Ernest Hemingway and Ray Edwards

By Ray Edwards | April 22, 2007

Here’s what I have in common with Papa Hemingway: I love words, and I’m a writer.

When it comes to writing ads (and when I say ads, I mean everything from web pages to emails to postcards!), it’s  hard to find better advice than Ernest Hemingway’s Four Rules of Writing.

Hemingway’s Four Rules of Writing

1. Use short sentences.
2. Use short first paragraphs.
3. Use vigorous English.
4. Be positive, not negative.

Those rules are posted on the wall behind my computer monitor. You could do worse than to post them near yours.

 

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6 Comments »

Comment by Ben Settle
2007-04-23 06:13:54

Thank Ray, for that nugget of info.

You gotta love that Hemmingway simplicity.

Ben

 
Comment by Joe
2007-04-23 06:44:15

Hey, Ray. Show the man some respect as well as love–spell hisa name right. :-) Lemmings has two m’s; Papa has only one.

 
Comment by Ray Edwards
2007-04-23 07:02:09

Oops. Thanks JJoe.

 
Comment by Joe
2007-04-23 07:27:31

No prob, Raye.

 
Comment by Ryan Healy
2007-04-24 08:06:40

Excellent rules to share, Ray. Thanks!

 
Comment by JEFF WELLS
2007-12-09 21:35:12

What an inspiration it would be to have a copy writing conference, right on Hemmingways turf in Key West.

 
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