What Ernest Hemingway's Writing Habits Reveal About Peak Performance

Even though it all came to a tragic end for Ernest Hemingway, there's no denying his many years of productivity.

As a memory expert, I think a lot about writers like him.

Having written both journalism and fiction, I know the demands just one type of writing places on memory.

Two categories of writing?

You really have to be in good cognitive shape for that.

What clues can we find from how he conducted his writing life?

Quite a few that I think you'll find beneficial for your own writing.

The Mental Databases of Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway made us of multiple notebooks and journals to capture his observations.

He also kept track of when he finished various projects, embedding seeds of memory that likely made it difficult to forget his multiple accomplishments.

I've been modelling these habits for years, including using a snapshot journal.

These are great because they let you see five years at a glance in total as you fill them out.

I typically make notes in them twice daily per day.

Like Hemingway, I make note of various project milestones.

I also list people I've met, reinforcing their names after using my name-specific mnemonic strategy to place them in Memory Palaces.

Another thing I learned from Hemingway is the idea of writing one true sentence.

For this practice, I always carry a much smaller journal in my back pocket.

The One True Sentence Tactic

Many of the sentences people read in my books and articles start life in this journal.

They're often cryptic.

All that matters is that they make sense to me. Later, I unfold them.

According to researchers who have studied active recall, decoding your own notes can actually strengthen memory.

So I never worry about whether or not I'll be able to figure out what I was trying to express. I rest assured that a good memory workout is the worst that can happen.

Location-Based Creativity

Not everyone can travel as widely as Hemingway did.

But most of us can write in multiple locations.

When I lived in Berlin, I called my habit of writing for 40 minutes or so before moving to another cafe "Roadwork."

I actually got this term from Gary Halbert's The Boron Letters, which is another substantial source of writing instruction and inspiration...

It also involves writing from a unique location... one none of us will soon wish to see.

The point is that moving around frequently is good for both body and mind.

And any time you can write in a variety of locations, you'll give yourself sensory variety as well as exercise.

Novel situations are good for the brain, so give yourself more places to write and watch how much more readily your words flow.

The Standing Desk Strategy

Just as walking from location to location gives you mind boosting exercise, the physical act of standing while writing can also enhance mental performance.

Hemingway didn't always use a formal standing desk.

There's a picture of him with a typewriter on a bookcase.

So even if a standing desk isn't currently in the works for you, chances are you can find one.

In Berlin, I used to look for cafes with stools and counters so I could stand in the window and have a platform for writing.

It was not only good for my body. Standing also enhanced my focus.

In fact, I'm standing as I type this now.

Funny story: Last summer it was so hot in Australia, one day the electronics on my standing desk went haywire.

It started going up and down on its own, making it impossible for me write!

Other than that, I've never had issues. Only benefits.

What about you?

Do you have any peak performance tips based on your experiences with writing?

I'd love to hear them.

Until the next edition of Better Memory, Better Life, keep writing and exploring the tactics that make you the best possible version of you.