Writing Tips from Hemingway

[Jack Getze]

From OPEN CULTURE, "The best free cultural & educational media on the web" and Facebook poster Dale Larner, here are seven writing tips from Ernest Hemingway, many of which I've never seen before. I think personally I practice only number 4.

1. To get started, write one true sentence.

2. Always stop for the day when you know what will happen next.

3. Never think about the story when you're not working.

4. When it’s time to work again, always start by reading what you’ve written so far.

5. Don’t describe an emotion–make it.

6. Use a pencil.

7. Be brief.

Here's a link to the full story which has quotes from EH on all seven tips.

[I. J. Parker]

Mostly good.

[Dana King]

I'm not a huge fan of Hemingway--I think he's a better short story writer than novelist--but i like these, especially with the comments included with the article.

Thanks.

[Jack Getze]

My father, among many, thought Hemingway sucked. But I really liked his stuff as a young man, back in the 60s. Pretty sure FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS started me writing my first novel which coincidentally was about a bunch of hippie types starting a revolution and living in the foothills of Los Angeles. :) Luckily, I gave that one up after a few chapters ....

[Albert Tucher]

I like these a lot, except for the pencil. As an old-school librarian, I saw too many pencils. Number two is something I learned to do without realizing it.

[Mark Young]

I like them all but #6. Can't read my own writing sometimes. Makes it hard to edit a novel without going blind. Thank goodness for computers.