The Power of a Six-Word Story

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

Legend* has it that Ernest Hemingway boasted to his friends one day over lunch, “I can write an entire story in six words.” To make his point, he plunked a ten-dollar bill on the table and bet each that he could do it.

When all the takers had tossed in their money, he wrote this story on a napkin:

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Hemingway collected his winnings.

Perhaps the first in a genre that’s now known as flash fiction, Hemingway’s story carries a sucker punch. Images of an empty cradle, grieving parents, and tiny little booties flash across my mind. My heart aches for the imaginary family he describes.

Hemingway’s six-word story has become the inspiration for a century of writing prompts, a book series (Six-Word Memoir), and even a 2008 #4 New York Times bestseller, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. Reddit’s online bulletin board site has an active Six Word Stories page. Here are some recent examples:

“My best friend's crush was me.”

“She returned from their vacation alone.”

“At the funeral, Dad’s corpse winked.”

Hemingway’s six-word story came across my desk recently when a friend shared a unique twist. Each year during his son’s final school assembly, teachers share six-word stories about their students. It is a powerful send off for the students. It is a daunting task for the teachers.

 As a writer, I’m in awe that Hemingway could invoke such strong emotion with only six words. Hearing my friend describe the effect of his son’s teacher’s six words on her students confirmed again that less is often more, and minimal can be rich.

For four years I’ve been writing five-minute devotions for busy women on my blog, Hungry for God … Starving for Time. Last year Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas released my devotional book by the same name.  

Sometimes I wonder if I should be writing longer blog posts, more detailed articles, or massive books. Hemingway’s six-word story reminds me that six carefully crafted words can be more powerful than a thousand words carelessly strung together. It challenges me to pack as much spiritual truth, hope, and beauty as I can into my five-minute blog posts. And it reminds me to make every word count in whatever God calls me to write.

In the spirit of Hemingway and Six-Word Memoirs, here’s my six-word story:

I live to share His story.

What about you? Which six words would you choose to describe yourself? I’d love to hear them. Leave your six-word story in the comment section so we can all enjoy them.

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The power of a six-word story - via @LoriHatcher2 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

In the spirit of #Hemingway, share your six-word #memoir - @LoriHatcher2 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)