Saturday, February 2, 2013

Six Word Stories



Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write an interesting story in six words.

His six-word story read:  "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Smith Magazine decided to be like Hemingway and ask their readers to come up with six-word memoirs about themselves, and the results were overwhelming. The first collection of over 1,000 responses was put into a book entitled Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs from Writers Famous & Obscure,  and contained quotes from the likes of Deepak Chopra, Moby and many other celebrities. It also became a New York Times bestseller.

This was followed by Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs from Writers Famous & Obscure, Smith released Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak, and  I Can't Keep My Own Secrets--Six-Word Memoirs by Teens: Famous & Obscure.

We are now a world of 140 spaces and quick information, our attention spans being reduced as the methods of spreading information reduces the size of the world.

Yet somehow this, possibly the tiniest of all personal diaries, makes us slow down and look.

We quickly learn about one another, and the impersonal world of fast information is somehow made personal again.

Here is my Six Word Memoir:  My soul is not my fault.

I hope you will leave your own Six Word Memoir in the comments.

Here are some of the latest from the Smith Magazine site:

My groundhog plans to sleep in.
(by Believe)

Followed my gut and got lost.
(by Bohemdeb)

I'm a bad influence on myself.
(byTawnyPort)

I am looking forward to reading your Six Word Memoirs!!

http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/




36 comments:

  1. I love this. I completely forgot about the notion of Six Word Stories. Hemingway's "Baby Shoes" always left me with a strangely dark feeling... My mind always goes to the bad place...Did the baby die? Or did they simply not fit? Perhaps it's the horror author in me.

    My Six Word Story...
    Wish I never left New York.

    Thanks for a great post!
    Brooklyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too!!
      I guess my dark side shows also.
      And I wish you never left New York either!!
      Thanks for the comment--love when you stop by.
      XO
      Pen

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  2. This is great...! Right now, I'm trying to get an afghan made for my sister whose birthday is in another week...I think I could think of several but right now, I think mine would be:

    "Crochet makes string into something warm."

    Of course, this one also applies..."I wish I was somewhere HOT!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm!!!
      Both of yours reference heat!!
      It must be cold where you are ma'am.
      I know it is too cold here that is for sure.
      ANd I'm with you--an island would be great right now...
      XO
      Pen

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  3. You are the second person pining for NYC!!
    I would miss it too--and glad the second one is NOT about me--or at least I HOPE it's not! ;)
    Thanks for coming by Elena!
    XO
    Pen

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  4. ohmygosh...no, it's not about you!!! It's my NYC nemesis. Haha!

    ReplyDelete
  5. A different twist on things...mine is...

    Dead women don't wear girdles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol!!
      Hahaha!!!
      No way sister--no girdles around here either...I'm lucky if...
      Never mind--I'm not going there!!
      Thanks for making me laugh.
      XO
      Pen

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  6. Phew!!
    Glad you told me!!
    And glad I'm not the nemesis...:)
    XO

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  7. My neighbor is killing the vibe.

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    Replies
    1. Oh Van that one could go in so many directions I am not going to BEGIN to guess...and with my luck it would be the wrong one anyway :)
      Sorry about the rotten neighbor--hope they are decent on the other side. :P
      XO
      Pen
      Ya know--this one is intriguing!! I wanna know what the hell is going on!

      Delete
  8. "Squeeze love to the last drop."

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    Replies
    1. Awww.
      Glad you added this one.
      I think you may the title of a new book here.
      XO

      Delete
  9. This is so great! Love it! I couldn't figure out how to sign in with my google account, so I'm posting as anonymous. Sorry about that. So here's my cornball version: Fairy tale started with a click.

    See you in a couple hours! Lynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YAY!!! So glad you figured how to sign it AT ALL!
      And I'm glad to see that there is a chance to find true love in this world--and even happier that YOU did :)
      And in my opinion not cornball but lovely.
      So glad you commented--made me smile.
      XO
      Pen
      I have to start clicking soon! I'm gonna click 'til I have carpal tunnel...

      Delete
    2. Aww! thank you!!!!!! and btw hahahaha!!!!!

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    3. She steered toward the darkening horizon.

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    4. Very cool Nevada.
      I think you have the beginnings of a book there...
      :)
      Pen

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  10. Mine might be:
    Live life like a fairy tale

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Katheryn I love that one.
      I have--but for some reason with me it seems to bite me in the ass...maybe my fairy tale is Little Red Riding Hood :)
      Thanks for coming by!
      You are the second fairy tale mention today--maybe it is an obtuse message for me from the universe...
      XO
      Pen

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  11. Love this, Pen!
    Every thing happens for a reason
    I cheated a bit, but it's my motto. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like 6 words to me Beverly!
      And I say that ALL the time!
      Sometimes what you think is bad timing or rotten luck is exactly the opposite.
      Glad you stopped by.
      XO
      Pen

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  12. Look backward, look forward - you choose.

    gogramma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't believe you finally commented here!!! YAY!!!
      This one is totally great--love it!
      SO.. which way do YOU choose to look??
      Or is it a little bit of both ways...
      SO glad you came by!
      XO
      Pen

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  13. Man, I wish my brain weren't so fried from my day job; I dig this so much but all the six word stories are coming to me from songs. "I'm holding out for a hero." "All I need is a miracle." The only (not so original) thought I'm coming up with is "I'm too stupid to give up." ::sighs::

    Some Dark Romantic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The energy sucking day job will hopefully soon be a thing of the past for us!
      And if that is stupid then stay dumb like Oprah, Steve Jobs, Milton Hershey and all the others who had to try 7 million times :)
      Now I have six words songs in my head: She's got a ticket to ride (Beatles), From the window of your rented limousine (Zep), Dead leaves and the dirty ground (White Stripes)--maybe there is something to the six word thing...
      And now I am going to be doing this all day!
      Love it when you come by Mina-
      XO
      Pen

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  14. Opened my eyes...shut them quickly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooooh Jason good one.
      And of course now I am wondering in what context...
      This is so neat--and frustrating.
      I get these little peeks into people's psyche--but not quite enough!! AAAhhhh!!!
      SO glad you came by Jason!
      XO
      Pen

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  15. Hear, hear on freedom to write ALL THE TIME!!! :-)

    I always have a great time reading your blog, Lady. My recent blog post has a video in it that's freaky and might possibly entertain you. Here's the link, if you'd like to check it out (it's the first video of three, but read the intro text/warning first before viewing!)
    Some Dark Romantic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooo!!
      Heading on over!
      Anything with a warning gets me--and since it is yours it will be double good...
      XO

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    2. Well deserved warning there ma'am!!
      I looooved it--as you knew I would...
      XO

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  16. Most questions have two simple choices.

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    1. I think that is true Paul.
      My mind automatically takes me if 50 directions for almost anything. If I could just keep this in my head it would help me in many situations.
      Maybe there is something about the compliations I like... :P
      And if you take it even more micro one of those choices is probably blatantly and obviously the right answer.
      Glad you are coming back around Paul :)
      XO
      Pen

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  17. Beyond mystery is knowledge if sought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Masado--I like it.
      I think you wrote the key there--if sought.
      I'm glad you stopped by, come again,
      XO
      Pen

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