Ernest Hemingway believed in writing the truth, emphasizing the importance of experience and lived reality in shaping good writing.

He advocated for a style that revealed the truth subtly, allowing readers to interpret deeper meaning, a concept he termed the “Iceberg Theory”.

Hemingway also stressed the significance of rewriting and finding the “true sentence” to begin with, believing that writing should be a continuous process of discovery and refinement.

Here’s a more detailed look at Hemingway’s writing philosophy:

Truth and Experience:

Hemingway maintained that good writing stemmed from truthful representation and personal experience. He believed that writers needed to live life and have experiences to authentically convey them in their work.

The Iceberg Theory:

Hemingway’s writing style, often characterized as simple and direct, is known as the Iceberg Theory. This theory suggests that writers should only reveal a small portion of the story, leaving the rest of the meaning and emotion for the reader to infer.

Rewriting and Refinement:

Hemingway valued the process of rewriting and believed that all good writing is essentially a rewriting of the first draft. He advocated for waiting to revise a piece, allowing for a fresh perspective and more thorough editing.
The “True Sentence”:

Hemingway suggested that writers start with a single, authentic sentence that captures the core of their idea. This sentence would then serve as a foundation for the rest of the piece.

Writing as a Process:

Hemingway’s writing process involved daily review and revision of previous work, followed by the creation of new material that would be revisited the next day. He also emphasized the importance of stopping at high points of interest and leaving the rest to the subconscious mind, says a Medium article.