Is there any point in introducing Ernest Hemingway - a great American writer and journalist, whose fame extends far and wide throughout the world? His contribution to writing is undeniable, and his works are loved by people to this day.
Moreover, Ernest Hemingway was a controversial figure and his strange habits were the subject of discussion, ridicule, and commentary, but were they the ones that helped him reach his goal?
The truth is that, like other crafts, in writing, it's hard to find someone who can tell you the secret to successful content. But once you reach the high levels you've been aiming for, things change. That's exactly the case with Ernest Hemingway, who we can safely say surpassed even that height.
Why is it important to write well?
Nowadays, many businesses are faced with the difficult and responsible task of creating content for marketing purposes. Filling the space with text should not be an end in itself. What is written should serve to build trust between you and the customers you are targeting. Offering informative and well-structured text is a sure key to a successfully established relationship between a consumer and a business and predisposes the purchase and sale.
And if there is anyone we can emulate when writing, it is undoubtedly Ernest Hemingway. In his rich legacy we find invaluable advice, thanks to which our text will be meaningful enough to hold the reader's attention. Here they are:
Use short sentences
Anyone who has come across any part of Ernest Hemingway's work knows that he is an absolute supporter of the minimalist writing style. And that is what he is famous for. But what is the secret? We can say that his text is the fruit of "simple genius". He definitely masters the art of saying few words, but with rich content. Ernest Hemingway has repeatedly demonstrated the power of simple words.
But the best example undoubtedly remains what he comes up with when challenged to tell an entire story in just 6 words: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Short sentences make the speech more accessible to everyone. And reading such a text is not burdensome.
Keep your paragraphs short.
This will undoubtedly allow you to keep the readers' attention and emphasize the things that are important to read. Using short paragraphs does not mean that the text will not be meaningful, on the contrary. Dividing it into small parts builds a structure that, if consistent and logical, makes the writing even more understandable to users.
Use dynamic language
The energy you put into each word reaches the reader. Passion and dedication can drastically change the sound of the text. Static and dry text will easily lose users and most often they will not finish reading what you have written. The richness of the language is absolutely immense and each of you has the opportunity to find the niche to follow in creating “energetic” content.
Be positive, not negative.
Through your words, you build the psychological attitude of the reader. And we all know how powerfully a text can influence, both when it is written very well and when it has gaps. The lexical means you use are a weapon that you must learn to use.
Our mind, intentionally or not, tunes in the direction that attracts the strongest attention, and even using counter-words does not direct our mind in the opposite direction.
For example: if we say that a visit to the dentist will be almost painless, readers will focus their minds on the “pain” in the word “painless.” Wondering how to avoid such tricky words that look good at first glance, but don't have a good effect on your text? Instead of saying "this procedure is almost painless," say "it is possible that it will cause slight discomfort." Or again: instead of saying "cheap," say "economical." At first glance, a simple task, but it requires a rich vocabulary and proper knowledge of the audience.
We have reached the most important rule for effective writing that Ernest Hemingway left behind: “I write one page of masterpiece on ninety-one pages of shit”, he says in a letter to F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1934. This is proof that nothing happens the first time, but your perseverance and ambition will be crowned with success sooner or later.
Illustration: Marco Calcinaro
