INTERVIEWER
What would you consider the best intellectual training for the would-be writer?
HEMINGWAY
Let’s say that he should go out and hang himself because he finds that writing well is impossibly difficult. Then he should be cut down without mercy and forced by his own self to write as well as he can for the rest of his life. At least he will have the story of the hanging to commence with.
Have you read Hemingway?
Related articles

I’ve read a lot of writing advice, but never came across this one. Excellent!
Reblogged this on William Grit and commented:
I likey
I read Hemingway and found him grossly overrated. Best advice for any writer: be a ferocious reader and don’t be snobbish about other people’s writing that is – currently – not categorised as “literature” by some dead-from-the-neck-down professor of literature.
I agree with the not being snobbish part. There’s always something good in every book even if you hate lots of things about it
Exactly. I love reading very different genres and writers, for they all have something to teach me and help me with my own writing.
In my experience, readers who are snobbish usually don’t know their mass market fiction from their literature anyway and wouldn’t know a good book if you bashed them over the head with it.
This is pretty funny advice, but not helpful in the least! I guess his point is to just write. There is no advice.
Reblogged this on kraexhaust and commented:
Hemingway speaks the truth!
Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog
post or vice-versa? My site discusses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I feel we
could greatly benefit from each other. If you’re interested feel free
to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!
Awesome blog by the way!