Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute - Breezes Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 4 text:

LITTLE HINTS ON STORY WRITING By ROBERT WATSON, Winnipeg Author of ‘‘My Brave and Gallant Gentleman,” ‘‘Gordon of the Lost Lagoon,” ‘‘Me—and Peter,” ‘‘Canada’s Fur Bearers.” etc., etc. Almost every girl and boy at some time or other has an ambition to become an author. Not every one of us becomes what he or she would like to be, but to have a desire is the first step in the right direc¬ tion. Now, a desire will never amount to anything unless there is the will to work behind it. Desire, plus determination and work, will accomplish anything. Coupled with this will to work must be a faith in our ability to do what we have set out to do. Even after many failures, we must refuse to harbour the thought of failure; while, if we keep ourselves buoyed up with thoughts of success, we are planting our feet firmly on the road to the success we hope for. One famous poet said,“Thoughts are living things.” Often our thoughts have more force upon ourselves, and even upon others, than have spoken or written words. If we would be an author, we must make an early and a courageous start: not in writing stories that the magazines will publish, but in preparing ourselves for the day when we will be able to do so, for it needs more than a piece of paper, an inkwell and a pen to make an author. But the thing is to make a start. The famous poet Goethe once said, “Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute; What you can do, or think you can, begin it.” And Montrose said something to the same point, “He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small, Who dares not put it to the touch To win or lose it all.” Sir John Lubbock tells us that all succeed in life who deserve, though not perhaps as they had hoped; that an honourable defeat is better than a mean victory, and no one is really the worse for being beaten unless he loses heart. We must never lose heart. Most well-known authors have begun their literary careers by writing simple verses even in their juvenile years. To try to put our thoughts into nicely measured rhyme is splendid literary exercise, and it is wonderful how proficient one becomes at it after a while. Versifying teaches us how to express our thoughts in few words and in neat fashion. It teaches the beauty of selection of words and phrases, and it teaches us balance and ryhthm which are so necessary to fine writing, poetry or prose—for it is a great mistake to imagine that all poetry is in rhyme. Much of Robert Louis Stevenson’s prose is the sweetest of poetry; so, also, is Henry Van Dyke’s. To be successful as an author generally means hard, heart-breaking work, and it is impossible to instruct anyone how to become an author unless the knack of it is born in that person. All that one can do is to inform the beginner how to improve his art.

Page 3 text:

Cbitortal FINAL ISSUE The editorial staff of the Breezes has endeavoured to make this, the final publication of the year 1927, a paper which will meet with the approval of the whole student body. The staff wishes to thank the representatives of the various rooms, and also those who contributed special articles, for their kind co-operation. GRADUATION Just now, we are chiefly concerned with the most significant event of the school year—graduation. To some this day will mark but the passing of another milestone in their scholastic journey, while to others it will mean the termination of their school career and the beginning of their education in the “University of Life.” We have had just cause to be proud of former graduates, who have distinguished themselves in many different walks of life, and we feel sure that the students graduating in 1927 will uphold the honour equally well. FAREWELL TO GRADUATES I wish that I had the ability to convey in a satisfactory manner, and very briefly, my appreciation of the work of the Staff and students of our school during the academic yealr now drawing to a close. It appears to me that earnest study has asserted its claim to first place in the interests of the great majority and that a high standard of cofl- duct has been set. After all, serious study and good conduct should be the first purpose of every student. There ate other valuable phases of school life, but acquisition of the power to think clearly and act wisely must be the primary aim. I also hope and believe that the students have learned that the most important product of education is not that part which may become financially profitable to them or may enhance their bodily well-being or comfort. That part merely provides the sub-Stratum of security and leisure upon which to build the much more important structure of ethical and spiritual develop¬ ment. Our graduates should take care that, in the busy life of keen competition, they never lose sight of these more important ultimate aims. My sincere wish for those who may leave the school this year is that their work in Science, Art, Literature, Music, Public Speaking, Physical Training, etc., may send them forth from our halls with lofty ideals and noble purposes, lovers of fair play and the square deal, ready to rally behind the standard of truth and honour. It is not enough to know, it is more necessary to feel finely, righteously, hu¬ manely. “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honour¬ able, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, what¬ soever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise,” continue to “think on these things,” and “all other things shall be added unto you.” A. C. CAMPBELL. l

Page 5 text:

We must never put off our writing or studies by saying, “Oh, I haven’t the time for this extra work.” Samuel Smiles once said, “Those who have the most to do, and are willing to work, will find the most time.” And that famous person, Goethe, wrote, “It is better to be engaged in the most insignificant occupation in the world rather than to look upon half an hour as being of no importance.” Many famous authors have had very trying experiences in getting their work recognised, and often have been years and years before they got anything in print. No one would have Conan Doyle’s first book, “Micah Clark,” and for ten years he almost starved on his literary earnings, but he became famous finally. John Milton got only five pounds, or about twenty-five dollars, for the world-famous classic, “Paradise Lost.” But a real author or poet goes on writing and im¬ proving his art, even if he gets nothing in monetary gain for his efforts. Here is some practical advice to the aspiring author: Don’t start in to write a story unless you have a story to write. That doesn’t mean you must have every turn and incident in your mind before you begin, but you must know what you are aiming for. Do not waste your energies by jumping from one unfinished piece of work to another. Always complete what you start, even if you have to burn it afterwards. Practice spelling diligently. There is more good sound advice in the common school grammar on the subject of how to become an author than in any other book that can be named. Read the dictionary diligently. This increases your knowledge of words. Practice writing in the style of the acknowledged best writers and soon you will develop a style all of your own. Read only the books of good writers and shun trashy stories as you would shun a plague. Learn to express yourself naturally. Never use a three or four-syllabled word if two or even three words of one syllable will express better what you wish to say. Remember, when writing, that unless you please your readers with what you write you can never expect to go very far with them. Draw on your own experiences in life as much as possible for your subject-matter, for that is the source of all true inspiration, the root basis of all true literature. “Words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” To be a great writer, you must first of all have a great heart, full of human sympathy for your fellow beings, full of love and kindness and the love of right. It is qualities such as these that made Robert Burns, Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Longfellow and many others famous as writers. Remember that it is only what you put into your writing that will ever come out of it again. That is why your heart must be in it and why your heart must be right, and why you must be able to sound all the chords of human emotions. 3