Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to tell a story in only six words. His response: ”For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
I’m sniffling already, and it’s only a six-word story!
Since then, similar challenges have been thrown out in magazines, books, and blogs: can you tell your life story in six words?
Well, can you?
Here’s a few I’ve come up with:
WHO IS THAT IN MY MIRROR? 
Well, that’s not my life story, but sometimes it’s what I scream to myself in the morning.
LIFE’S HARD, LOVE SOFTENS IT UP 
Life IS hard, I think we all agree. But can you imagine how much harder it would be without your loved ones? Your friends, your spouse or significant other, your children or nieces/nephews? Since I’ve been old enough to wonder about the meaning of life, about why we’re even here, I’ve figured out that it’s all about the love.
I’M STILL 30, KIDS CATCHING UP
That’s how I feel – like I’m 30 years old and having a heck of a time each day making it through my job, my joys, my fears, my … but wait. My son tells me he’s 30? How’d he catch up to me like that?
I love the title of a book that published six-word memoirs by “Writers Famous and Obscure” (2008) called Not Quite What I Was Planning.
I imagine that’s how most of us feel by the time we’ve reached a certain age. Are you nodding your head? Did you plan to be where you are, who you are, years ago? Doubtful!
Oh, here’s another one I just thought of:
BORN. EDUCATED. MARRIED. FAMILY. NOW FUN!
Spoken like the empty nester that I am. Yes, Virginia, there is life after 50 (um, and even later!)
My turn now to challenge YOU. I dare you to send me (in the comment section) your six-word story or memoir.
Come on, you can do it!
Daughter. Friend. Wife. Mother. Gramma. Me?
By: Anonymous on June 29, 2012
at 2:12 pm
I know exactly what you mean!!!
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 2:51 pm
Type. Type. Type. Type. Finish. Repeat.
By: Laurie Buchanan on June 29, 2012
at 2:22 pm
You are a writer, for sure!
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 2:51 pm
Keep making the best of things.
By: Barbara Rodgers on June 29, 2012
at 2:30 pm
And pray that ‘things’ are good. :+)
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 2:52 pm
WOW – am I ever thankful for my life! Marcia
By: Anonymous on June 29, 2012
at 2:40 pm
Am I ever thankful for YOU.
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 2:53 pm
I have 2 sentences that only work when they are together.
Take a minute for your self.
Give a lifetime to other people.
By: Leslie on June 29, 2012
at 3:22 pm
A wonderful philosophy for good living!
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 8:51 pm
It was a dark, stormy night.
By: Melaney Jordan on June 29, 2012
at 3:35 pm
Perfect way to start a story. :+)
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 8:52 pm
Unexpected writer, loves being a grandma!
By: mywithershins on June 29, 2012
at 5:15 pm
And good at both, I bet!
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 8:52 pm
Life changes, roller coaster ~ up/down….
By: Sandi on June 29, 2012
at 8:08 pm
Hopefully, more UP than down times. :+0
By: roughwighting1 on June 29, 2012
at 8:54 pm
Hi,
I loved the little stories you came up with, well done.
By: magsx2 on June 29, 2012
at 9:37 pm
I love how we share them!
(THANK YOU!!)
By: roughwighting1 on June 30, 2012
at 2:41 pm
Life is a journey, enjoy it!
By: Anonymous on June 29, 2012
at 11:59 pm
The miles go by so fast.
By: roughwighting1 on June 30, 2012
at 12:52 am
My kids are catching up too! How does that happen, lol?
By: Joanna Aislinn on June 30, 2012
at 12:20 am
They age faster than we do!! :+)
By: roughwighting1 on June 30, 2012
at 12:51 am
I like that concept, lol.
By: Joanna Aislinn on June 30, 2012
at 1:29 am
And thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday
By: Joanna Aislinn on June 30, 2012
at 12:21 am
The pleasure part of MY passion.
(plagerized from YOU..)
By: roughwighting1 on June 30, 2012
at 12:54 am
LOL. You would have gotten away with plagerizing me. I already forgot I said that
By: Joanna Aislinn on June 30, 2012
at 1:29 am
every new moment, wisdom, understanding, love
By: julie gallagher on June 30, 2012
at 10:47 am
Beautiful words from a wise woman…
By: roughwighting1 on June 30, 2012
at 2:42 pm
Let’s just keep things very simple!
By: Elizabeth Haysmont on June 30, 2012
at 9:13 pm
To quote Thoreau: “Simplify, simplify, simplify.”
By: roughwighting1 on July 1, 2012
at 12:13 am
Hi!
Your blog post and challenge is one of the better writing ones I’ve read. And this is my 1st visit. I came because of a tweet on Twitter.
Here I go:
Too many bends in my road
Monique
By: mliddle on July 1, 2012
at 1:48 am
That is a new classic! “TOO MANY BENDS IN MY ROAD.” Thank you, wonderful job. Glad you stopped on by.
By: roughwighting1 on July 1, 2012
at 9:57 pm
I adjusted my blog name, which is a reflection of my life story:
http://www.BendsInTheRoad.com
By: mliddle on July 1, 2012
at 10:58 pm
Perfect – I subscribed.
By: roughwighting1 on July 2, 2012
at 12:04 am
You won’t believe this, but today at “Old Home Day” there was a booth that posted peoples feelings about the day “in six words”! Here I go…Wishing every day was July 4th
By: Anonymous on July 1, 2012
at 2:31 am
Enjoy each day as a celebration!
What a wonderful town that celebrates “Old Home Day,” a true celebration of the 4th.
By: roughwighting1 on July 1, 2012
at 10:02 pm
The fun never ends. More, please!
By: Jean on July 1, 2012
at 7:04 pm
When you smile, the world smiles. :+)
By: roughwighting1 on July 1, 2012
at 10:04 pm
Do titles count? Aw heck.
Pride goeth
Slick fashion runway. Ten inch platforms.
Joy
Buttery puppy belly and milk breath.
Grandma
You’re talking. Lemme hold the baby!
Murder 101
Empty pill ring, Empty glass. Thud.
In imitation of a master
For sale: wedding dress. Got divorce.
I think that’s all I can think of for the moment! Great challenge.
Here’s a whole site of them: http://www.sixwordstories.net/
Hope you have fun!
By: Melanie Marttila on July 1, 2012
at 8:01 pm
Your titles lead to fascinating stories.
Thanks for joining in the challenge so creatively!
By: roughwighting1 on July 1, 2012
at 10:07 pm
confused, okay with it, I’m 41
By: Anonymous on July 2, 2012
at 1:28 pm
Sorry Pam,, that was me Shannon, not sure why it showed up as anonymous
By: Anonymous on July 2, 2012
at 1:29 pm
Confusion doesn’t get better at 60! :+)
By: roughwighting1 on July 2, 2012
at 11:59 pm
Southern lawyer, mother, dreamer, wannabe writer.
(Whew. That is hard!)
By: Writerlious on July 2, 2012
at 2:36 pm
Not wannabe – all that and more!
By: roughwighting1 on July 3, 2012
at 12:00 am
Education. Career. Success. Retire. Peace. Joy!
By: linda shepherd-moyer on July 3, 2012
at 8:38 pm
Congrats. Congrats. Congrats. Congrats. Congrats. Congrats! :+)
By: roughwighting1 on July 3, 2012
at 9:09 pm
In case you missed my first ‘six-word’ reply here’s another:
Too Much Work, Now Play Time!
By: roughwighting1 on August 6, 2012
at 1:37 pm
I stink at short and sweet.
Very tongue-in-cheek of me
By: Jen on July 6, 2012
at 12:27 am
You write these six words well!
By: roughwighting1 on July 6, 2012
at 1:06 am
Difficult challenge… Take a look at this: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18768430
In the meantime, my fortune-cookie sized memoir: Don’t know how now, but I will soon.
By: Sarahlynn Pablo on July 9, 2012
at 9:20 pm
Great npr link. And wonderful bite-sized memoir. Makes me think of where I am now, which is: Know how, just don’t know when!
By: roughwighting1 on July 9, 2012
at 9:26 pm
Not enough time for friends….SMILE!!
By: Sue C. Culin on July 16, 2012
at 3:30 pm
Thank goodness for friends who smile!
Loved that you played along with the 6-word story.
By: roughwighting1 on July 18, 2012
at 10:23 pm
Can I come up with six words? Yes. But mine sounds more like a list that a story:
Flush toilet, be thankful, start party.
By: Sherry Isaac on July 19, 2012
at 11:43 am
Wonderful words to live by happily! :+)
By: roughwighting1 on July 20, 2012
at 1:47 am
Release the pain – write it out!
By: Worldly Winds on July 21, 2012
at 10:16 pm
Yes, writing is the best therapy!
By: roughwighting1 on July 22, 2012
at 5:34 pm
I always thought the song ‘No milk today’ told a great story in three words. But that was not mine My stories start – Gone for a walk, back soon. Once it finished ‘hung up my boots twisted ankle’.
Good game, it was fun writing.
By: Kerry Dwyer on August 12, 2012
at 5:24 pm
Ohhh, I think I’ll ‘borrow’ yours – ‘gone for a walk, back soon.’ Yes, that one is perfect for me too. Thanks for playing!
By: roughwighting1 on August 13, 2012
at 1:42 pm
You are welcome.
By: Kerry Dwyer on August 13, 2012
at 2:21 pm
Dad wanted a boy …
Only four words – summing up a deep sense of rejection, which led me to subtly sabotage my creative talents for decades. However, it also made me study subjects Joseph Campbell encapsulated in these words: ‘A myth is a public dream, a dream is a private myth.’ My novels deal with such themes.
By: courseofmirrors on September 17, 2012
at 7:19 am
Here is my 6 word life-story:
‘Looking for Home, finding my Heart’
By: Christine on September 26, 2012
at 12:28 pm
Exactly where the heart should be!
By: roughwighting on September 26, 2012
at 1:22 pm
I wake. I eat. I write. I sleep.
Shoot! That’s eight words!
By: Jennifer M Eaton on October 2, 2012
at 6:48 pm
But I hear you, Just try:
My life: wake. eat. write. sleep.
Perfect! Happy writing life to you.
By: roughwighting on October 2, 2012
at 10:43 pm
Yay! Look at you go! I try to be all noun-verby
By: Jennifer M Eaton on October 3, 2012
at 2:55 am
:+)
By: roughwighting on October 3, 2012
at 1:10 pm
god gives peace, love and wisdom
By: Julie Gallagher on October 5, 2012
at 3:03 pm
Halleluiah, and amen to that.
By: roughwighting on October 5, 2012
at 3:24 pm
God provides. Connection matters. Family’s sacred.
[Okay, so I cheated a bit with “Family’s”
.
By: Elizabeth H Cottrell (@RiverwoodWriter) on October 17, 2012
at 2:58 pm
That’s not cheating. That’s the truth!
Beautiful six-word-story job. Thanks.
By: roughwighting on October 18, 2012
at 12:38 am