Six Word Memoirs.

In an earlier post, I mentioned that it has been observed that I have a tendency to use more words than might be necessary to get my point across.

See? If I re-did that sentence I could simply say: In an earlier post, I mentioned that it has been observed that I have a tendency to use more words than might be necessary to get my point across. I’ve ne’er been known for brevity. Whatevs.

Imagine my dismay when I heard about Smith Magazine’s Six Words Memoirs, which provokes writers with the following challenge: “One Life. Six Words. What’s Yours?”

From Wiki:

Smith was founded January 6, 2006, by Larry Smith and Tim Barko. Taking a cue from novelist Ernest Hemingway, who, according to literary legend, was once challenged to write a short story in only six words, Smith Magazine set out to do the same. Hemingway’s six-word story read: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

In November 2006, Smith’s editors Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser gave the six-word story a personal twist, asking Smith readers to tell their life story in just six-words. Smith readers submitted their six-words via http://www.smithmag.net, and Smith’s Twitter account. In early 2007, Smith signed with Harper Perennial to create the Six-Word Memoir book series.

The New Yorker published a piece about some of the entries into Smith’s book contest, which was followed by a book party where invitees and contest winners were encouraged to write their memoirs on a nametag. “Six words, so much freakin’ pressure” mine would have probably read.

Ever interested in new opportunities to create community, I sent the challenge out to my family and friends. A few highlights from their responses:

living my life like its golden
Love to live; Live to Love.
Children remember blessings abound when Christ’s around.

The last one with 7 words was submitted by my Mom. Clearly, verbosity runs in the family.

It was a challenge to reduce my life to SIX WORDS so I tried to focus only on what mattered. My first draft was 9 words and I could hear Dave Chappelle yelling “Wrap It Up.” Here’s my second and final draft:

Vulnerably encountered Creation, thoughts became things.

Me likey.

Let me know in the comments below if you take the challenge. I’d love to read your six words.