Seven Tips From Ernest Hemingwa

From Open Culture:

1: To get started, write one true sentence.

2: Always stop for the day while you still know what will happen next.
So obvious, but we never do it. We try to press on.

3: Never think about the story when you’re not working.
Let your subconscious work on it.

4: When it’s time to work again, always start by reading what you’ve written so far.
This builds continuity.


5: Don’t describe an emotion–make it.
 The key is to not only watch and listen closely to external events, but to also notice any emotion stirred in you by the events and then trace back and identify precisely what it was that caused the emotion.

6: Use a pencil.
You need to work at it and using a pencil forces you to slow down.

7: Be Brief.
Using a pencil forces brevity.