I have to thank Karen Waldkirch from WauwatosaNow for turning me on to the book Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. The idea for this compilation is based on a legend. Supposedly, someone challenged Ernest Hemmingway to write a story in six words. This is what he came up with:
"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
I know. Blows you away, doesn't it? So, based on this legend, SMITH Magazine invited its readers to submit their own six-word memoirs, and the result is this fascinating book. Here are some of my favorites.
"Revenge is living well, without you." -- Joyce Carol Oates
"Veni, vedi, but haven't vici yet." -- Meenakshi Nandini
"I still make coffee for two." -- Zak Nelson
"Girlfriend is pregnant, my husband said." -- Shonna MacDonald
"I live the perfect imperfect life." -- Paul Lore
The book is a quick read, and I was amazed at what people were able to come up with. Side-splittingly funny, heart-breakingly poignant, jaw-droppingly shocking -- it's all there.
What would mine be? Well, I've been mulling that one over since finishing the book. Although I'm not sure it quite hits the nail on the head, here's what I've come up with so far:
"Still trying to find my purpose."
It's still a work in progress. (Hey, that's six words too. Maybe I should use that?)
SMITH is still accepting submissions if you want to give it a try. (Or if anybody wants to share theirs here, feel free to comment.)
