Ernest Hemingway makes great copy. So many articles simply must put in a Hemingway angle. Take this January 3, 2007 article from The Daily Telegraph, which begins: "A fast-growing chain of noodle restaurants that claims to serve only fish from healthy stocks has taken blue marlin off the menu after an investigation by The Daily Telegraph." If you were going to give this article the appropriate headline, what would it be?

I might go with something along the lines of: "Noodle Restaurant Chain Takes Marlin Off Menu." Not exciting I know, but accurate. How about "Marlin To Be Removed From Menu After Investigation." A little more attention grabbing, but it is still missing something. Let's try: "Hemingway's Favourite Fish Escapes Dish." This headline mentions Hemingway, the fact that marlin was his favorite fish, and on top of that, it rhymes. That's a winner. Too bad The Daily Telegraph thought of it first.

Hemingway is mentioned twice in the article. He is recognized as a reason why blue marlin has become the "ultimate sporting fish." Then his book, The Old Man and the Sea takes a bow for being "one of the pinnacles of fishing literature." Only two mentions and Hemingway's name still grabs the headline. Now a closing headline for this blog post: "Hemingway To Never Stop Making Great Copy."