How to Write Like Hemingway

rnest Hemingway's writing is famously concise, powerful, and "true." Let's break down how he achieves this iconic style and explore how you can incorporate these techniques into your own writing.

The Origins of Hemingway's Style

Before we dive into the specific techniques, it's important to understand the origins of Hemingway's distinctive writing style. Born in 1899, Hemingway came of age during a time of great change in literature. The flowery, verbose prose of the Victorian era was giving way to a more direct, modernist approach.

Hemingway's early career as a journalist played a crucial role in shaping his writing style. In 1917, he began working for the Kansas City Star, where he was introduced to the newspaper's style guide. This guide emphasized short sentences, short paragraphs, active verbs, authenticity, and clarity. These principles would become the foundation of Hemingway's prose style.

His experiences during World War I also profoundly influenced his writing. The brutality and chaos of war led Hemingway to develop a writing style that could convey intense emotions and experiences without resorting to melodrama or excessive description.

How to Write Concisely

Just as pro athletes make their sport look easy, Hemingway's simple prose belies depth and technique. His ability to convey complex ideas and emotions with seemingly straightforward language is a hallmark of his genius. Here's how you can emulate this aspect of his style:

1. Use common vocabulary and basic grammar. Hemingway's books have high readability scores—even fourth graders can read his work. This doesn't mean dumbing down your writing, but rather choosing words that are clear and accessible.
2. Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly. We might want to use "very" to emphasize a feeling, for example, but often the feeling has more impact on its own. Hemingway believed that excessive modifiers weakened prose.
3. Use active verbs. Active verbs create a sense of immediacy and directness. Instead of "The ball was thrown by John," write "John threw the ball."
4. Use short sentences. Shorter sentences are often clearer and more impactful. However, it's important to note that Hemingway did not exclusively write short sentences. He varied his sentence length for rhythm and emphasis.
5. Leave out dialogue tags. Hemingway often omitted "he said" and "she said" when it was clear who was speaking. This creates a more immediate, cinematic feel to dialogue.
6. Be positive, not negative. Write what is rather than isn't—i.e., "sad" as opposed to "not happy." This creates more direct and vivid prose.

The Power of Polysyndeton

While Hemingway is known for his concise style, he also employed a technique called polysyndeton. This involves using conjunctions (usually "and") repeatedly in close succession. For example:

"I said, 'Who killed him?' and he said 'I don't know who killed him but he's dead all right,' and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Key and she was all right only she was full of water."

This technique creates a breathless, rapid-fire effect that can convey a sense of urgency or overwhelm. It's a powerful tool when used judiciously.

How to Write with Depth

We often associate the words "emotional" or "passionate" with "out of control." Thus, it seems counterintuitive that Hemingway's terse prose could evoke such emotion. Yet, his writing is renowned for its emotional depth and power. This is largely due to his famous "Iceberg Theory."

The Iceberg Theory

Hemingway's Iceberg Theory relies on minimal descriptions that let readers fill in the blanks. The "Iceberg" refers to how only a small portion of an iceberg is visible above the surface. Similarly, Hemingway believed that the deeper meaning of a story should not be evident on the surface. The visible portion should suggest a deep, complex world that's just beyond the page.

Here's how to implement this theory in your writing:

1. Actions vs. emotions. Hemingway doesn't explain what characters feel—rather, he simply shows how they act and react. This allows readers to infer emotions, making the experience more engaging and personal.
2. Leave out backstory. By focusing on the present and letting characters' pasts unfold through relevant details as the story progresses, Hemingway avoids taking the reader out of the current story with a flashback.
3. Cut anything unessential to the emotion your story is trying to create. Every word should serve a purpose. If it doesn't contribute to the overall emotional impact or narrative progression, consider cutting it.

The Art of Implication

Hemingway was a master of implication. He understood that what's left unsaid can be just as powerful as what's explicitly stated. This technique requires trust in your readers' intelligence and imagination. By providing just enough information, you allow readers to become active participants in the story, filling in gaps and drawing their own conclusions.

For example, in his short story "Hills Like White Elephants," Hemingway never explicitly states what the couple is discussing. Yet, through their dialogue and actions, the reader can infer that they're talking about a potential abortion. This subtle approach creates a sense of tension and emotional depth that might be lost with more direct exposition.

How to Make Your Writing Seem Real/Authentic

Hemingway famously said, "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." If writing started to become too elaborate or showy, he would toss it and begin with a true, declarative sentence. This commitment to authenticity is a crucial aspect of his style.

1. Write what you know—with a twist. Hemingway used his life (especially the people in it) as a springboard. He didn't write everything exactly as it was, but basing his stories on true experiences and feelings lent his work its authenticity.
2. Break down objects, settings, and scenes into their basic elements. Relevant details make worlds come to life. Hemingway had a knack for choosing the perfect details to evoke a sense of place or mood.
3. Make your sentences flow. Hemingway would write a sentence, then start the next one based on where the previous sentence left off. This creates a natural, organic progression of ideas.

The Importance of Sensory Details

While Hemingway was known for his sparse prose, he was also a master of using sensory details to bring scenes to life. He believed in showing the reader the world through the character's senses, rather than telling them about it. This approach creates a more immersive experience for the reader.

For example, consider this passage from "The Sun Also Rises":

"The driver started up the street. I settled back. Brett moved close to me. We sat close against each other. I put my arm around her and she rested against me comfortably. It was very hot and bright, and the houses looked sharply white. We turned out onto the Gran Via."

In just a few sentences, Hemingway conveys the physical closeness of the characters, the heat of the day, and the visual impact of the white houses. These sensory details make the scene vivid and real to the reader.

Practical Exercises to Develop Your Hemingway-esque Style

1. The Six-Word Story Challenge: Hemingway is famous for his six-word story: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Try creating your own six-word stories. This exercise forces you to distill a narrative to its essence.
2. Dialogue Without Tags: Write a scene of dialogue without using any dialogue tags. Focus on making each character's voice distinct enough that readers can follow who's speaking.
3. Sensory Description: Choose a location and describe it using all five senses, but limit yourself to one sentence per sense.
4. Action vs. Emotion: Write a scene where a character is experiencing a strong emotion, but don't name the emotion. Instead, show it through the character's actions and physical reactions.
5. Iceberg Theory in Practice: Write a short story where the main conflict is never explicitly stated. Instead, imply it through dialogue and character actions.

Remember, Hemingway's writing style only appears simple. It's the result of careful craft and constant revision. As Hemingway himself said, "The first draft of anything is sh*t." Don't be discouraged if your first attempts don't immediately resemble Hemingway's prose. Keep practicing, revising, and refining your work.

By implementing these techniques and continuously honing your craft, you can develop a writing style that captures the power, authenticity, and emotional depth that made Hemingway one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Happy writing!