Fugen eBooks

Much thought over my experience led to a conclusion
which the passing years confirm: the only thing for a writer is to
be himself and take the consequences. Even those who regard me as
a literary offender of the blackest dye have never named imitation
among my sins.
As successive books appeared, I began to recognize more and more
clearly another phase of an author's experience. A writer
gradually forms a constituency, certain qualities in his book
appealing to certain classes of minds. In my own case, I do not
mean classes of people looked at from the social point of view. A
writer who takes any hold on popular attention inevitably learns
the character of his constituency. He appeals, and minds and
temperaments in sympathy respond. Those he cannot touch go on
their way indifferently; those he offends may often strike back.
This is the natural result of any strong assertion of
individuality. Certainly, if I had my choice, I would rather write
a book interesting to the young and to the common people, whom
Lincoln said "God must love, since He made so many of them.


Pages:
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44