5 Best Hemingway Quotes To Inspire Killer Copywriting

I've harped on about him before. ‍

But I seldom spend a day writing copy without revelling in the mastery of Ernest Hemingway's distinctive style. Because you've got to channel the greats to be great, right? Boldly and clearly.

While not technically a copywriter, Hemingway's trademark simplicity, clarity and brevity are all powerful elements of the best marketing and advertising copy. Probably harnessed from his early days as a journalist, where effectiveness is measured in eyeballs.  

His words read simple, yet never lack depth. Sentences are punchy, but with perfect flow. And a mightiness gets expressed even through the most minor, single-syllabic words.  

And while we could talk more about his writing rules, I like to keep post-its of his thoughts within eye-shot as little reminders when I'm writing. And I recommend you do the same. Because no matter what medium or platform you're writing content for, following Hemingway's approach can make you a better writer and communicator.

So, here's a backstage peek into the Words That Sing ala Hemingway process. And no apologies for my handwriting. (Thankfully, history tells us great writing isn't measured in great penmanship.)

1. Write drunk; edit sober. ~ Ernest Hemingway

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There are a couple of schools of thought regarding this Hemingway quote, literally and figuratively. First, you could take the advice verbatim — go out of your way to get tipsy to free up your creative juices — then edit your writing later in a more analytical and lucid state of mind.

Or, there's merit in taking the advice metaphorically — encouraging you first to write freely and uninhibited, followed by a ruthless editing approach — without any actual alcohol consumption.

I don't discriminate; you decide how to proceed.

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2. Write hard and clear about what hurts. ~ Ernest Hemingway

In other words, write what you know. Plough through the depths of your psyche and uncover something prickly from the past. A niggling pain? A major hang-up? That's what's universal. And that's what audiences connect with.

Because if it matters to you, it matters to others. We've all been hurt in one way or another by people or experiences — or even our own minds.

Call it pithy or pathetic, but there's plenty to be said about the value of empathy in writing. No matter your audience or what you're trying to express, first and foremost — they're human. Remember that.

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3. Write the truest sentence you know. ~ Ernest Hemingway

In a murky sea of mediocre content, one true sentence can stand out like a neon orange life raft. Honestly.

Especially when writing ads, I tend to lean on this thought the most —examining new ways to express simple truths. Trying to write copy that's interesting, yet accurate. Trying to say it quickly, but foolproof. Trying to be persuasive, but not deceptive.

Because copy doesn't simply need to sound believable; to be effective, it must be believed. And every audience has their own built-in bullshit detector, armed and ready.

When so much online content consists of words and ads that say absolutely nothing — well-told truth is the most valuable and influential content of all.

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4. The first draft of anything is shit. ~ Ernest Hemingway

Don't be precious. Your first draft will suck, but guess what? You'll get over it. And take comfort in the fact that every writer suffers this same fear, regardless of skill or experience.

The tip is to get it all down first — write fast and furious. Because from the initial soup of scribble and half-baked ideas, something decent will emerge. And the power of delivering something great comes not from great writing first-up, but sharp follow-up editing.

So write it. Then leave it. Revisit it the next day. Print it out, then read it on paper. Or even change the font, and immerse yourself in it with a new look and feel. You'll be shocked by how much it can improve, and what you can remove.

Remember: fearless, finessed writing rises above the noise — and stays there.

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5. Live it up so you can write it down. ~ Ernest Hemingway

This is less of a writing mantra and more of a general reminder — to step away from the desk occasionally. Because if you're all-consumed with writing the perfect content at the expense of living, you're not doing it right.

Living gives you something to write about.

So stay rich with curiosity to colour your words. Read great works to fuel your thinking. (The number of writers I speak to who don't have time to read staggers me...) Explore new hobbies or entertainment that unlock new neural pathways and passions.

Great ideas don't come from staring at a blinking cursor.

The more diverse your experiences, the more you can relay them back to your audience. Then ultimately, the more well-rounded and universal your writing becomes.

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Now, excuse me. That's more than enough words for one day. (And two rounds of edits.) If you need me, I'll be busy coming up with exciting ways of reading the three books my toddler loves hearing on repeat. Wish me luck.

And good luck to you. Hopefully, these post-its will also help you channel some killer Hemingway style for your next great piece of content. Or, if you're indeed struggling  putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard — reach out.