Storytelling Inspired by Ernest Hemingway. Maybe.

Six Words, Endless Stories: The Art of Concise Storytelling

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Legend claims Ernest Hemingway penned these six words, winning a bet that he could craft a complete story in just six words. While the tale's authenticity is debated, it perfectly illustrates the power of concise storytelling.

In our world of limited attention spans, snappy email subject lines, and 280-character tweets, the ability to convey meaning in few words is invaluable. Six-word stories challenge us to distill complex narratives into their essence, creating impact through brevity.

Larry Smith's Six-Word Memoirs Project has inspired countless contributors. Here are some standouts:

• "Found true love. Married someone else." - Dave Eggers

• "Never really finished anything, except cake." - Carletta Perkins

• "Turned lemons into lemonade. Add vodka." - Leah Noble Davidson

• "Longed for him. Got him. Shit." - Margaret Atwood

• “Sent home. Baby born in bathtub.” - Anita Hahn

• “I’m so tired, I’m awake again.” - Chelsea Handler

These micro-narratives prove that powerful storytelling isn't about word count—it's about choosing the right words.

Inspired? Try crafting your own six-word memoir.

Here's mine:

Optimist tackles glass half-empty. Again.

What's your story in six words?

Drop it in the comments to share.

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Words of the Week:

“If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough.” -Oprah Winfrey

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Photo of the Week:

Our new pet.

Goldfish have swum into every corner of my week. It began with a children's story I wrote about a goldfish who lives on a windowsill in NYC until it is mistakenly flushed down the toilet. It lands in a puddle on the subway tracks and begins a new life underground. (Stay tuned for more on this tale in the coming months!)

Then, I stumbled upon news of a Brooklyn artist who transformed a leaky fire hydrant into a goldfish pond. This creative installation sparked a heated debate on the intersection of public art and animal welfare.

The week's goldfish theme culminated just last night when Carolina won this little swimmer at a carnival. She's certain it's a girl, though we're still working on the perfect name. Any suggestions?

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