Why a Fourth Grader is Better Than AI
Plus: "Six Words You Never Told Mom & Dad;" Tips on Sixing from ... ChatGPT; Our new (and free) Webinar on publishing a book
For Sale: What AI Can’t Be
My phone lit up during a recent 60 Minutes segment on AI (who knew people besides my parents still curl up on matching La-Z-Boys to watch TV in real-time?). What was the rumpus? 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley wove Hemingway's legendary six word novel, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn," throughout the segment to showcase the powers of AI. After asking Google’s AI bot, Bard, to analyze and “finish” Hemingway's six word story, Pelley offered: “From the six-word prompt, Bard created a deeply human tale with characters it invented — including a man whose wife could not conceive and a stranger, grieving after a miscarriage and longing for closure.” He continued: "I am rarely speechless. I don't know what to make of this.”
I do.
It’s exciting — miraculous, maybe — that a computer can output an interesting narrative in just five seconds. But what moves me more than the processing power of Bard are the kids I’ve met in Six-Word Memoir workshops who can also construct thought-provoking narratives. When I share the story about how the Six-Word Memoirs movement began, I introduce Hemingway’s six word novel and ask students to share what they think the author is saying with his half dozen well-chosen words.
Kids as young as eight have told me things like “I think the baby was a bigger baby than expected, and the shoes the mom bought were too small,” or “The parents tried to have a baby but couldn’t, so they wanted another baby to have the shoes,” and (my favorite): “Maybe the writer felt like he grew up too fast and never had a real childhood.” The stories they conjure up definitely take more than five seconds, but the discussions that are sparked and the connections these young writers make to each other and their listeners are ultimately more miraculous than a computer’s ability to create a narrative in nanoseconds.
AI is impressive. A fourth grader given time and space will renew your faith in humanity. —Larry Smith
SixContest: On Hearts & Parents
In our “The Heart of the Memoir Contest,” we asked Sixers to share memoirs about their lasting passions, wistful dreams, and intriguing ideals while also including the word “heart.” Although it was a difficult challenge, we had an even harder decision: to pick our favorites from more than 400 entries! You can see our favorite memoirs and top picks at Top Six “The Heart of the Memoir Contest.”
Now with our hearts full, we’re paving the way for the newest contest, “Six Word Secrets For Our Parents.” Our relationships with our parents often include mixed emotions — gratitude, loyalty, love, and resentment. For SixContest #151, we’re honoring those feelings by asking Sixers to share six words on what they would like to tell their parents, but can’t find the voice to speak aloud.
Share your secret memoirs by clicking the button below or on social media with the hashtag #ParentsinSix.
Short Cuts: Six-Word Reviews
From Substack: Feeling lost and alone in your twenties? Believe me, you’re not alone. In “I’m About To Be Homeless” — the first post in Sarah Akinterinwa’s Substack, Rehab for the Heart — Akinterinwa details her experience as a young adult learning to live on her own and put down roots. As an introvert from a big family, New York Magazine cartoonist Akinterinwa struggles between her longing for peace and the perpetual loneliness of living alone. In order to “embrace uncertainty,” she decides to move out of her apartment and give herself six weeks to travel the world and “dive head first into chaos.” There is an intimate familiarity to Akinterinwa’s writing, like she is confiding her innermost thoughts and feelings. Whatever these next six weeks bring for Akinterinwa, I look forward to hearing more about her adventures.
Dale Tanner’s Six-Word Memoir Review: “Intimate, relatable glance at living alone.”
From the World: Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is not for the faint of heart. The acclaimed filmmaker, known for cult classics like Pan’s Labyrinth and a recent adaption of Pinocchio, heads this ambitious eight episode horror anthology. The participating directors honor our fascination with Gothic horror and masterfully create tense, uncomfortable atmospheres with supernatural elements. Episodes are an hour long and instantly immerse the audience in fearful worlds narrated by eccentric characters, including a graveyard keeper trapped underneath his own cemetery, a belligerent veteran who purchases a mysterious storage container, and a bank teller obsessed with a life-changing skin cream. What makes Cabinet of Curiosities unique is how each episode offers a different perspective on the beloved Gothic horror genre. Guided by del Toro, the Netflix series presents unique, nightmarish tales which leave audiences longing for more.
Danielle Shum’s Six-Word Memoir Review: “The macabre tempts our limitless imagination.”
Craft of Writing by ChatGPT: Tip for Writing Six-Word Memoirs
Longtime Six-Word Memoir community member, BanjoDan, asked ChatGPT a question I answer all the time: “What are some tips for writing creative Six-Word Memoirs?” And the artificial intelligence chatbot scoured the digital world and summarized it so well that I gave the AI chatbot a guest spot in our newsletter. Here’s what it (a chatbot is an “it,” right, modern syntax gurus?) spit out in a few well-processed seconds.
Writing a creative Six-Word Memoir can be a fun and challenging task. Here are some tips to help you craft a memorable and impactful memoir:
Keep it concise: Remember, you only have six words to tell your story, so make every word count.
Focus on the essence: Think about the most important or defining aspect of your life or experience, and try to capture it in your six words.
Use strong imagery: Paint a vivid picture with your words, using sensory details to make your memoir come alive.
Play with language: Use puns, wordplay, or double entendres to add layers of meaning and depth to your memoir.
Be honest: Your memoir should be a reflection of your true self and experiences, so don't be afraid to be vulnerable and share your emotions.
Edit ruthlessly: Once you've written your memoir, go back and edit it several times to ensure that every word is necessary and impactful.
Experiment with different formats: Six-Word Memoirs don't have to be written in complete sentences. Try using a list, a question, or a fragment to tell your story in a unique way.
Get feedback: Share your memoir with friends or family members and ask for their feedback. Sometimes, an outside perspective can help you refine your message and make your memoir even more impactful.
Remember, writing a Six-Word Memoir is all about distilling your life story into a single, powerful sentence. Have fun with the process, and don't be afraid to take risks and experiment with different approaches until you find the perfect combination of words. —ChatGPT
Thanks, ChatGPT. Your crypto check in in the mail! —Larry Smith
Want to (Finally!) Write and Publish That Book?
“I don’t know how to get started writing my book.”
”I’ve started my book but can never seem to find the time to finish it.”
”I’m done writing my book! How do I get it published.”
Over the past ten years, I’ve heard these expressions of frustration from writers across the country and around the world. Time and time again writers get stuck. They fear the blank page or can't get past the inevitable roadblocks all writers encounter during the writing process.
That's why I'm launching a series of free webinars, both to help writers get comfortable with the process and practices of successfully writing a book and to introduce them to how self-publishing can help with each stage of the writing process. And at the end of these webinars, you’ll get a discount to publish your book with Six Words’ publishing partner, Author Solutions, which includes book coaching by me and others in my trusted circle of editors. The first webinar is May 24, 12pm PT/3pm EST and it will be limited to just 20 people. RSVP here.