Prompted by an English assignment I sit at my computer desktop at 11pm on a Saturday night pondering a challenging 'simple prompt.' In six words I am asked to encompass sixteen years of life, love, friends, family and experiences. In six words I am expected to convey an unruly personality that struggles with being both an introvert and an extrovert, an optimist and a pessimist, a hard worker and a couch potato, an idealist and a realist and a bright smile with a wounded soul. How does one define themselves in six words?
It may be a grueling task that requires countless revisions and drafts to master or a bountiful playground of creative opportunity. Nevertheless in the six word memoir writers are expected to strip flowery writing language and literature to devices and expose themselves in the most simplified version possible. Here are some examples from Smith Magazine's Six Word Memoir Contest:
Found myself in the music's lyrics. (@caralongwrites)
The right words make anything beautiful. (@Artistgirl)
Guarded but my armor's not visible. (@SiltySweet)
Mothers and daughters. An explosive institution. (@Oh_Skinny)
Sabbatical didn't work. Quitting work did. (@Amapola)
Shrugging off the weight of regret. (@canadafreeze)
Thanksgiving: Extending olive branches and tables. (@J3nny)
Sometimes dreams are put on hold. (@LotrFox)
Six words. Infinite Meanings. Each of these memoirs carry lives and stories beyond their condensed phrases. First coined by Ernest Hemingway: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." the six word memoir has taken on a path of its own. Although the Hemingway's short story does not identify with his personality, it serves as a prime example of this unique writing style. Hemingway, known for his condensed "true sentences," spotlighted a groundbreaking trend that has been practiced decades after his death. From the punctuation to diction the six word memoir stresses the small details, reserving no room for unneeded extravagance.
In six words who are you? What do you believe in? What are your hopes and fears, your soul crushing experiences and your beloved milestones? In six words how would you convey a lifetime worth of memories? Rack your brain for a few minutes and comment below with what you come up with. Who knows it might even be cathartic.
"Hot Mess" searching for cleaning service.
