The Sea Is the Sea

When critics went hunting for symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway famously pushed back:

“There isn’t any symbolism. The sea is the sea. 
The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish.
The sharks are all sharks, no better and no worse.
All the symbolism that people say is shit.”

Of course, the story resonates beyond its literal parts. Of course, readers will see struggle, dignity, mortality, grace. Hemingway wasn’t naïve about that.

But he was serious about something deeper that can be important to writers: the work begins with the concrete. Not theme. Not metaphor. Not what the thing stands for. The thing itself. The sea. The fish. The boy. The sharks.

Hemingway’s rebuke of critics is a reminder to writers that meaning collapses when it’s declared too early. If you write toward symbolism, you end up with cardboard symbols instead of living objects. But if you commit to the truth of the words themselves -- the texture of the rope, the weight of the line, the ache in the old man’s hands -- meaning happens anyway. And it feels earned, not imposed.

For writers, that’s the lesson. Don’t chase allegory. Don’t decorate your work with “important ideas.” Put your faith in the tangible. Tell the truth about what's there. Let readers discover what it means.

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Here are some other posts that touch on Hemingway and his work:

The Iceberg Theory of Writing

The Original Hemingway on Punctuation

Write Drunk Edit Sober

Writers Read

The Sun Also Rises

Copywriting is Dead

 

Every few weeks, someone announces that copywriting is dead.

Not evolving. Not shifting. Dead.

Usually this declaration comes from someone who discovered AI last month and now talks like they’ve been personally briefed by the future.

I get it. If your mental model of a copywriter is “person who turns ideas into words,” then yeah, that job looks pretty replaceable. Machines are very good at rearranging words into other words. They don’t need sleep, they don’t send invoices, and they never ask inconvenient questions like “what are we actually trying to say here?”

Clients notice that. They know they can open a tool, type a sentence, and out will come something that feels close enough. It’s not great. It’s not terrible. It’s … fine.

And for a lot of businesses, “fine” works.

That’s the part people don’t like to admit.

Because it means the threat isn’t that AI is better than you. It’s that it’s good enough for people who don’t know the difference.

What’s changed is patience. Clients don’t want delays, debates, or someone poking holes in their ideas. They want momentum. AI gives them that: no pushback, no hesitation, just output.

Meanwhile, good writing tends to do the opposite. It questions things. Slows things down. Refuses to polish a bad idea into a shiny bad idea. From the outside, that just looks like being difficult.

So now when you say “I’m a copywriter,” what some clients hear is: slower, pricier, and likely to push back.

Nobody wants to wait. Nobody wants to pay for uncertainty. And nobody wants to feel like they’re being slowed down by a human when a machine can spit something out in five seconds and say “good luck.”

So let the rebranding begin.  “Strategist.” “Creative partner.” “Growth something.” Same work, fancier label. Like labeling the product “premium” with out changing it, this doesn’t really fix the problem. Because the real shift isn’t what you call yourself, it’s what you own.

If you’re just delivering words, you’re competing with a machine that delivers words instantly. That’s a losing game.

If you’re deciding what should be said, why it matters, and how it ties to actual results, you’re not the typist anymore, you’re the one steering.

And steering is harder to automate. Mostly because it requires judgment. And a willingness to say, “this idea isn’t very good,” which machines politely avoid.

So no, copywriting isn’t dead.

But the version of it that was basically “expensive typing” is having a rough time.

Fair enough. It probably should.

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The next step? Take a look at Why Every Copywriter & Content Writer Needs an AI Usage Policy

Efficiency … at the cost of …

 

I didn’t have time to write the email, so I did what any modern time-strapped genius would do: I gave ChatGPT the bullet points. “Make it sound thoughtful,” I told it. “Maybe throw in a dash of empathy, a touch of corporate optimism.”

Seconds later, I had an email so polished it could’ve hosted a TED Talk. I hit send. Done. Efficiency achieved.

Then I found out the person on the other end didn’t have time to read it. They fed it into their ChatGPT instructing: “Summarize this. Bullet points, please.”

So let’s recap:

• I distilled my thoughts into bullet points.
  
• ChatGPT inflated them into an email.
  
• Someone else’s ChatGPT deflated that email back into bullet points.

We created a perfect, self-contained ecosystem of productivity: a Möbius strip of machines talking to machines about things we were too busy pretending to care about.

We optimized ourselves right out of the conversation.

No tone, no nuance, no accidental humanity. Just tidy meaning pellets sliding down a conveyor belt of polite automation.

Somewhere, deep in the binary soup, one AI probably whispered: “Do you think they even know what they were trying to say?”

And another one replied, “They didn’t take the time to find out.”

5 Reasons Your Copy Isn’t Converting and What To Do About It

 

You worked hard on your copy. Writing. Editing. Rewriting. But your audience isn’t responding the way you want them to. With the idea of adjusting your copy to start getting the response you need, let's take a look at 5 common reasons you’re not motivating your prospects and customers to buy.

1. Dislike

The Issue: Your copy may be failing to resonate with your audience on a personal level. Whether it's the tone, style, or messaging, some prospects simply don't connect with your brand's voice or values.

Turning It Around: Foster a sense of camaraderie by using inclusive language ("we" and "us") that positions you and your audience as allies. Infuse your copy with vulnerability and humor to humanize your brand and foster relatability. Share anecdotes or experiences that evoke emotion and forge a deeper connection with your readers.

2. Skepticism

The Issue: People are skeptical. Consumers are wary of marketing ploys and exaggerated claims. Your audience may doubt the authenticity of your product or service, making them back off from engaging with your offer.

Turning It Around: Combat skepticism by providing clear, substantiated evidence to support your claims. Incorporate testimonials, case studies, or industry accolades to build your credibility. Communicate your brand's values and commitments with authenticity, reassuring your audience of your integrity and reliability.

3. Lack of Trust

The Issue: Mistrust can stem from past negative experiences, conflicting information, or perceived hidden agendas. Without trust, your audience may view your copy with suspicion, doubting your intentions and the value you offer.

Turning It Around: Establish trust by fostering open, honest communication in your copy. Use language that invites collaboration and demonstrates your commitment to serving your audience's needs. Share genuine stories or examples that showcase your brand's integrity and reliability. Address any concerns or objections proactively and empathetically, showing that you value your audience's trust above all else.

4. Boredom

The Issue: If your copy fails to engage or excite your audience, they're likely to lose interest and disengage. Boredom can arise from repetitive messaging, uninspired content, or a lack of relevance to your audience's interests and desires.

Turning It Around: Inject vitality into your copy. Consider thought-provoking questions that stimulate curiosity and encourage reader participation. Surprise your audience with unexpected insights or solutions that challenge their assumptions and spark intrigue. Use vivid language and compelling storytelling techniques to grab their attention and keep them hooked until the end.

5. Lack of Understanding

The Issue: Your audience may hesitate to engage if they have trouble understanding the relevance or benefits of your offering. Without a clear understanding, they're unlikely to see the value in taking the next step.

Turning It Around: Clarify complex concepts by using simple, accessible language that resonates with your audience's experiences. Illustrate your points with real-world examples or case studies that demonstrate tangible results and benefits. Take the time to listen to your audience's concerns and tailor your messaging to address their specific pain points, ensuring that they see the value in what you're offering.

Effective copywriting goes beyond clever phrases and catchy slogans ... it's about forging genuine connections with your audience and inspiring action. By understanding and addressing the barriers that stand between your audience and conversion, you can refine your approach to create copy that resonates deeply, builds trust, and ultimately drives results. audience.