Grahame's work at the Bank left him time to pursue his literary interests. He had been jotting down his thoughts in prose and poetry in a bank ledger, but it was not until 1887 that he started to submit stories and essays to periodicals. His first published piece appeared in St James's Gazette in December 1888. He was then invited to become a regular contributor to the National Observer by its editor, the poet William Ernest Henley, who tried to persuade him to give up his position with the Bank and become a full-time writer. In 1893 he encouraged Grahame to send a collection of his short stories and essays to John Lane at The Bodley Head publishers. The collection was published with the title Pagan Papers and illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley and was well received by critics. Grahame was now in demand as a writer, and became a regular contributor to The Bodley Head periodical, The Yellow Book. In 1894, Grahame took out a lease on a house in the Kensington Crescent (now demolished) in Kensington, which he shared with another writer, Tom Greg, until the latter's marriage, and housekeeper Sarah Bath.
grahame's work at the bank left him time to pursue his literary interests he had been jotting down his thoughts in prose and poetry in a bank ledger but it was not until 1887 that he started to submit stories and essays to periodicals his first published piece appeared in st james's gazette in december 1888 he was then invited to become a regular contributor to the national observer by its editor the poet william ernest henley who tried to persuade him to give up his position with the bank and become a full-time writer in 1893 he encouraged grahame to send a collection of his short stories and essays to john lane at the bodley head publishers the collection was published with the title pagan papers and illustrations by aubrey beardsley and was well received by critics grahame was now in demand as a writer and became a regular contributor to the bodley head periodical the yellow book in 1894 grahame took out a lease on a house in the kensington crescent (now demolished) in kensington which he shared with another writer tom greg until the latter's marriage and housekeeper sarah bath