Six Word Memoirs

Legend has it that the famous writer Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in six words. He wrote: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” The power of this story lies in the questions and possible meanings that the words could have. Why are the shoes being sold? What happened to the baby? Why haven’t the shoes been worn?

Years later, in 2006, a magazine publisher revised the challenge for his readers. He asked them to write about their lives in six words. The readers responded, and since then he has published more than a million of their stories.

What about you? What’s your story? I invite you to create your own six-word memoir. Write about your life, what you are doing, thinking, or dreaming. You can use sentences. Or not. Use punctuation to help guide readers to your message.

But remember, only six words. Feel free to share them using the Comments tab.

I’ll start with a couple:

Eat, write, exercise, sleep, dream. Repeat.

I am not what I do.

I’m Cheerios, cheese, and chewing gum.

Your turn…

104 comments

  1. conway says:

    turtle, cat, dog, friends, games, repeat

  2. Karson says:

    Nintendo Switch, Video Games, Friends, Repeat.

  3. Brady Bushek says:

    I loved the every bit of the book.

  4. Emma Hartle says:

    Be:

    Kind
    Loving
    Curious
    Friendly
    Responsible

  5. Noah Whelchel says:

    Try to have the best life.

  6. Penny Price says:

    kind, friendly, drawing lover, outside girl

  7. Gabby Shear says:

    Dream big, laugh hard, have fun.

  8. Lily Allen says:

    Stay happy, stay positive, be kind.

  9. Emma Defoe says:

    Live, Love, Laugh, BUT SMILE MOST.

  10. Sherrene Kulm says:

    Change makes me stronger and better!

  11. Karson says:

    Cheeseburgers, Fries, Milkshake, Memes, Friends.

  12. conway says:

    pie, cake, cookies, fortnite, repeat.

  13. Daysin wright says:

    BMX, dirt bike, gamer, student, racer.

  14. Holly says:

    Calm, animals, kindness, curiosity, history, family

  15. Kaylie Brown says:

    I hate masks and covid 19

  16. conway says:

    school is fun. have fun. learn

  17. Lily Allen says:

    When I can’t, I try harder.

  18. Brennan lang says:

    Long life, long years, happy days.

  19. William Boone says:

    A small World with Big Hearts.

  20. Emma Hartle says:

    live, love, laugh
    like never before

  21. Noah Whelchel says:

    I love every second of it!

  22. conway says:

    love life it’s short have fun

  23. Kaylie Brown says:

    Live life happily and in peace

  24. Loganne says:

    The girl opened it very slowly…

  25. Alexis Carlile says:

    Adventure, curiosity, passion- this is me!

  26. Kaylie Brown says:

    live in happiness and in peace

  27. Isaiah says:

    Beautiful meadow, bees, flowers, crisp air.

  28. Isaiah says:

    Beautiful meadow, bees, flowers, crisp air

  29. Oria Reid says:

    Love life it’s all you got

  30. briella says:

    Live, love life before it ends.

  31. markus says:

    The spider climbed up the tree.

  32. susan says:

    Wake,exercise,nap,eat,sleep,repeat.

  33. Charlotte says:

    Wings of fire Clay, Sunny, Starflight.

  34. dashiell britton says:

    Wake,eat,school,eat,game,sleep.

  35. pearl says:

    karate, dance, presents, autistic sister, funny

  36. aubrey says:

    Play, get muddy, take a shower.

  37. dodge says:

    I sit, game, sleep, repeat.

  38. bryce says:

    Science, video games, drawing, TV, sleep.

  39. bryce says:

    Science, video games, drawing, TV, sleep.

  40. bella says:

    Online school is hard. EEK!

  41. brianna says:

    Every birthday we have pancakes, waffles.

  42. Annaleigh says:

    Healthy food leads to healthy bodies.

  43. Jessica says:

    Faster, higher gear, pedal fast- CRASH!

  44. KYLE says:

    School, chores, bored, play, fun, repeat.

  45. Samantha says:

    Horses are my love, lief, friends.

  46. Tessaleigh says:

    Five smelly boys all around me.

  47. Rangle says:

    Big man, small dreams, brothers help.

  48. Stella says:

    Near death at birth, loving life!!!

  49. Dallin says:

    Wake up, eat, school, game, repeat.

  50. Trevin says:

    I like my friends at school.

  51. Landon says:

    Be your self all the time

  52. Liyora says:

    Never let anyone steal your joy

  53. Lydia says:

    Umm, I am bad at poems

  54. Liam says:

    Always applying my maximal effort.
    -Liam

  55. Abby says:

    I’m not weird, just unique, OK!

  56. Oria says:

    Loving, charming, candy-coated, lively, sunny, clever

  57. Peyton says:

    When you get lemons make lemonade.

  58. Anuska says:

    Colors swirled, blended, life’s beautiful canvas.

  59. Sadan says:

    Brown eyes, Brown hair, Brown skin.

  60. Sharon Rose says:

    Family forever and always. Always loved

  61. Parker says:

    Equality matters, so does being unique.

  62. Daisy says:

    Moved countless times- many schools- tough

  63. Braeden says:

    Born an athlete always an athlete

  64. Robert Young says:

    Eat, write, exercise, sleep, dream. Repeat.

  65. Robert Young says:

    I am not what I do.

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