“There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.”
- 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
“There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.”
Explanation
In this quote, Hemingway captures the unpredictable and often arduous nature of writing. He suggests that there are no fixed rules or formulas for writing—sometimes the words flow effortlessly, and the work seems to come out perfectly, almost without effort. However, at other times, writing feels like an intense struggle, requiring hard work, frustration, and determination, much like drilling through rock and using explosives to release what lies beneath. The image of drilling rock symbolizes the difficulty and physical strain of the creative process when it feels labored, while blasting it out with charges represents the dramatic release of ideas or the satisfaction that comes when the writer finally breaks through.
Hemingway’s own writing process was known to be methodical, and while he valued the simplicity and clarity of his prose, he often experienced the struggles of writing as described in this quote. His early drafts were usually filled with revisions and reworking of ideas before they came out as the tightly crafted sentences for which he became known. Hemingway also emphasized that writing was an act of perseverance—often not a smooth or immediate process. This quote aligns with his belief that while some writing might come easily, true writers must be willing to push through the difficult moments when the words are not flowing as smoothly.
In the modern context, this quote serves as a reminder for all creators, whether in writing, art, or any other field, that the process is often uneven and full of ups and downs. At times, the work may feel effortless, while at others it may require intense effort and persistence. Hemingway’s insight reminds us that creative work is rarely linear and that even the most successful creators face struggles in the process. The important thing is to keep pushing through, knowing that inspiration and flow are not always immediate, but can come through hard work and determination.
