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No, this isn’t about MY first Literary Venture.  If you want to see that, check out my review of Trampolines, this website.  This is about Mark Twain’s description of his own first literary venture.

Mark Twain, now there’s an underrated writer for you.  I know, you’re saying, “Christine, Mark Twain is one of the most acclaimed writers in history.  How can you say he’s underrated?”  He may be one of the most acclaimed writers in history, but he’s due a little MORE acclaim as far as I’m concerned.

If  Mark Twain had a good idea, he got off of his behind and wrote it down and shared it. 

One of his first experiences as a writer came when he was allowed to be in charge of his brother’s newspaper while the brother was out of town.  Mark Twain was about fourteen, and decided to increase interest in the paper by publishing various gossipy articles which stretched the truth and/or hit too closely on the truth.  When the brother returned, the town was outraged, and the newspaper subscriptions had increased by about thirty-three subscribers .  There was no turning back for Samuel Clemens as a pen name user and a writer.  You can read Twain’s own account of his first publications here:  http://www.farid-hajji.net/books/en/Twain_Mark/sk-chap12.html and here: http://www.twainquotes.com/Galaxy/187104a.html, and probably on other sites on the web.  See:  http://www.hannibal.net/twain/works/  and http://www.mtwain.com/  for other works.  You don’t even have to go to the library or bookstore these days.