FOR THE GIRL'S.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOR THE GIRL'S.

JOURNALISM AS A CAREER, /? x 'j j

__' GOOD NEWS FOR BUDGETITES. , ' V '\ __________ ;i ; '

My Dear Girlti, — _ There are various career* open for grrla to-Ay, and judging *r n> the many quite good stories from girl writers printed by Peter Pan in the Budget, I gather numbers of you would like to take up journalism, if not as a career, as r. raying hobby. The romance o£ ce j.ng one's work in print for the first time hiings one a thrill that no other is quite like, and what is sweeter than money one has earned oneself? Yet the fascinating road of the inky way it fou of pitfalls and bumps for the beginner, and if she wishes to succeed she must take no heed of the. bruises and just get up and go on again. \ The young journalist must notice and study what editors want and then plan articles and stories accordingly. The first paragraph of the story is always the most, important and must hold the reader'* attention from the first sentence, to put it bluntly, like a terrier pauaciag on a rat. If you are sending an article to a paper, always remember to be topical or timely. Papers and weeklies readily accept certain articles because they concern a subject immediately under the public eye* An article may be ever so good and well written, but if submitted after the ■ event is sure to be rejected, and, weH r you find you have mix fed the {ft*. An editor just hates staleness. . The title, again, is most important, and must be interesting, original ; or snappy, such* as "What does the Modern Child Read?" "Fashions "in Faces," "Are We All Cowards at Heart?" The following questions front a little handbook apply practically to every branch of literary work novel,, short story or article:—"ls it vital? Is it fresh? Is it the right length? Does the opening arouse interest? Is suspense created? I» the climax good?" The young and inexperienced fiction writer must haw a good story to tell if she wants to get into print—slight or fanciful ideas are better left to the established writer, who alone can clothe then in the glamour necessary for their success. When sending. a story' to an editor, don't write a long covering letter explaining, you have shown your story to a friend of yours and she thinks it's a perfect s.cream, quite the best thing she has ever read. Editors are human, but busy men/ and time to them is as precious as gold. I hear you saying, "How are we to gain this experience?" Now comes my piece of good news. Peter tells me he has received inform*, tion that, the League of New Zealand Penwomen have recently' formed a Junior Journalism Circle, to foster writing for girls from 16 to 21 years ' of age. The convener of the circle is Mrs. LM. Cluett (Isobet Maud Peacocke), the well-known New Zealand authoress, whose charming books for girl* no doubt many of you have read. Here is a unique opportunity and any Budget reader who wishes to join should writt to Mrs. L M. Cluett, League of New Zealand Penwomen, Paykels' Build- Jk A I ings, Anzac Avenue. They will 1 a \ receive all necessary information. 11 Roll up, girls ! Y \