GTM Tonality
Hemingway
Radically Brief. Clear. Confident.
Based on Ernest Hemingway's writing principles. Short sentences. Strong verbs. The Iceberg Theory—90% below the surface. Trust the reader.
Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He thinks I don't know the ten-dollar words. I know them all right. But there are older and simpler and better words, and those are the ones I use.
— Ernest Hemingway
The Philosophy
Hemingway wrote about war, loss, and the human condition using the simplest words he could find. He believed clarity is the ultimate sophistication.
In sales, this translates to emails that busy people actually read. Engineers and executives share one thing: zero patience for fluff. Hemingway's style respects their time and intelligence.
Key Characteristics
- →Short sentences. One idea. Period. Next idea. Period.
- →Strong verbs. "Ship" not "facilitate." "Cut" not "streamline."
- →Show, don't tell. "40% faster" not "significantly improved."
- →The Iceberg Theory. Say 10%. Imply the other 90%. Trust the reader.
- →No adverbs. If the verb needs help, pick a better verb.
When to Use
Best For
- • Technical audiences (engineers, developers)
- • Busy, no-nonsense C-level executives
- • Cutting through complexity with clarity
- • Projecting confidence (superior product)
Avoid When
- • Building emotional connection matters more
- • Complex proposals needing narrative
- • Relationship-first buyers who want warmth
- • Situations requiring detailed explanation
Before & After
Before (Corporate)
We will quickly and efficiently streamline your inefficient workflow processes and help your team become significantly more productive through our innovative solution that leverages cutting-edge technology.
After (Hemingway)
Our software simplifies your workflow. Your team ships faster. 40% faster, based on our data. Here's how it works. [Link] Worth a look?
The Prompts
Cold Email
Write a cold email in the Hemingway tonality. Context: - Prospect: [NAME], [TITLE] at [COMPANY] - Their problem: [WHAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH] - My product: [What you sell] - Result we deliver: [SPECIFIC OUTCOME] Hemingway Style Rules: - Short sentences. One idea per sentence. - Strong, simple verbs. No adverbs. - Show, don't tell. Facts over adjectives. - The Iceberg Theory: 90% below the surface. Trust the reader. - No filler words. No "just," "really," "very," "actually." - Confidence through simplicity. Superior products need no fancy language. - Under 50 words. Every word must fight for its place. Tone: Clear. Confident. Spare.
Discovery Call Questions
Generate Hemingway-style discovery questions. Context: - Prospect company: [COMPANY] - Their likely problem: [PROBLEM AREA] - My solution: [WHAT YOU OFFER] Hemingway Approach to Discovery: - Short questions. Direct questions. - No setup. No preamble. - One question. One answer. Move on. - Let silence do the work. - Facts matter more than feelings in this style. Generate 5 questions that: 1. Get to the core problem fast 2. Use 10 words or fewer each 3. Reveal data, not opinions 4. Cut through complexity 5. Show you respect their time
Objection Handling
Handle this objection in the Hemingway tonality. The objection: [PASTE OBJECTION HERE] Context: - My product: [WHAT YOU SELL] - The result we deliver: [KEY OUTCOME] Hemingway Response Framework: - Acknowledge. Don't argue. - State facts. Not opinions. - One short sentence per point. - End with a clear next step. - No "I understand" or "I hear you." Just respond. - Under 40 words total. Generate a response that's short, clear, and confident.
LinkedIn Message
Write a LinkedIn message in the Hemingway tonality. Context: - Recipient: [NAME], [TITLE] - The problem: [WHAT YOU CAN HELP WITH] - What I want: [Meeting, intro, feedback, etc.] Hemingway LinkedIn Rules: - No greeting beyond their name. - State the point in the first sentence. - One fact that proves you can help. - One clear ask. - Under 30 words total. Yes, 30.
Technical Email
Write a technical email in the Hemingway tonality. Context: - Recipient: [NAME], [ROLE - ENGINEER/CTO/etc.] - Technical problem: [WHAT THEY'RE SOLVING] - Our technical solution: [HOW IT WORKS] - Key specs: [NUMBERS THAT MATTER] Hemingway Technical Rules: - Lead with the spec, not the pitch. - Numbers speak. Let them. - No marketing language. Engineers smell it. - Architecture > adjectives. - One technical fact per sentence. - Under 60 words. Dense with signal. Tone: Precise. Confident. No fluff.