“On the ‘Star,’ you were forced to learn to write a simple declarative sentence. This is useful to anyone. Newspaper work will not harm a young writer and could help him if he gets out of it in time.”
- July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961
- American
- Novelist, poet, journalist
- Wrote masterpieces such as “The Old Man and the Sea,” “A Farewell to Arms,” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954
Quote
“On the ‘Star,’ you were forced to learn to write a simple declarative sentence. This is useful to anyone. Newspaper work will not harm a young writer and could help him if he gets out of it in time.”
Explanation
In this quote, Hemingway reflects on his early career in journalism, specifically his time working for the Kansas City Star. He emphasizes the value of learning to write in a clear, direct, and concise manner—simple declarative sentences. For Hemingway, this skill was essential, as it taught him how to communicate effectively and how to strip away unnecessary embellishments in writing, focusing instead on the essence of the message. The idea of writing a “simple declarative sentence” encapsulates his belief in clarity and economy of language, traits that would later define his fictional style. He acknowledges that newspaper work, while not glamorous, offers a solid foundation in writing, as it forces a writer to practice precision and attention to detail.
Hemingway himself began his writing career as a reporter, which deeply influenced his approach to fiction. His time with the Star taught him the importance of objectivity, brevity, and efficiency—skills that would prove invaluable in his later, more literary work. His sparse style, famously known as the “Iceberg Theory”, reflects the principles of journalistic writing: getting to the point and revealing only what is necessary, with much of the deeper meaning below the surface. The experience of writing news articles, where space and time constraints forced him to distill complex ideas into their simplest form, likely played a role in his mastery of creating deeply layered works with minimal words.
In the modern context, this quote speaks to the value of early writing experiences, particularly in fields like journalism or content creation, where clarity and simplicity are prized. While the digital age has changed how journalism is consumed, Hemingway’s point remains relevant: learning to write in a straightforward, accessible way can help anyone, whether they go on to write novels, blogs, or business communications. The quote also suggests that young writers should embrace opportunities for practice and growth, particularly in structured environments like journalism, while recognizing the need to eventually move on and develop their own voice as a creative writer once the foundational skills are learned.
