The Six-Word Memoir

A good friend recently gave me a copy of the article below that appeared originally in the LA Times.  I thought it might be a fun challenge for regular readers here and at Book Nerds on FaceBook.  So, give it a try. Read the article and then post your own six-word memoir here and/or at Book Nerds. 

From Los Angeles Times

Everyone has a story. That’s the tag on the masthead of SMITH, our online magazine. Yet until we asked the world to send us six-word memoirs, even we had no idea how true is was.

We took a page from Ernest Hemingway. According to legend, he was challenged to write a novel in only six words, and came up with For sale: baby shoes never worn. We posed the same challenge on-line, but we asked for true-life stories – in just half a dozen well-chosen words.

To launch the challenge, we posted examples from names we figured most readers would know such as Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert (Me see world! Me write stories! ) and celebrity chef Mario Batali (Brought it to a boil, often).

More than 15,0000 (and counting) submission later, we are continually struck by what proves possible in just six words. The short, short life stories keep coming in. As we type this, a quick glance reveals that Emily Hambridge “wanted to write but feared failure.” With half a doze words and a few clicks of the keyboard, she’s just rewritten the story of her life.

What’s yours?

Ex-wife and contractor now have house – Drew Peck

Found true love, married someone else – Bjorn Stromberg

Fifteen years since last professional haircut – Dave Eggers

One Tooth, one cavity. Life’s cruel. - John Bettencourt

Must remember: people, gadgets. That order. – Brian Lam

Made a mess. Cleaned it up. – Amy Anderson

Put whole self in, shook about. – Melissa Delzio

My second-grade teacher was right. – Janelle Brown

Well, I thought it was funny. – Stephen Colbert

Where the hell are my keys? – Brady Udall

Dad wore leather pants in Reno – John Falk

Secret of life: Marry an Italian – Nora Ephron

Little bit Lucy, tempered by Ethel – Tami Maus

I think, therefore I am bald – Dickie Widjaja

Took scenic route, got in late – Will Blythe

Being a monk stunk. Better gay. – Bob Redman

Became my mother. Please shoot me. – Cynthia Kaplan

Should not have eaten those mushrooms – Emilie Raguso

Was father, boys died, still sad. – Ronald Zalewski

ABCs MTV SATs THC IRA NPR – Jancee Dunn

It’s pretty high. You go first. – Alan Eagle

Me: consistently avoiding death since 1978! – Daniel Fowlkes