Via PSFK, and ultimately Smith magazine, I came across the Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure concept and book. Though I’ve not yet read the book, the teaser video (see below) is simple and nicely made, and was inspiring enough to get me thinking about poetic brevity. The exercise of constraining an author to 6 words to summarize – or capture the essense of – his or her own life, is a difficult process, but ultimately a clarifying experience.
Even though my own six-word memoir is still ahead of me, I’m familiar with a similar soul-searching process. Being a [lately silent] member of the Startup Nation community of small business owners, I joined in on a particular forum thread last year that challenged business owners to craft an eleven-word “elevator speech.” (The premise of an elevator speech involves finding yourself in an elevator with a potential investor; you had better be able to succinctly communicate the value of your idea before your captive audience steps off at his or her destination.) Before contributions to the thread morphed more into tag lines, I managed to posit my own, followed by a stinging review from a particularly sharp forum member. His words sent me back to my notepad, redoubling my efforts and grinding my pencil and eraser into smoking little nubs from the iterations. But I emerged the wiser for it. I made those eleven words dance; they eloquently carried meaning, but more importantly, very specific meaning.
Strangely, my business focus has changed enough that I don’t actively use that honed elevator speech. You’ll just have to trust me that I did well with the project and that I discovered the power in economy of words.
Back to six-word memoirs. Take the challenge yourself, and invite your friends. I’d like to read what you come up with, in comments here or at the project’s own submissions site. Perhaps first have a look at this video before you explore the site and then (hopefully) share your own, really-short story with the world.
Six-Word Memoir book preview from SMITHmag on Vimeo.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Bruce – I don’t trust you. I want the eleven-word elevator speech.
PS
I also am working on my six words…Got born, gave birth, gave up.
Hey Cuz…..I’ll work more on this but first thought is
Still waiting to win the lottery
Really — then I’ll have six NEW words for my life, I’m certain!!
Carol –
I’ll have to dig through the Startup Nation thread to find it, but damn, it was good.
Louise -
Those are powerful words. Perhaps not mathematically sound, but tip ‘o the hat for pulling that one out. Keep ‘em coming…
Coming up with six-word phrases is fun; committing to one six-word phrase is another thing entirely. It’s like artwork in my house – I haven’t had any hanging since we moved into this house 5 years ago. Satisfaction with such bold personal statements is elusive, hence I avoid making them. This from a primarily visual guy, too.
But okay, here’s a few tries:
- I told you it wouldn't work
- One more push and that's it
- Tried it your way; didn't work
- Is that what you call effort?
- Fix that, or so help me...
- Do you want fries with that?
- Find a way, or else quit
- Have you seen my gray sweater?
Hmmm…needs a bit more work…