The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

December

Willa Cather (1873–1947)

The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing—desire.

—Willa Cather

Source: Wikimedia

Wilella “Willa” Cather was born in Back Creek Valley, Virginia, in 1873. Her parents were well established in the community, but the American Civil War had greatly affected life in Virginia. And so in 1883, the family moved to Nebraska.

They initially settled in the country, but after their first year relocated to the town of Red Cloud. Here, a young Cather was introduced to art, culture, and immigrants from all around the world.

Upon graduating high school, Cather attended the University of Nebraska. She originally planned to study medicine but soon became enamored with writing. She served as editor for the school newspaper and yearbook, and she wrote for two local papers: the Lincoln Courier and the Nebraska State Journal.

Her experience in journalism took her to Pittsburgh following graduation, where she became the editor of Home Monthly and wrote for various publications. Her writing caught the eye of S. S. McClure, one of the most famous editors of the day. He published a number of her pieces before eventually inviting her to join his magazine in 1906.

She moved to New York and became managing editor of McClure's, also ghostwriting pieces during her tenure there. While a formative experience, it also monopolized ...