NEW ZEALAND WRITERS.

Evening Star, Issue 20374, 4 January 1930, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND WRITERS.

A correspondent, whoso letter is not for publication, has forwarded some information on literary matters which should be of interest to budding free lance writers of New Zealand. Ho states that for some years past he has been endeavouring to turn his leisure moments to profitable account by writing short stories of life in the dominion. Sometimes ho has met with as much success as can be achieved in either Australia or New Zealand; on other occasions his manuscripts have come back to him accompanied by the editorial rejection slip. He is quite convinced, however, that, even if all the stories which he wrote were accepted in this part of the world, he would make very little progress oh the road tp a literary goal really worth while. From his own remarks we judge that his pen lay idle for some months prior to his discovery that a literary guild in London is now publishing a monthly magazine, the aim of which is to give practical encouragement to talent throughout the Empire. Already, it is claimed, the guild has the active support of young writers in Great Britain and in all Empire countries. Furthermore, its objects are endorsed by men and women prominent in literature, education, and public life From a perusal of a specimen copy of the magazine, also sent to us, wo gather that one of the principal functions of the body which publishes it is to secure recognition for the work of new or comparatively unknown writers, to whom active membership is confined. At present the magazine is being issued in rather modest printing attire, but the substance it contains is of sufficient merit to presage speedy development and a useful life. Through it our correspondent has won some slight success in London, and we agree with him that knowledge of the existence of the literary guild would greatly encourage writers of New Zealand fiction.

In educational affairs and in the publication bf various works treating our island history we have made commendable progress, but we are sadly lacking in the ability to utilise good fiction as a means of conveying to the reading public overseas some conception of life in the dominion and a thorough understanding of our people. It. is only by circulating sane, readable fiction that the attention of the masses will be captured. In Great Britain there probably are millions who, through reading American literature, good, bad, and indifferent, have accumulated more knowledge of an alien country than of one of their own most loyal possessions. The cry for bur story writers and novelists to come to the fore is urgent. There is a place in the sun awaiting them. British readers are for ever clamouring for something fresh, and we feel confident that success awaits the New Zealand writer who determines to draw a faithful picture of his rwn country and countrymen. Adherence to this simple resolve should ensure the originality for which readers are thirsting, and at the same time purge from the mind any false impression of us that may have been cheated by some of the rubbish—much of it sex-crazy—that unfortunately has strayed into the printing presses of. London publishers.