Broken glass. Broken heart. Broken soul.
6 word stories first originated from Ernest Hemmingway off of a bet. He bet his friends that he could write a story in six words. His friends cashed in.
And, then, Hemmingway wrote, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
His friends went home empty; he went home with a full pocket.
I came across six-word stories on Pinterest. They were heartbreaking, even if they were just a simple six words. Hemmingway’s story is no exception; born a baby, died a baby.
The magic of a six word story is that it is merely a writer’s exercise. Or a prompt, if you will. It tests the writer’s ability to spin six words into a story that is succinct enough for the reader to understand. And the end results are either hilarious, confusion, or completely heart-breaking.
Here are some examples (not my own):
- The smallest coffins are the heaviest.
- I asked. You answered with silence.
- Sorry soldier, shoes sold in pairs.
- Imagined adulthood. Gained adulthood. Lost imagination.
- I loved him. He loved her.
- He walked to her grave alone.
- And, then, the girl let go. (This one’s mine!)
- Recovery never really ends, does it?
Six word stories are beautiful and heart-breaking in their own right. They combine the essential use of words and of plot, all packed into six heavy words.
Here’s a last one of mine to end us off.
She died screaming. No one heard.
Feel free to submit your own examples through the comments or to my email! I would love to hear your six-word stories. I might make a post dedicated to the ones you submit if I get enough.
Lots of love, and get writing,
Jess
Chaos of Life 