Best Writing Advice From Ernest Hemingway (Guest Contribution from Laura Buckler)

Ernest-Hemingway

This week’s blog post comes to us from Laura Buckler, a content writer dedicated to the development of digital marketing content. Learn more about Laura in her bio below.


Ernest Hemingway

Who is better suited to show the way to transfer the written word to a broad audience than Nobel Prize winner, revolutionary journalist, and admired novelist Ernest Hemingway? The seeds of his influence were sown during his career as a journalist, when he first introduced his Iceberg theory, which included minimalistic narration that was straight to the point, and left the reader to gaze through the lines to see a deeper meaning.

As years went by, Ernest Hemingway became a role model to aspiring writers all over the world, which is why we have chosen to share some of his evergreen wisdom with you. Take note of the following lines if you wish to learn more about addressing the audience with a clear message and captivating style.

What it takes to be a writer

“All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterward it all belongs to you: the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse and sorrow, the people and the places and how the weather was. If you can get so that you can give that to people, then you are a writer.”

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This quote states that we should aim to connect the audience with our narrative. Today, data-driven content dominates the market; however, it’s important to keep in mind that we write for people after all. The software might value strategic keyword placement or impeccable SEO implementation but in the end, we need the audience to experience our words.

How to overcome writer’s block

“Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”

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It’s not easy to stay inspired indefinitely, no matter if you’re producing digital marketing content or writing an essay in college. At some point, you’ll feel like you’re all out of words no matter if you’re writing Essayedge review or a series of articles on the Middle East crisis. In those moments, Hemingway suggests you start with just one sentence you believe in, one you don’t have to come up with, and let your mind elaborate that thought into paragraphs.

The importance of in-depth research

“If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows, and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an ice-berg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water. A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing.”

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It’s never a good thing to assume that your readers are experts on a specific subject, however, don’t presume they are ignorant, either. The importance of good research for quality content is immense, as it gives our main ide backbone, provides arguments and opens up a window towards new ideas. A good researcher will know what to take and what information to leave out because they are irrelevant to the target audience or represents a common knowledge.

Chasing the word count

“Since I found that 400 to 600 well done was a pace I could hold much better was always happy with that number. But if I only had 320 I felt good.”

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Keeping up with deadlines is stressful, and studies indicate that the pressure of producing the expected results on time can only harm the quality of our work. As a professional writer, it’s sometimes better to be late than sorry, so it’s best to work following your own pace at a given moment. If you notice that you’re not going to make the deadline, contact your client and try to get some more time so that both sides could benefit.

Check your work

“When I was writing, it was necessary for me to read after I had written.”

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Whenever you finish a task, make sure to read it and see how it “reads” once you’ve done all the work. Not only will you be able to perform spelling and grammar corrections, but you’ll also notice which parts of your text require improvement, which you need to elaborate deeper, and what pieces of the content are redundant.

Moreover, reading through your work will also give you a perspective of your style and flow. You could learn about yourself and improve your skills this way.

Coping with criticism and praise

“I think we should never be too pessimistic about what we know we have done well because we should have some reward.”

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Don’t beat yourself up if, after all of your hard and dedicated work, the audience is not happy with your deed. Take pride in what you have done if you’ve done it properly, and don’t expect to be praised only because you did your work as it should be done.

To close…

Ernest Hemingway was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century and a unique human figure at the same time. His words are alive still, thanks to the endless army of readers that just keeps growing. We hope these quotes will help you improve your work, and equip you with tools to engage your readers and expand the reach of your content.

About the Author: Laura Buckler is a content writer dedicated to the development of digital marketing content. She is also engaged as a content creator for https://www.essayservicesreviewsclub.com where she brings the readers closer to some of the best online writing agencies. Her goal is to provide practical information that solves the problems of her audience through insightful and researched writing. Check Laura’s Twitter.

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