Another writer whose career was closely connected to another profession was Ernest Hemingway. He worked as a journalist and newspaper reporter before becoming one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century. His experience as a journalist influenced his direct and economical writing style. Hemingway also served as an ambulance driver during the First World War and worked as a war correspondent during later conflicts. His experiences with war, travel, and journalism became important sources of inspiration for his novels and short stories.
John Steinbeck, the author of The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, also had a variety of jobs before becoming successful. He worked as a laborer, caretaker, construction worker, and agricultural worker. These experiences allowed him to understand the difficulties faced by ordinary working people. His writing often focuses on poverty, unemployment, migration, friendship, and the struggles of workers. His knowledge of working-class life made his characters and settings particularly realistic.
