It Was the Best of Times…

A Love for Literature

I love to read. Ever since I was a kid, reading has been a source of entertainment, a means to gain knowledge, and a wonderful way to mentally exercise. I read everything from true crime to the classics; from Hiassen to Rand; from Bryson to Conroy; from Updike to Faulkner.

I learned to write by trying to mimic the authors I treasure. No one could tell a story like Pat Conroy or put yourself inside the mind of the character like Faulkner. Bryson weaves history and fiction seamlessly, and Hiassen can elicit snorts of laughter like no other.

What Makes a Great Writer?

But who is the best? That, of course, is up to individual taste. It also depends on the purpose of the narrative. Hemingway and Faulkner are both Nobel Laureates and the authors of unforgettable masterpieces — yet they are completely different in their approach.

  • Hemingway used the fewest words possible to tell impactful stories.

  • Faulkner immersed readers through a stream-of-consciousness style.

Both were masters, each in their own way.

Writing for Your Audience

So how do I, as a writer, use these varied styles to craft a professional narrative that informs, retains attention, and influences thought?

You must write to your audience and your subject matter. But there are some universal methods.

First Impressions Matter

Faulkner’s complex narratives may not suit a business proposal. (A critic once said they couldn’t understand The Sound and the Fury after reading it three times. Faulkner replied, “Read it four times.”)

Still, he was brilliant at grabbing the reader’s attention from the very first sentence. And in a professional setting, that first sentence is your elevator pitch on paper.

Busy executives don’t have time to read a dense narrative four times. Their attention must be piqued from the start. But from there — more Hemingway, less Faulkner — may be the trick.

The Hemingway Method

That compelling first sentence needs to be followed with a narrative that informs, influences, and tells a clear, concise story.

So how do you capture and keep that attention?

Hemingway’s precision — choosing the right words, structure, and tone — may be the model. The professional writer must deliver what the reader needs and wants, in a way that is direct and digestible.

The Art of Clarity

This takes time, practice, sweat, and thought. It is both art and effort.

Anyone can bury a reader in jargon and data, but it takes real work to grab attention quickly — and keep it — by writing with clarity, intention, and relevance.

As the philosopher Blaise Pascal once said:

“Had I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.”

By Matt Kochanski