Canons

24234 — New Haven and Chocorua N. H. n.d. 4 pages in all. 1 vols. 4to. To Wesley Hartley a long-time educator and teacher formerly of the American Council on Education. Folded else in fine condition. 4 pages in all. 1 vols. 4to. ¶Responding to a question about the importance of his high school education and asking whether the college experience was necessary in creative writing. Cannon writes "I can't imagine what my life would have been had I not gone through high school. I would not then have gone on to college nor graduate school.I would have been a wholly different person." Of college he notes that while there have been great writers who did not attend college he felt that "For the genius it is necessary only that he e a genius. But for the rest of us who would write three things are necessary. First the would-be writer must find a way to eat. Next he has to learn to write. And then he has to have something to write about." In the second Cannon writes that while college may improve knowledge and facility in the use of the language "to write even accetpably one must have something to write about. I don't mean a message. I mean something to offer that will make the customer think they're getting their money's worth. I doubt that will be acquired in college. " Cannon is best known for his "Look to the Mountain" his novel of pioneering life in colonial America set in Chocorua the place of his summer residence. "the would-be writer must find a way to eat". <br/><br/> unknown