Mary Jo here. Are you familiar with the six word story? Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was sitting in a bar (naturally!) when he was challenged to tell a complete story in as few words as possible. He replied:
For sale. Baby shoes, never worn.
And there it is–a poignant six word story of hope and loss.
More recently, the idea of a six word memoir has been crystallized by Larry Smith in the Smith Magazine , an online publication devoted to populist story telling. Everyone is invited to participate. The tagline on the homepage of the website is a neat six words:
"Everyone has a story. What's yours?"
I'd come across the six word story idea before, but didn't think a lot about it until 
I impulsively bought a sale e-copy of It All Changed in an Instant, a collection of six word memoirs. I started reading the volume over lunch, and really, these are addictive as potato chips! Here are some I particularly enjoyed; look at the breadth of stories and emotions, humor and regret, dreams and reality!:
"Master of none; okay with that." (Carmen McGee)
"No longer youngest daughter. Youngest son." (Adrien Arnao)
"I turned eleven. No Hogwarts letter." (Laura Murray)
"Unraveled career, reknitted as baby blankets." (Clare Hobba)
"Smart girl wants love, gets dog." (Kathryn Horning)
"Married Russian. Brush teeth with vodka." (Curt Brandao)
"Made weird children–will die proud." (Rachel Pealer)
"Straight-A student, now flunking judgment." (Miranda Kaplan)
"Caring for critters saved my sanity." (Kelly Meister)
"Born with big nose. Pursued comedy." (Andy Borowitz)
"Ten years, 100,000 dollars; indentured MD." (Andrea Skaggs)
See what I mean about addictive? I could go on and on except that at some point it would become plagiarism!
Now I want to encourage you to write and share six word memoirs of your own. When I thought about my life memoir, I almost immediately came up with:
Loved to read, decided to write.
And here I am. <G>
Larry Smith and his co-editor, Rachel Ferschleiser, have published several collections of six word memoirs, including Not Quite What I was Planning, Six Word Memoirs of Love and Heartbreak, and I Can't Keep My Own Secrets–Six Word Memoirs by Teens.
(If you'd like to buy one, Not Quite What I Was Planning is priced at $2.99 for the Kindle edition. )
I thought about a six word summary of my romantic life, and came up with:
Luckily I like smart, nice guys.
I also thought about pets:
Love cats. They keep you humble.
So what are your stories? Please share!
Mary Jo
(Not-necessarily-my-life in six.)
Born for greatness, then life happened.
Sky was limit, lucky to succeed.
She was hurt, he didn’t notice.
Boy gets girl. Boy is sorry.
Boy gets girl. Girl is sorry.
Red Ridinghood bites wolf. That’s news!
These boots for walking? Sore feet!
I waste time. Or do I?
(Six words enough. Even five.)
Sometimes joy comes in little packages.
Little glimpses of immortality. The End.
(Not-necessarily-my-life in six.)
Born for greatness, then life happened.
Sky was limit, lucky to succeed.
She was hurt, he didn’t notice.
Boy gets girl. Boy is sorry.
Boy gets girl. Girl is sorry.
Red Ridinghood bites wolf. That’s news!
These boots for walking? Sore feet!
I waste time. Or do I?
(Six words enough. Even five.)
Sometimes joy comes in little packages.
Little glimpses of immortality. The End.
(Not-necessarily-my-life in six.)
Born for greatness, then life happened.
Sky was limit, lucky to succeed.
She was hurt, he didn’t notice.
Boy gets girl. Boy is sorry.
Boy gets girl. Girl is sorry.
Red Ridinghood bites wolf. That’s news!
These boots for walking? Sore feet!
I waste time. Or do I?
(Six words enough. Even five.)
Sometimes joy comes in little packages.
Little glimpses of immortality. The End.
(Not-necessarily-my-life in six.)
Born for greatness, then life happened.
Sky was limit, lucky to succeed.
She was hurt, he didn’t notice.
Boy gets girl. Boy is sorry.
Boy gets girl. Girl is sorry.
Red Ridinghood bites wolf. That’s news!
These boots for walking? Sore feet!
I waste time. Or do I?
(Six words enough. Even five.)
Sometimes joy comes in little packages.
Little glimpses of immortality. The End.
(Not-necessarily-my-life in six.)
Born for greatness, then life happened.
Sky was limit, lucky to succeed.
She was hurt, he didn’t notice.
Boy gets girl. Boy is sorry.
Boy gets girl. Girl is sorry.
Red Ridinghood bites wolf. That’s news!
These boots for walking? Sore feet!
I waste time. Or do I?
(Six words enough. Even five.)
Sometimes joy comes in little packages.
Little glimpses of immortality. The End.
“Gratitude and optimism equal happy living.”
The above has not always been true in my life, but I think it is the key to living your best life. What a fun exercise!
“Gratitude and optimism equal happy living.”
The above has not always been true in my life, but I think it is the key to living your best life. What a fun exercise!
“Gratitude and optimism equal happy living.”
The above has not always been true in my life, but I think it is the key to living your best life. What a fun exercise!
“Gratitude and optimism equal happy living.”
The above has not always been true in my life, but I think it is the key to living your best life. What a fun exercise!
“Gratitude and optimism equal happy living.”
The above has not always been true in my life, but I think it is the key to living your best life. What a fun exercise!
Good life from ignored other plans.
Good life from ignored other plans.
Good life from ignored other plans.
Good life from ignored other plans.
Good life from ignored other plans.
LOL! That’s a great collection, Mary M. Thank you.
LOL! That’s a great collection, Mary M. Thank you.
LOL! That’s a great collection, Mary M. Thank you.
LOL! That’s a great collection, Mary M. Thank you.
LOL! That’s a great collection, Mary M. Thank you.
Mary M, I think that’s a great philosophy. Our grandmothers would have stitched it on a sampler as a good reminder of how to live life. Thanks.
Mary M, I think that’s a great philosophy. Our grandmothers would have stitched it on a sampler as a good reminder of how to live life. Thanks.
Mary M, I think that’s a great philosophy. Our grandmothers would have stitched it on a sampler as a good reminder of how to live life. Thanks.
Mary M, I think that’s a great philosophy. Our grandmothers would have stitched it on a sampler as a good reminder of how to live life. Thanks.
Mary M, I think that’s a great philosophy. Our grandmothers would have stitched it on a sampler as a good reminder of how to live life. Thanks.
Sue, isn’t that how life works? It’s related to “Life is what happens when you’re getting organized.” Which is eight words, so less efficient. Some plans deserve to be ignored.
Sue, isn’t that how life works? It’s related to “Life is what happens when you’re getting organized.” Which is eight words, so less efficient. Some plans deserve to be ignored.
Sue, isn’t that how life works? It’s related to “Life is what happens when you’re getting organized.” Which is eight words, so less efficient. Some plans deserve to be ignored.
Sue, isn’t that how life works? It’s related to “Life is what happens when you’re getting organized.” Which is eight words, so less efficient. Some plans deserve to be ignored.
Sue, isn’t that how life works? It’s related to “Life is what happens when you’re getting organized.” Which is eight words, so less efficient. Some plans deserve to be ignored.
“Followed my passion through rewarding Chiaroscuro.”
It sounds like I’m an artist but actually I’m a social worker … and wife, lover, mother, sister, child, writer, crafter, etc
“Followed my passion through rewarding Chiaroscuro.”
It sounds like I’m an artist but actually I’m a social worker … and wife, lover, mother, sister, child, writer, crafter, etc
“Followed my passion through rewarding Chiaroscuro.”
It sounds like I’m an artist but actually I’m a social worker … and wife, lover, mother, sister, child, writer, crafter, etc
“Followed my passion through rewarding Chiaroscuro.”
It sounds like I’m an artist but actually I’m a social worker … and wife, lover, mother, sister, child, writer, crafter, etc
“Followed my passion through rewarding Chiaroscuro.”
It sounds like I’m an artist but actually I’m a social worker … and wife, lover, mother, sister, child, writer, crafter, etc
I.Am.All.Over.The.Place.
I am. All over the place.
I am all over. No place.
I.Am.All.Over.The.Place.
I am. All over the place.
I am all over. No place.
I.Am.All.Over.The.Place.
I am. All over the place.
I am all over. No place.
I.Am.All.Over.The.Place.
I am. All over the place.
I am all over. No place.
I.Am.All.Over.The.Place.
I am. All over the place.
I am all over. No place.
Love the idea of Chiaroscuro being part of your memoir! That does make sense, given the complex roles you inhabit to make a full life.
Love the idea of Chiaroscuro being part of your memoir! That does make sense, given the complex roles you inhabit to make a full life.
Love the idea of Chiaroscuro being part of your memoir! That does make sense, given the complex roles you inhabit to make a full life.
Love the idea of Chiaroscuro being part of your memoir! That does make sense, given the complex roles you inhabit to make a full life.
Love the idea of Chiaroscuro being part of your memoir! That does make sense, given the complex roles you inhabit to make a full life.
Jay Hicks, interesting how punctuation gives different spins and similar definitions. Though morphing from the place to no place is an intriguing twist, too.
Jay Hicks, interesting how punctuation gives different spins and similar definitions. Though morphing from the place to no place is an intriguing twist, too.
Jay Hicks, interesting how punctuation gives different spins and similar definitions. Though morphing from the place to no place is an intriguing twist, too.
Jay Hicks, interesting how punctuation gives different spins and similar definitions. Though morphing from the place to no place is an intriguing twist, too.
Jay Hicks, interesting how punctuation gives different spins and similar definitions. Though morphing from the place to no place is an intriguing twist, too.
Reads every day. Never enough books…
Work; buy books… reminder; rent too!
Living the dream; happily ever after!!
Loving children came; grew; and left…
Loved family so much; “adopted” more!!
Thirty years; still can’t resist them.
Donesn’t need money; just needs love.
All so true; can’t pick one!! 🙂
Reads every day. Never enough books…
Work; buy books… reminder; rent too!
Living the dream; happily ever after!!
Loving children came; grew; and left…
Loved family so much; “adopted” more!!
Thirty years; still can’t resist them.
Donesn’t need money; just needs love.
All so true; can’t pick one!! 🙂
Reads every day. Never enough books…
Work; buy books… reminder; rent too!
Living the dream; happily ever after!!
Loving children came; grew; and left…
Loved family so much; “adopted” more!!
Thirty years; still can’t resist them.
Donesn’t need money; just needs love.
All so true; can’t pick one!! 🙂
Reads every day. Never enough books…
Work; buy books… reminder; rent too!
Living the dream; happily ever after!!
Loving children came; grew; and left…
Loved family so much; “adopted” more!!
Thirty years; still can’t resist them.
Donesn’t need money; just needs love.
All so true; can’t pick one!! 🙂
Reads every day. Never enough books…
Work; buy books… reminder; rent too!
Living the dream; happily ever after!!
Loving children came; grew; and left…
Loved family so much; “adopted” more!!
Thirty years; still can’t resist them.
Donesn’t need money; just needs love.
All so true; can’t pick one!! 🙂
Youngest. Then Middle. Then Oldest. Old.
Youngest. Then Middle. Then Oldest. Old.
Youngest. Then Middle. Then Oldest. Old.
Youngest. Then Middle. Then Oldest. Old.
Youngest. Then Middle. Then Oldest. Old.
Poignantly put. <3
Poignantly put. <3
Poignantly put. <3
Poignantly put. <3
Poignantly put. <3
All true is wonderful, Karen! A testament to a live well lived, and loved.
All true is wonderful, Karen! A testament to a live well lived, and loved.
All true is wonderful, Karen! A testament to a live well lived, and loved.
All true is wonderful, Karen! A testament to a live well lived, and loved.
All true is wonderful, Karen! A testament to a live well lived, and loved.
Rose,e I feel that one, too!
Rose,e I feel that one, too!
Rose,e I feel that one, too!
Rose,e I feel that one, too!
Rose,e I feel that one, too!