「序引」、「尺牘」兩文類，是袁中道（小修）小品中，最佳之文論載體，經探索研究後，共得：「濬發性靈」、「以意役法」、「不廢格套」、「尚韻求趣」、「貴重蘊藉」、「繪事後素」、「博覽篤學」、「窮則易工」等八項；其於本身創作中，文論主張均得到實踐印證，並欲藉茲以躋「立言」之不朽境界。

Two kinds of essay, prefaces and letters, embody Yuan Xiaoxiu's theories on literature. In this regard, we have found eight principles as a result of our research, which are as follows: "Respect of the natural spirit," "Use of meaning to control the method," "Not giving up on the format," "Valuing rhyme to achieve an amusing effect," "Emphasis on implied meaning," "Maintaining a plain style," "Reading extensively for all kinds of knowledge," and "Going extreme in technique." All his opinions on writing have been realized and proven in his own literary works.