Minimalist writing relies a lot on subtext.
The iceberg theory, also known as the "theory of omission," was Hemingway's signature writing approach. He explained it best when he wrote that if a writer knows something well enough, they can omit it, and the reader will still feel its presence, just like an iceberg is mostly underwater but you can sense its mass.
Here's how it works in practice:
1. Show only the surface elements of the story (the visible part of the iceberg)
2. Deliberately leave out important information (what's underwater)
3. Trust readers to sense the deeper meaning from context and minimal details
For example, in Hemingway's famous six-word story: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn" - he doesn't explicitly tell you what happened, but the tragedy is clear from what's left unsaid.
Or in "Hills Like White Elephants1," Hemingway never directly mentions that the couple is discussing abortion. Instead, he shows their tense conversation about "an operation" and lets readers understan…