15 SEPTEMBER 1900, Page 25

Row to Write for the Magazines. By " £600 a Year

from IL', (Grant Richards. 2s. 6d.)—The author of this little book gives us plenty of good advice. Perhaps one of his most significant maxims is, "Produce what is wanted rather than what you want." You must not write like Scott or Bawer Lytton, even if you can. The magazine reader abhors good literature,—" high-class " literature it is called here. " Folks don't want to read essays on Barns," said a well-known factor of popular reading—" literature" it cannot be called—but "lively, chatty articles for A*****s. " One thing shows a saving grace in the world of readers. Their first desire, indeed, is to be amused. Hence the funny article. But they also wish to get information. Hence the statistical _article. They think that they have learnt something. Of course it is a delusion, for nothing is more useless and indigestible than

facts ; but they mean well. Anyhow, let those who desire to write for magazines read this book.