Hemingway Says

Dare I admit I've never actually read Hemingway? I have, however, read his advice to writers and it's worth repeating. So, here we go...

1. Always stop for the day when you still know what will happen next. Don't completely empty your well of imagination.

2. Never think about the story when you're not working. That way your subconscious will keep working on it all the time.

3. When it's time to work again, always start by reading what you've written so far. It helps to maintain continuity.

4. To get started, write one true sentence. Nothing fancy. You don't have to impress anyone, just be true.

5. Don't describe an emotion--make it. With words. Pull the reader into the emotion so that they feel it as well.

6. Use a pencil. Hemingway says:

"If you write with a pencil you get three different sights at it to see if the reader is getting what you want him to. First when you read it over; then when it is typed you get another chance to improve it, and again in the proof. Writing it first in pencil gives you one-third more chance to improve it."

7. Be brief. It was no accident the Gettysburg Address was so short.