Louisa May Alcott Was All About the Benjamins

The 'Little Women' author's advice to an aspiring writer reveals some brutal truths about what it takes to survive as an artist

On irregular Monday mornings (PST), 5AM StoryTalk will share “educational resources” to help you in your creative journey. From curated screenplay collections, to curated film compilations you can watch for free, to advice and other wisdom I’ve collected over my years pursuing the arts — and much more. This is one of them.

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Louisa May Alcott is considered one of the greatest authors of the 19th century today, but, as it turns out, she didn’t think very highly of her own work after she found success in writing Little Women (1868/69). She had, it might be said, different aspirations for herself as an artist than the reality she came to accept as a means of providing for her family — a pragmatic approach she would share with young authors who wrote to her for advice. Below you’ll find one such letter, from Christmas Day 1878, which I believe challenges the commonly held belief that writing for the market generally produces only substandard work. This is one of those axioms that is both true and entirely bullshit at the same time since brilliance tends to out itself even when someone is “selling out”. Artist is a profession, I must remind you, not just a calling. Paying your bills, caring for your family, finding any kind of joy while doing this is not something to turn your nose up at - as Alcott makes clear.

What do you make of her advice?

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My Dear Miss Churchill,

I can only say to you as I do to the many young writers who ask for advice—There is no easy road to successful authorship; it has to be earned by long & patient labor, many disappointments, uncertainties & trials. Success is often a lucky accident, coming to those who may not deserve it, while others who do have to wait & hope till they have earned it. This is the best sort & the most enduring.

I worked for twenty years poorly paid, little known, & quite without any ambition but to eke out a living, as I chose to support myself & began to do it at sixteen. This long drill was of use, & when I wrote Hospital Sketches by the beds of my soldier boys in the shape of letters home I had no idea that I was taking the first step toward what is called fame. It nearly cost my life but I discovered the secret of winning the ear & touching the heart of the public by simply telling the comic & pathetic incidents of life.

Little Women was written when I was ill, & to prove that I could not write books for girls. The publisher thought it flat, so did I, & neither hoped much for or from it. We found out our mistake, & since then, though I do not enjoy writing “moral tales” for the young, I do it because it pays well.

But the success I value most was making my dear mother happy in her last years & taking care of my family. The rest soon grows wearisome & seems very poor beside the comfort of being an earthly Providence to those we love.

I hope you will win this joy at least, & think you will, for you seem to have got on well so far, & the stories are better than many sent me. I like the short one best. Lively tales of home-life or children go well, & the Youth’s Companion is a good paying paper. I do not like Loring as he is neither honest nor polite. I have had dealings with him & know. Try Roberts Brothers 299 Washington St. They are very kind & just & if the book suits will give it a fair chance. With best wishes for a prosperous & happy New Year I am your friend

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