Fifteen Years of Six Words
Holiday gifts for expressive humans, your unique family stories, six-word classroom books, the power of scene in writing
Six Word Turns 15!
Larry (me) and Sara Abou Rashed at a recent “Six Words on the Pandemic” book event in Columbus, Ohio, where our play, “A Map of Myself,” debuted in 2018
It feel impossible for me to get my head around the journey of Six-Word Memoirs on the fifteenth anniversary of this simple and powerful form of self-expression. Six Words has become a series of ten books, a teaching tool, a process for corporations and nonprofits to get to the essence of their mission, and a way to spark conversation and connect groups wherever people gather. One Six-Word Memoir, “Escaped war; war never escaped me” shared by then-high school student Sara Abou Rashed, even became a 70-minute, one-woman show written by Abou Rashed and directed by me. And a few months ago, something I wasn’t quite planning happened: Six-Word Memoirs became a part of one of the world’s biggest assisted self-publishing companies, Author Solutions, and I now run a new division of the company called …. Six-Word Memoirs! And that, friends old and new, is how I was able to conceive and publish the newest six word pandemic book in under six months and how together Author Solutions and I created a process for any teacher to publish their own classroom book (see below for details). I am so thrilled that education is such a huge part of the next chapter of the Six-Word Memoir story.
The Gift of Six: Six-Word Memoirs by Teachers, Students, and Parents
The tenth book of Six-Word Memoirs, A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year, features hundreds of inspirational, playful, and profound takes on life during the pandemic. Any six-word book makes for a great stocking stuffer or host gift (see them all here), but our newest collection will be especially appreciated by the teachers or expressive kids in your life. Buy it directly from SixWordMemoirs.com or on Amazon (especially if you need it in time for the sixth night of Hanukkah).
The book has been featured in all sorts of media, from NPR to Business Insider, but I especially love a piece in the Fort Worth Report that enters the world of six words through the lens of a longtime SixWordMemoirs.com community member, Jo Ann Daniels (below), who has written nearly 5,000 Six-Word Memoirs over the past ten years. Read carefully to see what reporter Alexis Allison did as she tells the story of Jo Ann and the journey of Six Words.
Featured Classroom: In Tampa, Florida, a Search for the Self
English Core teacher Jenny Hess and her 7th grade classroom spent three days discovering the world of 19th century literature, the world of words, and the worlds within themselves. Hess is one of the many teachers and professors who have successfully incorporated Six-Word Memoirs into their curriculums. “If you don’t love writing to begin with, six words is a great starter. It’s a way for students to say, ‘I can actually do six words; that’s doable,’” says Hess. She was interested in hearing “more about their hearts”, and the three-day activity helped her see the way her students looked at the world.
Read more about Hess and her creative classroom on our Six in Schools blog, and see how other teachers across the world are using the form to instruct and engage their students.
Hey, Teacher—Make Your Own Classroom Book!
We are all writers and I believe we should be published writers. That’s why we’ve created a way for any classroom to make their own Six-Word Memoir book. Making a book to celebrate students’ individual identities and a classroom’s collective spirit is, for starters, a blast. Teachers across the world have found the six-word format to be a terrific tool for social/emotional learning and also a way for students to feel successful. Below is a sneak peak at a page in one of the first classroom books to roll off the presses. Want to get started on your students’ book? Head on over the Six In Schools to get your presses rolling.
Six Contest: Your Loving-Crazy-Unique Family in Six Words
This time of year, family members around the world reconvene in person, through the phone, or on the screen. As you remember the idiosyncrasies that distinguish your family from the rest, we invite you to share your little world and submit your six words on family to SixContest #141.
Sixers so far have mentioned the unquantifiable (“Love was duplicitous, triplicitous, even quadruplicitous.” — enginethatcould) and the quantifying ("Would you like a little more?" — Dr.Mr.Prof.Ryan). Some have told powerful stories (“Scarred inside until I found her.” — TrayW) and others have introduced notorious recurring characters (“We hide booze from Uncle John.” — jl333). Some couldn’t have asked for more (“Three little bears, plus rolling wheelchair!” — RyanRae), and others wish there was more that could be asked (“Family's don't ask, don't tell policy.” —BecomingLuke).
Families are beautiful, messy little communities, and whatever your relation, you can always find a meaningful story when you examine them. It may be true that blood is thicker than water, but Mom’s Italian-style hot chocolate is thicker — and certainly more delicious — than both. One lucky memoirist who submits by December 30 will get to share a Six-Word Memoir book of their choice with their family.
Short Cuts: Six Word Reviews
From the World: Art is often the source of inspiration for writers. Canadian artificial intelligence company WOMBO AI released a website and app called Dream by WOMBO, and it has the potential to create stunningly beautiful images based on your words. Art styles range from High Fantasy to Steampunk, or you can let the AI take the reins and create its own brand.
Six-Word Memoirs’ Danielle Shum's Review: “Psychedelic brushstrokes across the digital canvas.”
From Substack: In The Chatner, a literary periodical featuring essays and fiction, Daniel M. Lavery captures an amalgamation of all the living room conversations you've had while waiting for dinner. His newsletter discusses film and television, mealtime etiquette, and recent occurrences in his life. Updates from his inaugural fiction series Hotel Dull, Food Indifferent are also sent to paid subscribers every Friday during — you guessed it — mealtime.
The Craft of Writing Tip #9: Scene
Writer teacher, mindfulness coach, and playwright Jennifer Schelter puts pen to paper
This issue’s Craft of Writing tip comes from friend of Six-Word Memoirs, Jennifer Schelter, a writing teacher, life and mindfulness coach in Philadelphia. Schelter has been published in Wild River Review, Schuylkill Valley, and performed spoken word at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She also wrote and starred in her one-woman show, Love Lessons, at Philly’s InterAct Theatre. “Scene,” she says, “is where you find yourself burning to tell your story from. A scene is the back bone of storytelling.” Here Schelter shares her six steps for writing a scene:
1. Start in place and time. Place and time orients the reader. Show us where you are.
Example: That summer night, outside the Blackberry Blossom bar, I looked up at the neon fiddle sign.
Six-Word Memoir example: “Minnesota in January: a fool’s paradise.”
—lillybrook
2. Ask: What is the protagonist yearning for?
Example: I wanted to fiddle and dance on the Blackberry Blossom stage more than anything else in the world.
Six-Word Memoir example: “Wish to be myself, be free.” — ImperfectTwin
3. Conflict. A conflict pushes back against the protagonists yearning and desire.
Example: Inside the bar was dark and smelled like cider. I saw the crowd clapping along with current champion – Danny Boy. I asked a lady in the back,
“Where do you sign up to play?”
“Not sure. I don’t think they’re taking any more fiddlers tonight.”
Six-Word Memoir example: “Why's the mirror reflecting somebody else? “
—yellow_rice
4. Turn. A turn is marked by “But,” “However,” “Yet,” “Maybe.” The protagonist must persist to get what they want. The turn is a pivotal decision or change.
Example: But I wasn’t taking no for an answer. I spotted Gordon, the manager and walked over to him.
Six-Word Memoir example: “Took off my mask. welcomed love.” — Winfinity
5. And another turn. There must be a change.
Example: “Hey Gordon, can I put my name on the list?”
“Hillary, you’re in luck. One more space.”
Six-Word Memoir example: “Searched and searched. Found. Became myself.” — tawnypannacotta
6. Flash or fresh feeling. A flash or fresh feeling leaves the reader with a surprising image, sound or moment.
Example: Out in the parking lot, I put on my red boots and practiced the Swallowtail Jig under the full moon.
Six-Word Memoir example: “New leaves of Spring, now golden.” — TwoBillionSecondsOld