In this paper I will introduce a theory of composition based on the work and commentary of Ernest Hemingway. Although there has been some talk of a Hemingway theory of composition, and some of its aspects are well known, it has only partially been compiled into a whole before. Hemingway’s writing technique has a number of well-known qualities that will make their way into this theory, and thus some of this material and data is already well known, not least the impact of journalism in Hemingway’s theory.