Advice for Young Writers, by Charles Baudelaire. A selection

I was given these Tips for young writers, de Charles Baudelaire, many years ago. The author was 25 when he posted them on L'Esprit Public. It was in April 1846, and although it is evident that his times were not those of now, neither has an author with a personality as particular and overwhelming as him been repeated. Rereading them recently, I wanted to choose some bits of them. There they go.

Tips for young writers

Baudelaire revolutionized french poetry putting the focus —on the moral issue in particular— on the fact that perhaps the best was not always, nor necessarily, the good. That led him to inhabit the universe of the cursed authors which he shared with other names such as Poe.

Tips for young writers The fame of caustic already earned him and in them he touched on fame, the salary they should receive or even relationships with women. And it is also ahead of its time or glimpses some elements that will be developed later in literature such as the professionalization of the author not only in it, but also in the press, film or television scripts, etc. He also sees that consumer product of literature rather than art. Before enumerating them, he says: "The aforementioned precepts therefore have no other claim than that of a vade mecum, nor any other use than that of puerile and honest civility."

In short texts for each title of the topic it deals with, the phrases as chosen below:

Of luck and bad luck in the beginning

  • Every beginning always has its precedents and that is the effect of twenty other beginnings that are unknown to us.
  • A success is, in arithmetic or geometric proportion, the product of the strength of the writer, the result of previous successes, often invisible to the naked eye. There is a slow aggregation of molecular hits; but miraculous and spontaneous generations, never.

The salaries

  • Thus literature, which is the most invaluable matter, is above all a stuffing of columns; and the literary architect, whose name alone has no chance of bringing any profit, must sell at any price.
  • It is a reasonable man who thinks: "I think this is worth so much, because I have talent: but if it is necessary to make concessions, I will make them, to have the honor of being among yours."

of the thrashing

  • The beating should only be practiced against those in favor of error.

Of the methods of composition

  • Nowadays it is forced to produce a lot; Going fast is essential.
  • To write fast it is necessary to have thought a lot, to carry with a theme, on the walk, in the bathroom, in the restaurant and almost at the house of the beloved.
  • In literature I am not in favor of crossing out, it blurs the mirror of thought.

From daily work and inspiration

  • Rapture is not the brother of inspiration: we have broken that adulterous kinship.
  • A substantial but regular diet is the only thing necessary for fruitful writers. Inspiration is definitely the sister of daily work.
  • Inspiration happens, like hunger, like digestion, like sleep.
  • If you want to live in a stubborn contemplation of future works, daily work will offer inspiration.

of poetry

  • As for those who give themselves or have successfully given themselves to poetry, I recommend that they never abandon it. Poetry is one of the arts that contributes the most, but it is a kind of investment where interests are reached late, which in return are enormous.
  • The art that satisfies the most pressing need will always be the most honored.

of the lovers

  • If I want to observe the law of contrasts, which governs the moral order and the physical order, I am obliged to rank in their classes the women who are dangerous to people of letters: the honest woman, the know-it-all, and the actress.
  • Because all true writers have horror of literature at certain moments, I do not admit in them free and proud souls, tired spirits, who always need to rest on the seventh day.

Source: Advice for young writers, Charles Baudelaire. Celeste Editions. 2000.


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