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.