Ernest Hemingway’s writing style was characterized by simplicity, directness, and a focus on concrete details. But beneath this apparent simplicity was great depth, whether he was writing about bullfighting, the Spanish Civil War, or an aging fisherman struggling to catch a giant marlin. In his many essays and interviews, Hemingway often discussed his art and freely admitted his writing came from hard work and practice rather than some innate natural gift. “It’s none of their business that you have to learn how to write,” he once said. “Let them think you were born that way.” In this quote from a “New York Journal-American” article in 1961 — the year of his death — he notes how the art of writing, like many things in life, is one we can never perfect. For Hemingway, learning and improvement were continuous, lifelong tasks. It’s a reminder that there is always more to discover, know, and understand, regardless of your perceived skill or experience.
