'Writing's only rule'

 

“Write what you like; there is no otherrule.” – O. Henry
Knownby his pen name, William Sydney Porter is arguably America’s greatest-ever short storywriter.  Known for wit, wordplay,warm characterization and surprise endings, O. Henry’s works set the standard for generations of writers.  Today, the O. Henry Award is aprestigious annual prize given for "exceptional" short stories published in American or Canadian periodicals.
Bornin North Carolina on this date in 1862, Porter grew up in Texas and was onthe road to success in a number of fields – trained in banking and pharmacywhile simultaneously building a reputation as a writer for newspapers and magazines – when hegot into trouble for alleged embezzlement from a bank at which he had beenworking.
Whilethe charges were never proven, he nonetheless was arrested and in a panic,jumped bail and fled the country, living for a time in Central America where he beganwriting short stories and coined the term “Banana Republic.”   Drawn back to America when his wifedeveloped a fatal illness, he was arrested and sentenced to 5 years inprison.  While there he wrote manysuccessful stories, published under various names to hide his identity.  One of those pen names was O. Henry.
Releasedearly for good behavior, he began the most prolific part of his career,publishing dozens of best-selling stories and story collections and becomingone of America’s most well-known and beloved writers.  Among his most famous stories are The Gift of the Magi; The Last Leaf; TheRansom of Red Chief (where a kidnap victim is so horrible that the kidnappersend up paying his family to take him back); Caballero’sWay (introducing the world to the character The Cisco Kid); and Cabbages and Kings (where “Banana Republic” was introduced).
Hedied young (age 47) from liver disease but said he loved every minute of his life andwork and coming up with another phrase that often is quoted in this and similar forms.  “When one loves one's art," he said, "no serviceseems too hard.”