Check out this 3-step exercise to help you develop your “writing muscle!” [Tuesdays: “Write with the Pen of the Masters”]
Ernest Hemingway
―An American novelist, short-story writer, journalist, and sportsman.
He is regarded by other writers as “The King of Concision” and his writing style is revered by novelists, poets, and even marketers.
Hemingway’s writing style trademark?
Punchy yet ever-flowing.
Simple yet endless in depth.
Concise yet substantial.
…
If you’re wondering about how you can apply Hemingway’s techniques in your copies, here’s a 3-step exercise that will help you enhance your copywriting skills!
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Pay close attention to everything that’s happening around you then put your experience into words.
When Hemingway took a novice writer out for fishing, he said:
“Watch what happens today. If you’re on a fishing trip, see exactly what it is that everyone does. If you get a kick out of it when a fish is caught, remember back until you see exactly what the action was that gave you that emotion.
Remember what the noises were and what was said. Find what gave you the emotion, what the action was that gave you the excitement.
Then write it down making it clear so the reader will see it too and have the same feeling you had. That’s a five-finger exercise.”
As a writer, it’s important that you know how to observe a situation that’s happening around you and your brand.
Hemingway believes that is the first step to avoiding vagueness in your copies.
Don’t just tell readers that catching a fish is exciting. Be specific! Show them also why that outdoor activity is fun and interesting.
Let’s apply that in a marketer’s perspective…
When you’re marketing your brand’s products or services, you have to first understand the type of environment your target market lives in, the problems they usually encounter, the solutions they’re looking for, etc.
Why is this important?
Doing so will give you a sense of direction in writing your copies. Instead of just writing generic content, having sufficient knowledge about your target market―their behaviors, wants, and needs―will help you write in a tone that speaks more directly to them.
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Pay attention to the emotions and reactions of those who are in the situation you’re observing.
In simpler terms, be empathetic.
[Empathy: The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another. ― The Merriam-Webster Dictionary]
Hemingway believes it’s vital for a writer to develop a sense of empathy in order to reach greater heights.
He said:
“Get in somebody else’s head for a change. If I bawl you out, try to figure out what I’m thinking about as well as how you feel about it. If Carlos curses Juan, think what both their sides of it are. Don’t just think who is right. As a man, things are as they should or shouldn’t be. As a man, you know who is right and who is wrong. You have to make decisions and enforce them. As a writer, you should not judge. You should understand.”
As you observe a situation, think as well about the feelings and motivations of your target market.
Know their likes and dislikes, the things that inspire them, etc.
Basically, imagine what it feels like to be in their shoes!
Once you know and understand your target market enough, it won’t be too hard for you to capture their attention and appeal to them through your copies.
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Repeat steps 1 to 2. In other words, practice, practice, practice!
Getting better at your craft as a copywriter takes A LOT of practice and time. You can’t expect yourself to deliver better content without constantly exercising your copywriting skills.
Think of your career as a muscle. In order for it to become stronger, you have to work it out. In the same way, if you want your “writing muscle” to improve over time, you really have to put effort into it.
How?
Through constant practice!
However, you shouldn’t pressure yourself too much about producing better outputs in an instant―content writing doesn’t work that way.
Time is an essential part of the copywriting process.
Don’t rush! Doing so won’t do you any good when it comes to achieving your goals as a writer and marketer.
Remember: Respect your own pace. Even if your progress is slow, it’s still considered progress, so give yourself a pat on the back!
What’s important is you maintain your discipline, take note of advice or tips from other trusted writers, and apply the lessons you learned in writing copies.
As you develop the necessary skill set to write effective copies, you’ll also learn how to produce content that yields great results for your brand.
One of the important things you can learn from Hemingway’s writing style is this:
You don’t have to overcomplicate your craft.
All it takes is 3 simple steps―pay attention to your surroundings, put yourself in your target market’s shoes, and repeat!
Another thing is…
Write your sentences by using words that are easy to understand.
Keep in mind that in copywriting, it’s always better to be concise, conversational, and informative.
That’s a feat that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Apply this 3-step exercise in your copies and see how it will help you gain more readers and customers for your brand!
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Tuesdays: Write with the Pen of the Masters”
Who doesn’t find content writing to be a skill that requires a lot of practice and effort?
In fact, many people may even find copywriting very intimidating.
However, you can be a good writer as long as you have the right tools. You won’t always get things right the first time, but with enough time and practice, you’ll get the hang of it!
When you write a copy for any brand or for your company, your aim is to make an impact and…
…to get people to remember.
Getting people to remember means getting consumers to buy your product or to avail of your service.
And when you get your content to deliver the results you want, THAT is a great copy!
Every Tuesday, we publish content based on tips and insights from the masters of content writing, copywriting, and storytelling.
Become more familiar with ways to write great copy that helps you gain ROI from your efforts, drive profitability, and achieve your business goals.
Learn time-tested tactics that better capture the attention of your target audience, and maximize the benefits of great copywriting.
Hope you found this week’s insights interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Tuesday’s “Write with the Pen of the Masters!”
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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