n^eda to know the wrUerVname as a guarantee of good faitb. If you use a p& sudonym or initials, write your own pa me and address below it j it will never be divulged. IX. '• These precepts in thy memory keep," and for fear you might forget tbea i, cut them out and put them where you can readily run through them when tempted to spill innocent ink. Ca useur's word for it, those who heed these rules will be beloved and favored in cv cry editoribl sanctum. — Boston Traost v. ipt Causer ie. .