Dear Mr. Ebert....

All kinds of tributes to film critic Roger Ebert, who died today after a long bout with cancer, but one common theme is how he encouraged young writers interested in film criticism. Here, he responds to Dana Stevens, a preteen in Texas who wanted to know what it took. Today she is Slate's movie critic. She writes: "Ebert's prompt and kind answer, typed on Chicago Sun-Times stationery using a typewriter with a wonky T key, took my query more seriously than it deserved, suggesting colleges with strong film programs I might consider, advising me to 'see all the good movies you can,' and most of all encouraging me to "write-write-write for anyplace that will print your stuff." Nice.