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“When Ernest Hemingway famously wrote, “For Sale: baby shoes, never worn”, he proved that an entire story can be told using a half-dozen words.  When the online storytelling magazine SMITH asked readers to submit six word memoirs, they proved a whole, real life can be told this way too.  The results are fascinating, hilarious, shocking, and moving.

From small sages of bittersweet romance (“Found true love, married someone else”) to proud achievements and stinging regrets (“After Harvard, had baby with crackhead”) these terse true tales relate the diversity of human experience in tasty bite-size pieces.”  This is an excerpt from the inside cover of the book, NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING Six Word Memoirs By Writers Famous & Obscure.

I thought perhaps a little inspiration/explanation might spur some readers to participate in the Six Word Memoir challenge.  Each Monday, I try to post Six Word Memoirs sent in by readers of this blog.  I also post 5 or 6 quotes from the above-referenced book.  This Six Word Memoir “thing” is really quite popular.  There are gatherings around the country where people present their own six word memoir similar to a poetry slam.  There have been articles in the New Yorker magazine and today (well right now it IS after midnight) there is a great article on the front page of the Business section of The New York Times!!! Jump on the bandwagon and send your six words.

Creative and destructive in many ways – Meghan DeRoma

I sell hamburgers and french fries – Richard Maurer

Coffee junkie journalist seeks trendy nerd – Jackie Olson

Fight. like hell. for. the. living – Susie Bright

On her birthday, my life began – Lisa Parrack

A door closed, proverbial window opened – Me

Another crossroads, which way to go?? – Me

I look forward to hearing from some of you.  I know it’s summer but really!!!

Related articles

• Bucks: Summing Up Your Job in Just Six Words (bucks.blogs.nytimes.com)