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TIME IS TRUE TEST FOR WRITER’S ABILITY

Margaret Penny, Staff Writer, The Standard Freeholder

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*First appeared in Standard-Freeholder

(Canada), October 19, 1975.

Local writer and publisher, Stephen Gill says an established writer should try to write every day. If a writer waits until he or she is in the mood then other things may interfere and the thought will not get down on paper.

Mr. Gill was born in India in the area which is now Pakistan, and came to Canada in 1967. He was educated at Agra University, India, University of Ottawa and Oxford University in London, England. He is the author of several books, including Reflections, Wounds, Discovery of Bangladesh, Life's Vagaries. His book English Grammar and Composition for Beginners was written primarily for young Ethiopian students learning English. Mr. Gill says he thinks this book would he very helpful for people immigrating to Canada or for anyone wishing to learn English as a second language.

He combined teaching and writing until five years ago, when he became a full-time writer. Three years ago he became a book-publisher. Vesta Publications is located in Cornwall and has two full-time and two part time helpers. It publishes books from all areas but thinks local writers should be given publishing preference.

Mr. Gill said writers should type and double- space copy. The subject matter should be well organized and a thumbnail summary of the writer should be included. He advised writers to send a self-addressed stamped envelope with each manuscript they submit to a publisher. "Should a book publisher be in business for the chief purpose of making money then the firm would publish books on pornography or violence," he said. His firm, however, was interested in bringing to the people books that have merit aud which will contribute something to society.

Mr. Gill says that he enjoys writing both prose and poetry. Some subject matter could he better expressed one way than the other. His poetry reflects a feeling for commonplace feelings of joy and sadness encountered in everyday life. "The best test of writing is time-- if it is truly great, it survives centuries. Many modern day writers have not studied the master writers such as Shakespeare, Mi1ton or Keats. Some writers don't take advantage of reading the better works," he said.

He considers some of the better modern Canadian writers to be Margaret Atwood, Morley Callaghan, Hugh MacLennan, Margaret Lawrence, A. L. Purdy but "whether they will he remembered for their writing-- time will tell," he said.

*Margaret Penny was a staff writer with the daily Standard Freeholder in Canada.