Improvement Exercise - Write 25 Short Stories, Hemmingway Style

Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, there iskeep it to six words, but no more than 10 words.
much to learn from Ernest Hemmingway. His* Hemmingway was a master at writing
spare, hard hitting style came from hisconversation. At least one story consisted almost
background in journalism, birthed in Kansas City,entirely of a conversation between two people.
fired in the trenches of World War I, and polished11. Write a story using nothing but a conversation
as a reporter for the Toronto Star.between two people.
He followed four rules of good writing:12. Write a story using nothing but conversation
1. Use short sentencesbetween two people. However, this time the
2. Use short paragraphsstory must be told about a third person through
3. Don't just write active English, write vigorousthe interactions of the two people. In other
Englishwords, you can't have one person telling the other
4. Write what things are; don't write what theya story. Make us cry for the third person, or
are not.laugh. But make us react.
His writing was active and hard hitting even when13. Write a story using conversation only. Use no
he dealt with love and family life. In modernadjectives. Use no adverbs. However, show us
terms, he wrote down to the bone. Each wordtheir fear.
meant something. Each phrase evoked a feeling14. Write a story using conversation only. Use no
or opinion. In Hemmingway's case usuallyadjectives. Use no adverbs. However, show us
something manly and full of life.their joy.
There are several forms of writing that he15. Write a story using conversation only. Use no
developed into an art form. No matter what typeadjectives. Use no adverbs. However, show us
of writing you do, you can learn a lot from tryingtheir hatred of the third person.
to emulate him.* Hemmingway was a master of redirection. He
Here are twenty-five improvement exerciseswould illustrate the human condition while talking
using five characteristics of Hemmingway shortabout a single man. Three people would be
stories (plus one quote). Try them. They areenough for him to describe the evils of the entire
guaranteed to improve your writing.Spanish Civil War. Fiction to him was like an
*. I've already talked about Hemmingway's fouriceberg. Just a tip showing itself to the world.
rules. Now you're going to experience each of16. Write a story about one person fishing.
them. Write five short stories of between 250Without telling us directly, reveal a tragedy he has
and 500 words. Obey the stated Hemmingwayexperienced.
rule or rules:17. Write a story about one person climbing a
1. Write a story using short sentences... in thismountain. Without telling us directly, reveal who is
case nothing longer than ten words.chasing him.
2. Write a story using short paragraphs... in this18. Write a story about one person on the shore.
case nothing longer than three sentences, anWithout telling us directly, describe the effects of
introduction, a statement, and a conclusion.war.
3. Write a story using nothing except vigorous19. Write a story about one person on the street.
English without falling into the trap of producingUsing a conversation between two other people
purple prose. Don't just see the bullet. Feel theand without telling us directly, reveal a great
bullet bite. Taste the blood. Smell the cordite. Usetragedy in his life and its effect on him.
all five senses actively.20. Write a story without anyone. Only a scene.
4. Write a story without using the negative. ShowBut tell us the story of a person's life.
us what things are. Talk about the warmth of the* Hemmingway was known for his ability to
fire. The smell of the smoke. Don't tell us aboutdescribe action, and exact descriptions of
not being able to see through the smoke, tell uslocations.
about what you see.21. Write a story describing action. Do not use
5. Write a short story that follows all the rules. Noadjectives. Do not use adverbs. Keep the
sentence longer than ten words. No paragraphsentences short and to the point.
longer than three sentences... don't cheat! Keep22. Write a story describing a location. Do it in a
your descriptions active. Be positive in yourconversation. Be exact. Be precise. How red is
writing, not negative. Tell us what things are notred. How blue is blue. Do not use adjectives. Do
what they aren't.not use adverbs.
* Write a short, short, and shorter still story.23. Write a story describing silence. Do not use
Hemmingway bragged that he had once told aadjectives. Do not use adverbs. Do not use
story in only six words... For sale: baby shoes,negatives. What is the silence like?
never worn. So how short can you write a story?24. Write a story describing a bullfight. Describe
6. Write a short story of 250 words. Thenthe ring exactly. Do not use adverbs. Do not use
rewrite it in 25 words... losing nothing! Then write itadjectives. Use short sentences and short
in ten words. Convey all the emotions of theparagraphs. Let your words convey the action.
original.* And finally a quote... "All you have to do is write
7. Write a short story -- a full story -- in sixone true sentence. Write the truest sentence you
words.know."
8. Write a short story illustrating joy. Try to keep25. So on to your last improvement exercise...
it to six words, but no more than 10 words.Write one true sentence. Write the truest
9. Write a short story illustrating fear. Try tosentence you know. It may not be a short story.
keep it to six words, but no more than 10 words.But it might be the most important writing you
10. Write a short story illustrating anger. Try todo.