Who better?
Many business people faced with the task of writing for marketing purposes are quick to say:
Hey, I’m no Hemingway!
But really, who better than Hemingway to emulate? Rather than embracing the flowery prose of the literati, he chose to eschew obfuscation at every turn and write simply and clearly.
So let’s see what Ernest can teach us about effective writing.
1. Use short sentences.
Hemingway was famous for a terse minimalist style of writing that dispensed with flowery adjectives and got straight to the point. In short, Hemingway wrote with simple genius.
Perhaps his finest demonstration of short sentence prowess was when he was challenged to tell an entire story in only 6 words:
For sale: baby shoes, never used.
2. Use short first paragraphs.
See opening.
3. Use vigorous English.
Here’s David Garfinkel’s take on this one:
It’s muscular, forceful. Vigorous English comes from passion, focus and intention. It’s the difference between putting in a good effort and TRYING to move a boulder… and actually sweating, grunting, straining your muscles to the point of exhaustion… and MOVING the freaking thing!
4. Be positive, not negative.
Since Hemingway was not necessarily the cheeriest guy in the world, what does he mean by be positive? Basically, you should say what something is rather than what it isn’t.
This is what Michel Fortin calls using up words:
By stating what something isn’t can be counterproductive since it is still directing the mind, albeit in the opposite way. If I told you that dental work is painless for example, you’ll still focus on the word “pain” in “painless.”
• Instead of saying “inexpensive,” say “economical,”
• Instead of saying “this procedure is painless,” say “there’s little discomfort” or “it’s relatively comfortable,”
• And instead of saying “this software is error-free” or “foolproof,” say “this software is consistent” or “stable.”
5. Never have only 4 rules.
Actually, Hemingway did only have 4 rules for writing, and they were those he was given as a cub reporter at the Kansas City Star in 1917. But, as any blogger or copywriter knows, having only 4 rules will never do.
So, in order to have 5, I had to dig a little deeper to get the most important of Hemingway’s writing tips of all:
“I write one page of masterpiece to ninety one pages of shit,” Hemingway confided to F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1934. “I try to put the shit in the wastebasket.”
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117 comments... add one
#1 Ross Hill → 10.30.06 at 11:40 pm
Is a mac painless or stable? As the marketer would you prefer the windows users to think about the pain they are going through or is stable still a better choice?
#2 Yu → 10.31.06 at 12:07 am
This is really great. I see that this post is not apart of a series. I think it should be. I think you should do a series like “Wisdom from grandmasters” and add Stephen King, Hemingway etc. just like your tutorial series. (Ok, I admit, I’m an addict for series — just like comic books…)
Thanks for a great post! Happy Halloween.
#3 Business and Blogging » Blog Archive » Papa’s How To Write: No Bull → 10.31.06 at 2:27 am
[…] Brian Clark on Copyblogger has a great post well worth being added to any blogger’s resources folder: Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well. […]
#4 Matt Ambrose → 10.31.06 at 5:05 am
I’m sure Stephen King would have plenty to say about ending your blog posts - cliffhangers every time and not revealing your conclusion until 500 posts later!
#5 Ray Dotson → 10.31.06 at 6:08 am
Great post, Brian. I have to admit Hemingway is one of my heroes of writing and just for the reasons stated above: His (mostly) short and direct style cuts to the core of things.
I agree with Yu: This is a topic well worth turning into a series. Does the Aristotle post count, though?
#6 Hemingway on Writing for the Web at FreshBlogger → 10.31.06 at 6:16 am
[…] Brian at CopyBlogger has posted a great article called Ernest Hemingway’s Top Five Tips for Writing Well. The emphasis is on being short and to the point in your writing as Hemingway mostly was. This type of style doesn’t work for everyone, but I think it’s particularly suited to writing for the web. […]
#7 Brian → 10.31.06 at 6:25 am Copyblogger
Heh, I guess I do have a bit of a “Masters” series going, although I haven’t thought of it that way formally.
#8 Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well → 10.31.06 at 9:10 am
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well […]
#9 5 writing tips that don’t suck » LifeClever ;-) → 10.31.06 at 12:27 pm
[…] Here are his recent Hemingway-inspired tips: […]
#10 Hashim → 10.31.06 at 1:56 pm
Great post. Coetze, who’s writing is similiar to Hemingway, is one of my favortites, for his ability to write terse, powerful prose.
#11 Mark Goodyear → 10.31.06 at 2:56 pm
Great post. I love Hemingway. It’s important to remember what he wasn’t good at too. His novels, um, suck. They are melodramatic and simplistic.
His short stories and novellas on the other hand are absolutely brilliant.
Brian, I’m assuming you read the Wired collection of 6 word stories?
#12 Brian → 10.31.06 at 3:27 pm Copyblogger
Mark, I didn’t… got a link?
I don’t think anyone will ever beat Hemingway on that one though, at least in my book (as a father).
#13 Roberta Rosenberg → 10.31.06 at 3:32 pm
I remember reading an article comparing the reading level by grade of various newspapers, authors, etc. The NY Times was noted as a 10th grade reading level. NY Daily News rated a 7th grade-level read.
Hemingway came in at between 3rd and 5th grade, most notably for his shorter, less complex sentences.
#14 Brian → 10.31.06 at 3:43 pm Copyblogger
He would have made a good copywriter, huh Roberta?
#15 Mark Goodyear → 10.31.06 at 3:50 pm
Wired posted an enormous list of them here.
And since you asked, I have to point this out: Inspired by your post on fascinating bullet points, I wrote about six word stories last week as a way to improve bulleted lists.
(Granted, my post is more for creative writers.)
But I’m not competitive or anything. : )
#16 Roberta Rosenberg → 10.31.06 at 8:37 pm
Oh Brian, I think anyone can be a pretty decent copywriter when they have a good coach, great resources, true passion for the product and genuine respect for the prospect…
… all while writing meaningfully and persuasively at the 3rd grade level. So maybe not Fitzgerald, but definitely Hemingway :=)
#17 Atlanta 575 RealEstate → 10.31.06 at 9:49 pm
Great tips that are useful and not shitty!
#18 4 conseils pour mieux écrire un article at french 2.0 → 11.01.06 at 2:31 am
[…] Copyblogger est l’une des ressources les plus pertinentes sur Internet aujourd’hui pour apprendre à mieux bloguer. Le dernier post de Brian traite de la façon d’écrire un article en se basant sur les méthodes d’écriture utilisées par Hemingway : […]
#19 Hummerbie → 11.01.06 at 4:12 am
Short story for You:
Copyblogger advice: SEO Copywriting, First place reached.
Thank you…..
#20 Yu → 11.01.06 at 6:24 am
Roberta’s comment made me think. Maybe after we write the copy we should have it run through those tests that tells you which level it is. It can act as check. But if you’re already following the ‘copywriting’ rules then it should come up in a lower level.
It’s kinda funny because people usually aim for higher level writing and in copywriting it’s reverse logic…
#21 Mark Goodyear → 11.01.06 at 10:03 am
Roberta and Yu’s comments about reading level reminded me of my teaching days. A reading specialist helped me explain reading level guidelines to the writers for a site I work on. (We were getting too much esoteric academic work.)
Figuring out a piece’s reading level can be a little trickier than I realized, but Fry’s readability graph simplifies the process. His graph looks at the # of words per sentence and the # of syllables per word.
#22 Nick Wright → 11.01.06 at 12:11 pm
Be wary of using the word “but” in your copywriting.
Whenever you use the word “but”, everything you say before it is perceived to be a lie.
Example: I really like you Nick, but….
Once she said “but”… I knew I was getting dumped.
Just some food for thought.
Nick
#23 Brian → 11.01.06 at 12:21 pm Copyblogger
Yes Nick, I’ve read Michel Fortin’s advice on that (which is contained in the post I link to above), but it’s too simplistically asserted to make me avoid using “but” in many cases.
Now, look at the sentence I just wote. Does my use of the word “but” negate the fact that I knew and had read the source of your advice? No, it reinforces the fact that I HAD read it and that the advice is nowhere near universally applicable.
In fact, the use of the word “but” is a powerful rhetorical tool for shooting down specious arguments. :)
#24 Nick Wright → 11.01.06 at 12:35 pm
True.
I guess you just need to understand the context you’re using it in.
Good point about using the word “but” in shooting down specious arguments.
I should clarify, I don’t follow the rule to eliminate “but” from everything I write.
I do try to make sure it works in whatever I’m writing though.
I shouldn’t have used the word “Everything” in my statement above of “everything you say…” - that was a pretty bold statement, and you quickly proved it wrong.
My bad.
Nick
#25 FunkWadCuintWhich » Writing with Bows and Ribbons → 11.01.06 at 12:57 pm
[…] But the “book by the cover” isn’t what the App-Be-Gone software got me thinking about. It’s words themselves. Some writing just oozes glitz and beautiful wrapping. Here’s an example I came across the other day via the always informative Copyblogger. Six words, For sale: baby shoes, never used. […]
#26 » What makes a good blog post? - Web Publishing Blog → 11.01.06 at 2:34 pm
[…] 8. Back away from over-used & tired out blogging trends — you don’t want to blend in. A few examples: numbered or bulleted lists, digg-baiting irrelevent content, and interviewing important people in your industry. Just kidding. If your blog has no readers it probably is because you have not done one of these things. […]
#27 Alan Hylands » Some Of Ernest Hemingway’s Top Tips for Writing Well → 11.02.06 at 4:13 am
[…] Great post on Brian Clark’s Copyblogger about Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips For Writing Well. […]
#28 Want to Sell Better? Write Everyday! « Lead Management Newsline → 11.02.06 at 7:18 am
[…] So, start writing, everyday. Here is a great place to start. […]
#29 todd → 11.02.06 at 12:52 pm
I found it quite humorous that you used Michael’s example of “positive” language: “discomfort” as a positive replacement for “painless” - do as a say, not as I do! :)
Otherwise, a very useful post.
Thanks
#30 Keith → 11.02.06 at 12:55 pm
I got here through an unreproduceable series of clicks that started at reallivepreacher.com, so it’s likely I’ll never find my way back.
The one thing I think you left out, that business writers simply cannot be taught to emulate, is that Hemingway always had something to say.
#31 Brian → 11.02.06 at 1:05 pm Copyblogger
That is key, isn’t it Keith? :)
Bu I don’t know that a business writer “cannot be taught” to know what to say, though. It’s usually just a matter of changing someone’s perspective.
And a lot of people *do* know what to say, but think they have to write a bunch of complicated prose. Hemingway proves that when you have something to say, it’s best to just say it as clearly as possible.
#32 Keith → 11.02.06 at 2:37 pm
Wow, I found my way back. Amazing!
Yes, true, but.
Having something to say really starts with having a clear thought. You’re never going to boil the words down to the bone if you don’t know what the thought is.
That’s the biggest problem I’ve seen in business writing. It’s not the writing. Writing comes second. It’s the thinking.
#33 Friday Night Link-o-rama » Small Business SEM → 11.03.06 at 11:32 pm
[…] Here are a couple good bits on writing: First, copyblogger shares Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well, and Terry at SuperAff reminds us of the need to stress benefits over attributes. There’s even a downloadable worksheet to help you do that in your own writing - nice! […]
#34 Ron Amos → 11.04.06 at 12:24 pm
But Mickey Spillane was a better writer,
he didn’t get bogged down trying to impress other intellectuals, must be why he isn’t well known or appreciated today.
#35 Linky na víkend 33 na depi.sk - IT & Life Weblog → 11.04.06 at 4:33 pm
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well – 5 tipov Ernesta Hemingwaya pre dobré písanie […]
#36 The Daily Square - If I Had A Hammer Edition | Booksquare → 11.04.06 at 5:00 pm
[…] Ernest Hemingway?s Top 5 Tips for Writing WellOddly, "run with the bulls" is not on the list. […]
#37 Marty → 11.07.06 at 4:00 pm
I agree with rule number 4. People like possitive news and read…
#38 everysandwich → 11.22.06 at 9:57 am
Dental work is fun! I’m with Keith, by the way on writing as the expression of thinking. It’s a great way to think yourself to the point. But you have to be willing to rewrite, edit and polish to give readers the quickest and most persuasive route, a process which feels much like dental work, come to think of it.
#39 RedMonk is Brought To You By… at tecosystems → 12.03.06 at 10:21 pm
[…] What triggered the thought process itself, I believe, were the mutiple post-announcement requests for a Microsoft/Novell Q&A which I hope I have delivered on (although I know there are aspects I have yet to address, like the OIN). Candidly, it’s very gratifying to find that these pieces are finding an interested audience, not just because they tend to be overly long (I’ve clearly learned nothing from one of my favorite authors), but because the format that was once considered a bit wonky seems to be picking up fans here and there. […]
#40 Blogatelier / Artikelserie “Schreibstil”: Einleitung (#1) → 12.08.06 at 6:09 am
[…] Nils hat mich auf eine englischsprachige Quelle (Copyblogger) rund ums Thema “Schreiben” aufmerksam gemacht. Dort fand ich einen Beitrag über die Ansichten Hemingways. […]
#41 Blogatelier / 2006 / Dezember / 08 → 12.08.06 at 1:29 pm
[…] Nils hat mich auf eine englischsprachige Quelle (Copyblogger) rund ums Thema “Schreiben” aufmerksam gemacht. Dort fand ich einen Beitrag über die Ansichten Hemingways. […]
#42 Kalimat Hanya dengan 6 Kata « HelgeDuelbeK → 12.11.06 at 2:45 am
[…] Menggunakan kalimat pendek adalah tips dalam menulis di blog juga. Seperti yang dibahas di Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well itu. Jadi jika anda punya kebiasaan seperti saya, coba usahakan menghapus kata tak penting pada kalimat yg di buat. Yah seperti yg sedang saya lakukan ini. Dan selalu berusahalah untuk itu, maka ini menjadi kebiasaan yang baik. Kadang saya untuk menulis to the point itu sulit. Kebiasaan ini rupanya diperlukan waktu untuk mencapainya. […]
#43 Raoul Benoit → 12.14.06 at 8:41 am
While I enjoyed this feature, I felt like I was left dangling. What were the other four rules Hemmingway received as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star?
#44 Brian → 12.14.06 at 8:58 am Copyblogger
The rules from the KCS were 1-4 in the list.
#45 Business Communication Resources » Ernest Hemingway’s Top Five Tips for Writing Well → 12.17.06 at 1:32 am
[…] So let’s see what Ernest can teach us about effective writing." More . . . […]
#46 The Best of Copyblogger (According to Time Magazine’s Person of the Year) | Copyblogger → 12.21.06 at 11:30 pm
[…] Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King and Aristotle received the attention they rightly deserve, and Plato and Prince did OK as well. Owen Wilson received a luke-warm reception, and Cameron Diaz got what she had coming. […]
#47 Escrever bem faz diferença. « Isso, Aquilo e Todo Resto… → 12.23.06 at 2:03 pm
[…] Saiba mais em Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well. […]
#48 Write and Publish Smart » Through Shakespeare and Hemingway to Better Infowriting → 12.31.06 at 11:28 pm
[…] Tips 1 - 5 (thanks to Hemingway and Brian Clark at Copyblogger) […]
#49 J.R.’s Seeds For Wealth » Blog Archive » In 4 Hours - Boost Your Blog - Increase Traffic, Expertise, And Income → 01.11.07 at 5:35 pm
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well - Brian Clark - CopyBlogger […]
#50 Change your thoughts » Blog Archive » When your blog posts are shit! → 01.12.07 at 4:11 pm
[…] Read ‘Ernest Hemingway’s 5 tips’ from http://www.copyblogger.com […]
#51 » 8 things - short version Ohio Cleveland Akron Canton - Sanctuary Media Group - → 01.25.07 at 10:29 pm
[…] 7) Post your newsletter or articles on other sites around the net and link back to your site and newsletter subscriptions. 8) Write well, write offen and target a very specific niche. […]
#52 75 Resources That Will Help You Write Better Content · un/popular web culture → 02.13.07 at 4:41 am
[…] Ernest Hemingway Top 5 Tips For Writing Well […]
#53 Jag går här med min kropp och mitt namn » Blog Archive » Hemingwayöversättningsprosa → 02.18.07 at 7:50 am
[…] Trots detta finns Hemingwayöversättningar lätt med på min 30-saker-jag-gillar-lista, den dag jag blir färdig att skriva en sådan. Dom har ett slags ton, torr som fan, nykter, utan åthävor och ganska exakt, nästan bara rak ordföljd. Jag kunde kanske kalla det Hemingwayöversättningsprosa, och det är ett stilideal jag hyllar helt utan reservationer. I det avseendet är dom bra allihop, Edlund, Thorsten Jonsson, Olov Jonasson. Och om någon jävel kommer dragandes med ett begrepp som isbergsteknik så lovar jag att, utan åthävor, be vederbörande hålla käften. […]
#54 Tips for blog writing at Alternative and Internet Marketing - hosted by L2 → 02.28.07 at 2:03 pm
[…] Check out Brian Clark’s Copyblogger, a collection of tips for blog writing. Below are some of his Hemingway-inspired tips: […]
#55 Pokerati | Texas hold’em blog » Blog Archive » Instapoker (professional poker blogger edition) → 03.05.07 at 6:22 pm
[…] Makes me think ERNEST HEMINGWAY meets ANDY GLAZER. Can only wonder what he mighta produced had he stuck around long enough to start a blog. […]
#56 imaginality » Writing tips over at Copyblogger → 03.08.07 at 11:03 am
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s top 5 tips for writing well. […]
#57 Thomas Hamburger Jnr → 03.31.07 at 1:51 pm
I think I am falling in love with your blog!
I’ve bookmarked this post and I’m sure it’s one I’ll be returning to as I progress with the Harry McFry story.
Many thanks!
Thomas Hamburger Jnr
#58 Jooni → 04.09.07 at 11:01 pm
Sentimental and nostalgic. Great.B
#59 wentylacja → 04.21.07 at 3:20 pm
This is really great. I see that this post is not apart of a series.
#60 Think New Orleans » Leave the Mumbo-Jumbo ICF, CHAT Needs Clean Copy → 05.17.07 at 1:59 am
[…] Earnest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well – We can’t all be Hemingway, but it doesn’t hurt to try. […]
#61 Golden Rules of Linkbaiting | Smashing Magazine → 05.28.07 at 7:46 am
[…] Write efficiently. Use short sentences. Use short first paragraphs. Use vigorous English. Be positive, not negative. Never have only 4 rules.” [Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips] […]
#62 Writing with Bows and Ribbons | The Barley Hut → 05.30.07 at 8:35 am
[…] beautiful wrapping. Here’s an example I came across the other day via the always informative Copyblogger. Six words, For sale: baby shoes, never […]
#63 Six Ways to Instantly Find the Right Words | Copyblogger → 06.08.07 at 8:11 am
[…] some people seem to be able to channel Hemingway and write perfect prose on demand, the rest of us mere mortals have to work within the limitations […]
#64 BlogRoll Friday - Copyblogger → 06.15.07 at 10:01 am
[…] of my favorite articles are Earnest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well, The 5 Immutable Laws of Persuasive Blogging and 10 Effective Ways To Get More Blog Subscribers. […]
#65 max st john → 07.26.07 at 7:23 am
Every copywriter (marketing especially) should live by Hemingway’s six word story. It’s a powerful example of how much information you can convey in a really short space.
’six-word story - lesson in brevity’ :-)
#66 7 Things You Need to Know About Writing Lists That Work | Copyblogger → 08.01.07 at 1:46 pm
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well - 65 Comments […]
#67 blogmunch → 08.02.07 at 8:15 pm
“For sale: baby shoes, never used.”
This is so subtle, yet invoke a whole lot of emotion within.
Great.
#68 Mike Holman → 08.04.07 at 12:53 am
“avoid ambiguity, adopt clarity”
#69 » As 5 dicas de Ernest Hemingway para escrever textos com efetividade - Efetividade.net → 08.04.07 at 4:19 pm
[…] Saiba mais em Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well. […]
#70 Jim McMullen → 08.05.07 at 8:25 am
I was able to read a lot of Hemingway when I was in high school. I think his writing helped me when I started writing as a sophmore. When I wrote my first book I really attributed my work load to Hemingway’s influence as well as other writers. I titled my first book Cry of the Panther: Quest of a Species. To my utter amazement it ended up as a New York Times besteseller. I still pinch myself. As an aspiring writer I went on and worked hard at my second book I called How To Awaken The Writer Within that I put on my website http://www.awakenthewriterwithin.com. (Is it okay to mention my website?) There is one of Hemingway’s rules that I really picked up on-Use Vigorous English. Thank you.
Jim McMullen
#71 Writing With Hemingway’s Rules → 08.10.07 at 5:19 pm
[…] Take a look. […]
#72 » Links for 12-08-2007 » Velcro City Tourist Board » Blog Archive → 08.11.07 at 10:23 pm
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#73 You Should Be Reading: 10 Great Posts from Copyblogger | Bloggerista.net → 08.16.07 at 2:13 pm
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#74 On Copywriting → 08.27.07 at 10:49 am
Inspiration, Negotiation, and Writing Well…
Here are three articles from my fellow bloggers that are well-worth reading. 1. Why Copywriting Shouldn’t Be Rushed… or Cheapby Matt Ambrose Good copywriting takes time. And inspiration doesn’t always come on schedule. So says Matt Ambrose of The C…
#75 The Frugal Law Student » Blog Archive » links for 2007-09-23 → 09.23.07 at 1:24 am
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well | Copyblogger Ernest Hemingway’s writing style is particularly useful for legal writers. I picked up “The Sun Also Rises” at the library today for some casual reading. We’ll see if I pick anything up from old Ernest. […]
#76 Креативен.ком - блогът за онлайн бизнес » Blog Archive » Как да пишем за социалните мрежи? → 10.03.07 at 10:03 am
[…] класиране. Брайън Кларк от Copyblogger написа статия “Петте най-добри съвета за писане на Ърнест Хемингуей“, която се хареса изключително в Digg.com. Той свърза […]
#77 Hamilton Ontario Real Estate → 11.09.07 at 12:50 pm
Another great article Brian.
I have a habit of using run-on sentences and paragraphs. Now I’ll make a conscious effort to keep ‘em short.
#78 3 Secrets of Writing for Blogs | Net Writing → 11.25.07 at 12:30 pm
[…] Ernest Hemmingway’s top 5 writing tips at Copyblogger […]
#79 Blogging as it used to be → 11.27.07 at 5:21 pm
[…] only one thinking of what and how to learn from Hemingway for my blogging - Copyblogger published Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well some time […]
#80 JenWriter: Writing, Reading and Blogging » 101 Resources on the Web for Writers and Bloggers → 12.09.07 at 11:00 pm
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well First tip: Use short […]
#81 SpeakerSue Says… » Thank someone today → 12.13.07 at 9:53 pm
[…] them short and to the point. Check out Copyblogger for more great […]
#82 10 consejos para escribir sobre ciencia en tu blog « Tall & Cute → 12.27.07 at 8:48 pm
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well (Trucos para cualquier tipo de escritura). […]
#83 Saad Baig → 01.02.08 at 3:30 am
I don’t think so these make any difference.
#84 Saim → 01.02.08 at 3:31 am
Very nice article.Really useful.I used to write long words.But i think i can work on that.
#85 Graham Strong → 01.07.08 at 2:41 pm
I’ve only read one of Hemingway’s rules:
Don’t drink until after you have finished the day’s writing.
~Graham
#86 4 dicas de Ernest Hemingway « Ofício Literário → 01.12.08 at 11:12 am
[…] Traduzido e adaptado de : http://world-copywriting-institute.typepad.com/ e http://www.copyblogger.com/ernest-hemingway-top-5-tips-for-writing-well/ […]
#87 Steve Amoia → 01.14.08 at 11:00 pm
Brian:
I did a search on “Hemingway,” and was directed to this post.
Another one germane to productivity and/or writing better was the following:
“Always stop when you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to write the next day. That way your subconscious will work on it all of the time.”
“Ernest Hemingway on Writing” by Larry W. Phillips, page 42.
#88 Jim McMullen → 01.15.08 at 6:35 am
Great article on Hemingway!
I was fortunate years ago in college to have studied Hemingway’s writing and novels. As a result, he was highly influential in my published writing. Though I eventually developed my own style, still today I can see his influence seeping into my sequel on the endangered panther/cougar in the Everglades. These tips should be read several times over by all writers to let them seep into your subconscious like rain swollen river current in the swampland. Again, superb article!
#89 » 101 Resources on the Web for Writers and Bloggers → 01.18.08 at 2:08 pm
[…] Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well First tip: Use short […]
#90 Ricardo → 02.01.08 at 3:40 pm
eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation
#91 Julie, the Mean Mom → 02.11.08 at 8:08 pm
Great post! Just discovered this blog and it is fantastic!
#92 Jim McMullen → 02.12.08 at 6:59 am
Just a thought. . . .NEVER THROW THE SHIT AWAY. ON A GIVEN TIME IN THE FUTURE READING THE SHIT AGAIN ONE MIGHT FIND A GOLDEN NUGGET IN THAT PILE OF SHIT. DON”T BE AFRAID TO DIG INTO THESHIT!
Thank you,
JIM
#93 Mark Vanderpool → 02.15.08 at 4:20 am
Hey, I love the Hemingway tips. As writer’s workshop administrator and Master’s Class facilitator on Chuck Palahniuk’s (Fight Club, Haunted, Rant) official website, helping writers is what I do. I would take a bit of exception to the Dave Garfinkel explication on point six, though.
3. Use vigorous English.
Here’s David Garfinkel’s take on this one:
It’s muscular, forceful. Vigorous English comes from passion, focus and intention. It’s the difference between putting in a good effort and TRYING to move a boulder… and actually sweating, grunting, straining your muscles to the point of exhaustion… and MOVING the freaking thing!
Besides the obvious metaphoric challenge–the average person cannot move a boulder, under any circumstance, without a fulcrum and a mighty long, mighty strong lever. Where’s Archimedes when you need him?–the suggestion in the quoted advice is that a strong enough intent toward clarity is all you need.
I’m here to say that doesn’t do it. Writers need specific tools, techniques, and understandings. The “want to” is only half of it (if that). You can’t write well through simple will power and brute effort any more than you can sing well on that basis. Witness American Idol for a long list of humiliation for people who wanted it badly, but didn’t have any technique.
Technique, before power.
The technique for vigorous prose begins with the basic advice found in Strunk & White:
Eliminate needless words.
Rely on strong verbs.
Trim back on modifiers.
The last point is crucial and locked in tight with the others. If you’re stacking up a copious number of adjectives and adverbs, chances are you’re trying to prop up weak verbs.
One of the smartest copy edits you can run is to cut every single modifier from your copy–or your fiction, for that matter–then substitute action verbs (shoot, run, fly, create, drink, hit, hurt…) for “to be” verbs (is, am, are, was, were) as much as possible.
Finally, add a few of your modifiers back, where they feel needed. Make an effort not to stack them. In other words, let’s say you’ve got the sentence:
“John left the room in a fantastic hurry, frantically hoping that Mary would not see him.”
Well, the first thing you’d do is cut adjectives like “fantastic” and adverbs like “frantically.”
What’s a better way to say that John left in a fantastic hurry?
How about this: “John fled the room.”
What’s a better way to convey “frantically hoping?”
How about: “praying”
“John fled the room, praying that Mary wouldn’t see him.”
If you feel the need to bolster “praying” and you have John “earnestly praying” (is there any other way to pray?) then you need a different verb–one that satisfies your own sense of urgency. Maybe you could get there with a small reversal from negative to positive on the end:
“John fled the room, terrified that Mary would see him.”
Please be sure that John isn’t “quietly terrified.” The reader already understands that he wishes to flee without detection.
I’ve gone on at some length, perhaps shunning brevity or not trimming enough in my own explication, but I hope I’ve offered a few tools that will make it easier to move your reader than to move boulders.
cheers
Mark Vanderpool
Writer’s Workshop Admin
http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net
#94 Mark Vanderpool → 02.15.08 at 6:02 am
In case you’re wondering, I have no idea why I called point three “point six” in my opening paragraph; otherwise, I’m happy with the previous post.
I’m more accustomed to forum posting than commenting on blogs. In most forums, you can edit your own post right after making it.
It’s a minor matter, in any case… but scrupulous self-editing is a must for writers.
#95 Creating A Successful Online Portfolio | Developer's Toolbox | Smashing Magazine → 03.04.08 at 1:07 pm
[…] man known for cutting out the fluff from writing in the early twentieth century. See the article Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well. Hemingway championed using short sentences, strong forceful language, and clarity. All principles […]
#96 etavitom → 03.05.08 at 11:14 am
great tips! thanks for the wisdom…. brad
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#101 Shane: content writer → 03.06.08 at 2:38 am
Heh heh… Go Hemingway!! Simple, straight and to-the-point!! Real writing isn’t flowery bullsh*t ‘cos that don’t tell no one nothing!!
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[…] is a future Hemingway in our midst! Further reading for the curious: Wired: Very Short Stories Ernest Hemingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure Share this […]
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#114 Daw Hosting Blog → 04.04.08 at 10:53 am
I would add that a good writing requires autor to write the text because he or she likes it, not because they are expected to get paid. But this works for bloggers… experienced writers know that very well.
#115 Bari → 04.16.08 at 4:11 pm
The last tip of Hemingway’s I believe you have to read between the lines. Life is full of shit -isn’t it? One great big game and I think Hemingway wasn’t willing to keep playing the big game.
Hemingway was a very gifted artist in his field.
I don’t get how one makes money from a blog or e-books.
In the past , I have given advice away free for joining my newsletter.
I also have a monthly draw on my book if you join my newsletter.
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