Be in a Six-Word Memoir Book: Pandemic Stories
The new Six-Word Memoir book will feature hundreds of Six-Word Memoirs on the pandemic from students, teachers, parents, and maybe you!
Students, Teachers, and Parents Pandemic Stories
Our next Six-Word Memoir book is all about our lives during the pandemic and our personal forecasts for where we’re going individually and collectively. It’s called—
Where Do We Go From Here?
Six-Word Memoirs from students, parents, and teachers on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where we are going after a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year.
You’re invited to participate!
We’re looking for Six-Word Memoirs from you, your kid, and your kid’s teacher on this moment in time we will never forget. Here’s how to submit:
1. Share your six words on sixwordmemoirs.com (make sure you choose the “pandemic” topic).
2. Send an email to sixwordbooks@gmail.com and include:
Your first/last name
Note whether the story is by a student (include age + school), teacher (include school), or parent.
Your Six Words on the pandemic (one or as many as you like)
And, an illustration (if you’ve made one; see below for specs).
The book will be written and published quickly, so the deadline for submissions is June 28 2021. Each contributor will receive a copy when it’s published this fall.
Calling All Teachers!
Are you a teacher or know a teacher with a powerful, surprising, and/or inspirational “backstory” behind a Six-Word Memoir? Share your six words and the backstory with us. The book will include a number of backstories from a range of educators—teachers, principals, mental health counselors, advisors, specials teachers, and more. If you’d like to send in a backstory, make sure to include the original Six-Word Memoir and 250-500 additional words telling a little more of the story.
Calling All Students: Prompts to Get You Six-ing!
What did social isolation feel like?
What do you learn about how to survive being stuck inside with your family?
What did you miss most or least about school?
What have you discovered about yourself or the world?
What did you learn to do that you’d never done before? The craziest thing you did?
How do you think life will change now that this is coming to a close? What won’t?
What are you looking forward to most?
Calling All Artists: Illustrate Your Story
Want to make your story visual? Here’s what you need to do:
• Your Six-Word Memoir on the pandemic should be included within the illustration (rather than separate words that describe the illustration)
• If you would like to submit your Six Words in your own handwriting (so "words as art"), we can accept the text submission as an image. 300 DPI minimum.
• File/art size: 300 DPI or larger, in black & white or color
• The book size is: 5” x 8”, with full .125 inch bleed. We recommend keeping any part of an image or text out of the .125 bleed area.
Still looking for inspiration?
Here are some examples that kids have already submitted.
Great moms aren’t always great teachers. —Teo R.
Daytime pajamas make great school attire. —Audrey H.
I regret saying, “I hate school.” — Riana H.
Was cat-like: napped, ate, avoided humans. —Liam C.
Lifesavers: doctors, cousins, teachers, elections, Minecraft. —Lukas S.
The world is a fragile place. —Ben V.