At college, Fiske often wrote short stories and sketches for magazines and soon became an editorial writer and dramatic critic for the daily newspaper the "Jersey City Argus". He later served in a similar capacity for the "New York Star," which set the stage in 1879 for what would turn out to be a 32-year affiliation with the popular trade magazine the "New York Dramatic Mirror". After achieving success as a contributor to the "Dramatic Mirror", Fiske decided to leave college after his freshman year with hopes of becoming a journalist. At his behest, Fiske's father bought an interest in the "Dramatic Mirror", and made his son (then eighteen) the editor. In 1883 Fiske assumed a controlling interest in the "Mirror" and by 1888 was sole owner of the Mirror Newspaper Company.