You’re in high school now. Your teachers are going to expect you to up your game when it comes to writing assignments like essays. But, where do you start?
Well, here’s a trick: have you ever thought about trying to write like Ernest Hemingway? Yeah, the same Hemingway who is a legend in the literary world.
First off, who is Hemingway, you ask? He’s an author known worldwide for his straight-to-the-point writing style. He was all about getting directly to the heart of the story without any fluff or unnecessary details. And believe it or not, this approach can seriously give your essays the boost they need!
4 Tips from Hemingway Himself
The good news is that Hemingway himself offered some specific, insightful tips for prospective writers. To start with:
“All you have to do is write one true sentence.”
This is relevant for every essay. The opening sentence of each paragraph needs to clearly indicate the paragraph’s main idea. It must be accurate. The rest of the paragraph should then provide supporting arguments to substantiate your point.
“Be brief.”
One of Hemingway’s best-known stories is just six words long. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” From those words, you can infer a lot of meaning; the words hint that there’s a lot more depth below the surface.
You might feel tempted to add extra filler to your essays, but you need to do the opposite, and trim away the excess. Ensure each word is meaningful. This effort will be evident in your grade.
“Read it all every day from the start, correcting as you go along.”
Avoid revising your work while composing it. Save that task for later. Then, once you finish writing, take a break. When you return, review your work thoroughly (reading it aloud can be especially helpful), make the necessary edits, and then pick up from where you paused.
“The best way is to read it all every day from the start, correcting as you go along, then go on from where you stopped the day before,” as Hemingway said.
“Don’t repeat yourself.”
Expressing a single idea can be done in countless ways. But, you need to resist the urge to over-elaborate, and repeat yourself. State your idea clearly, ensure it resonates, and then proceed without dwelling unnecessarily on the same point.
“It was like certain dinners I remember from the war. There was much wine, an ignored tension, a feeling of things coming that you could not prevent happening.”
– The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Other Advice That Can Help You Draft a Compelling Essay
Those are a few tips from the master himself. But, by giving Hemingway’s distinctive writing style a little more thought, there are a few more lessons we can take.
First, “less is more” is a good way to think about it. Hemingway was famous for his short, punchy sentences. So, instead of going on and on in a single sentence, try to get your point across in the most concise way possible.
Next, make sure you’re writing about what you actually know. Hemingway believed that your writing should reflect your real-life experiences. So, think about what you’re writing and ask yourself if you really understand it. If not, spend some time researching and make sure you get what you’re talking about!
“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen.”
– A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
Now, onto the fun part: action! Hemingway was all about the action in his stories. Make sure you’re not just telling your readers what’s happening, but showing them. Paint a picture with your words and really make your readers feel like they’re right there with you.
Lastly, Hemingway was known for writing in a conversational tone. So, be sure to write like you’re having a chat with your readers instead of writing a textbook. This will help your readers to connect with your essay and actually enjoy your writing.
Remember, writing is a skill and it takes practice. So, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t become Hemingway overnight. Keep working at it and you’ll see improvements in no time.