Gert Scholtz

5 years ago · 1 min. reading time · ~100 ·

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Six Word Stories

Six Word Stories

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Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway once won a short story competition with a sad tale of only six words: "Baby shoes; for sale. Never worn". 

Larry Smith, a magazine founder, asked readers to submit their life stories online in six words. He received more than a million responses, and from it published a few books, one of which became a New York Times bestseller. 

Schoolteachers and lecturers use the format to teach how to write concisely. HarperCollins created a teacher's guide to encourage the six word memoir form as a tool for teaching.

So why am I telling this? 

For no specific reason other than I find it intriguing; the thumbnail format of using only a few select words. Searching around here are a few that caught my eye. 


Blues singer haunted by happy past.

loop. Help, I’m trapped in a

Sensitive kleptomaniacs always take things literally.

Scientists develop first atomic bomb. Again.

I’m beside myself. Cloning machine works!

Living in existential vacuum; it sucks.

Rapunzel! I am slipping! A wig?!

Torched the haystack. Found the needle.

We connect better with no wi-fi.

Last man on earth: knock, knock?


Thinking of it, there actually is a reason for my writing this. Blog posts are getting ever shorter and some on BeBee are no longer writing in any long form at all. With the coming tide of short form posts, I thought to have a tryout in the future format. My new maxim: 

Ponder. Write short. Be clear. Polish. Post. 

Ahh well...that's seven words...still working on brevity...


#Baby #Ernest Hemingway #Legend #Word Stories #Larry Smith
Comments

John Rylance

5 years ago #25

 Six words that say so much. I really don't care do U  A coat that said it all

🐝 Fatima G. Williams

5 years ago #24

This is super cool Gert Scholtz Funny comments Stellar post The Beginning!

Ken Boddie

5 years ago #23

,,,,, and then there’s...... Short and slick, Does the trick. ..... or else ..... A rhyme in time is fine. ..... or how about ..... So many words, so little time. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Randall Burns

5 years ago #22

Limited by six pick up sticks

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #21

To all who joined the post: Your hexa phrasing I find amazing Your line leaves a big smile To you – applause, thank you, cheers

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #20

To all who joined the post: Your hexta phrasing I find amazing Your line leaves a big smile To you – applause, thank you, cheers!

Lada 🏡 Prkic

5 years ago #19

This post is just for me. Because I am not much a talker. Cause With fewer words, I say more. So Put wordy phrases on a diet! And Start speaking less and listening more!

John Rylance

5 years ago #18

#23
I note Ken you told your tale in six lines. You could have expressed it in 6 words. Hextexted tales stifle my inate creativity. As I wrote earlier Brevity is the soul of wit, and you are very witty.

Ken Boddie

5 years ago #17

Oh no, Gert ..... As one who loves words far too well, To decorate stories I tell, A limit of six, Has me in a fix, So hextexted tales I repel. 👎😢

Lupita 🐝 Reyes

5 years ago #16

Always improving myself. Even when smiling!

John Rylance

5 years ago #15

Jackanory, every day a different story. Jackanory is Cockney rhyming slang for "what's the story?" It was also a UK TV program for young children that told a different story everyday.

Phil Friedman

5 years ago #14

A short Tweet ain't always sweet. Missed the bus, waiting for Godot.

Ali Anani

5 years ago #13

Gert Scholtz- in six words a story to tell

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #12

#10
Ren\u00e9e \ud83d\udc1d Cormier Dinosour said: What's that big bang? Many thanks Rennee, Debasish and Pascal for sharing.

Pascal Derrien

5 years ago #11

Kool and different Gert 😀 I think I am going to remain a dinosaur because when long posts were longer mine were too short now I kept the same length and they will be too long GoI figure !! 😀

Debasish Majumder

5 years ago #10

'Gert's intriguing wit!' only three words containing the essence and gravity of Gert Scholtz! enjoyed read and shared. thank you for the buzz.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #9

Lisa Vanderburg 1) Fun of sorts, fun in shorts. 2) I’m a split personality. Me too. 3) I write fantasy. Not on purpose. 4) Thanks for reading. Also for comments!

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #8

Lisa Vanderburg 1) Fun of sorts, fun in shorts. 2)I’m a split personality. Me too. 3) I write fantasy. Not on purpose. 4) Thanks for reading. Also for comments!

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #7

Lisa Vanderburg 1) Fun of sorts, fun in shorts. 2)I’m a split personality. Me too. 3) I write fantasy. Not on purpose. 4) Thanks for reading. Also for comments!

John Rylance

5 years ago #6

Brevity is the sole of wit. Is there anybody out there? No. Geriatric Rolling Stones gather more cash.

Jerry Fletcher

5 years ago #5

Gert, 1. Kaboom! Blather. And so it goes. 2. Love or lightning? Tough Choice. Yes. 3. Dammit Gert. This is addicting.

Lisa Vanderburg

5 years ago #4

Gert Scholtz goes short

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #3

Less is more. Go figure. Gotcha!

Lisa Vanderburg

5 years ago #2

HAHAHA.....great stuff and some killer lines! Mad? My camel has the hump Short thumbs can't call lifts Twofers are BOGOFs too Splitting atoms make hair curl

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #1

Less is more. Go figure.

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