Here's a challenge for you. Write a memoir in six words. Anyone can tell a rambling tale; goodness knows I can! Keeping our life story to six words would challenge the best of us.
There was a brief article in the February 2012 issue of the Oprah Magazine that caught my eye, "Mini-Memoirs: Your Life in Six Words." The concept of a brief, concise autobiography in a handful of words intrigued me. Could I do it? Could you?
Larry Smith, editor of SMITH Magazine, had challenged writers to write their memoir in only six words. Over the last several years, he has collected over a half million stories. I will share a few of my favorites here with you, and then I'm going to take a stab at it.
"Thought I would have more impact." -Kevin Clark
"Brought it to a boil, often." -Mario Batali
"Hoping my obituary spells 'debonair' correctly." -Greg Easterbrook
"Divorced twice, lived happily ever after." -Susan Guyaux
"Became my mother. Please shoot me." -Cynthia Kaplan
"It's like forever, only much shorter." -Pete DeVito
"Still trying to impress my dad." -Shoshana Berger
"She read too much...into everything." -Jessica Reed
Aren't these great? We can learn so much about someone in such a few words...an attitude, a motto, a mantra, a theme, a wish, a regret, a summary. I was impressed with each author's succinct way with words. So I decided to give it a go. And I cheated. I did more than one. You know me; if six words are good, more words are better!
Denise's attempts at the Six-Word Memoir
Through my writing, I live twice.
Searched everywhere for peace; found within.
Takes photographs to live moments again.
The littlest things make me happy.
SO...
if you decide to try it, drop me a line. A six word line would be great!
