Charlotte Bronte Manuscript Sold for $1.1 Million

There were mixed feelings when the news broke just before Christmas that a small manuscript by the 19^th century novelist Charlotte Bronte sold for just over $1.1 million.

A French museum won the battle for the prize, to the despair of the Bronte Museum in England.

The sale was reported as “an auction record for a manuscript by the Bronte sisters” selling at twice the estimated sale price according to Sotherby’s.

For those who missed this in the news, the book was a hand written booklet no more in size than 1.5 X 2.5 inches with 4000 words over 19 pages.  It is believed that Bronte (more famously known for her 19th century classic “Jane Eyre” ) wrote the booklet when she was 14.

But for me, the reporting of this demonstrated one thing.  People love the written word, and are prepared to pay large sums for the paper version. 

Remember that when all those around you try to tell you that the computer has taken over and the printed word is dead.  This little treasure proves that they don’t know the half of it!

Good Writers Avoid Clichés

In my previous blogs on characterization, I have covered the issue of clichés.  Let me tell you, if there is any single offence that editors hate above all others, it is writers who use clichés.

Here are a couple of examples:

"Don't look now, but we've got company."

"It was as though I had known him all my life."

Other clichés occur in descriptions or images, such as these two:

‘The clouds were fluffy like bits of cotton wool.'

'Mr Kingsley had a heart of stone.'

The same is true of metaphors. Do not say things like: "John's father was a tower of strength",  It makes the educated reader wince.  More importantly, it makes editors wince.

If you submit work with clichés to a publisher, it will get rejected. Clichés truly are a sign of laziness and mark out the amateur.  They are a clear indication that you have written the very first thing that came into your head, with no thought or care.

For more tips just like this one, have a look at write-for-children