Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Six Word Memoirs

I just read Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure and the companion volume, Six Word Memoirs of Love & Heartbreak by Writers Famous & Obscure. I know the first book made the rounds when it was first published, but I just now got around to it. I read it in one sitting and really enjoyed it. The idea is based on the legend that Ernest Hemingway was challenged to write a story in just six words. He wrote, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." That definitely tells a story and leaves you wanting to know more, as well.

Many of the memoirs in both these little books are good, some are just silly, and there are a few that are quite profound. Obviously, they chose one of the best for the title, "Not quite what I was planning." If you haven't read this little book, I would definitely recommend it. And then of course you have to write your own. I'm still trying to come up with mine. I'll include a few below for your enjoyment.

"Sold belongings. Became Itinerant Poetry Librarian."

"I still make coffee for two."

"Danced in fields of Infinite Possibilities."

"What the hell, might as well."

"Still lost on road less traveled."

"Lucky in love, unlucky in metabolism."

"Perpetual work in progress, need editor."

O.K., I'll stop now. It's really quite addictive.

8 comments:

Andi said...

These are so much fun. I'm especially fond of "Lucky in love, unlucky in metabolism."

Lisa said...

andi, that's one of my faves, as well. I've thought of a couple that definitely fit my life, but they're song lyrics so I can't really claim them. hehe "Life goes faster than you think." Kenny Chesney

Lisa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisa said...

RebeccaReads left a comment on here and it was accidentally deleted. I'm sorry, Rebecca. She had a really neat six-word memoir, too. Hopefully, she'll comment again. SORRY!

Rebecca Reid said...

Oh! Sorry my comment got deleted. I think I said I heard of this book and wrote some memoirs a few months ago.

Learned to read, Reid-ed, still reading.

Here's a bonus one, but it only makes sense if you know me personally: I'm a redhead that married a redhead and has a redhead son.

Redhead married, then birthed, redheads.

Lisa said...

Rebecca, thanks for posting your comment again. I really like your bonus one, too.

Literary Feline said...

I remember when everyone was posting their little six word memoirs, but I didn't know it got its start from a book. How neat! This one sounds like a fun one.

Lisa said...

literary feline, I didn't realize it at first when I first saw them making the rounds. It is a fun little book. Some of the memoirs are quite profound, which is hard to believe in only six words.