Last week, the awesome Steve Jones, a teacher at the North Carolina School of Science and Math (and my civics teacher back in 1994, holler) asked me to judge a contest he was holding for his students. The assignment: to write a compelling, six-word story. As the legend goes, Ernest Hemingway once did this—some say he wrote it to settle a tab, while others think it was a bet. His story: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.” He claims it was the best writing of his life.
When I heard this assignment, I thought it was pretty impossible.
I played around with some words, but couldn’t find anything I liked. I can tell a story in 2,000 words, sure (my original draft of Cheer! was close to 300,000). But six. Sheesh! So I’m pretty astonished by what these students came up with. Below are all the entries. One was the clear winner to me—it actually made me cry. But I’d love to hear which ones speak to you.
Spoon shopping, needs shine. A smile?
You took my hand; hello, future.
A call: action scene, explosion out.
Jailed, “murdered,” became the world’s superhero
Found a heart. Wasn’t broken. Weird.
Wrote story. It sucked. Started over.
Sixty years of love. Suddenly alone.
“Do it again…no thank you.”
I wake, see and enjoy, sleep.
WORLDWIDE POWER OUTAGE! Details at 11.
I abandoned the earth’s last person.
Despite consequences, last night worth it.
“Once upon a time… the end.”
for sale: baby, with new shoes
You’re good. Unfortunately, we want great.
Harry met Sally. Sally met John.
Lost man meets wolves, finds brothers
Warning, zombie rampage. Protect your families.
The One? *Aortic rupture.* World waits…
What’s that!? I only get six?
Pretty good, right? Oh, and why not try your hand at a six word story in the comments section below?
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You Can’t Make This Stuff Up is a column by Kate Torgovnick that appears every Friday. Except this week when you are reading it on Wednesday, due to the fact that everyone will be in turkey food comas on Friday morning.
I LOVE Ernest Hemingway’s 6 line story. How beautiful. Which one of these made you cry? I like: Found a heart. Wasn’t broken. Weird.
I’m scared to share what I wrote. It feels like showing someone your bad high school poetry. But I love the assignment so much, that I’ll show you mine, even if you didn’t show me yours.
Engaged. No ring. Five years: gone.
As a fellow student that missed the competition, I have to admit that these were amazing.
My submission? Probably nowhere near as good as those above.
You looked back. I let go.
What a powerful assignment. I really enjoyed so many of them– and am also wondering which one made you cry. Does that mean it won? Can you reveal?
I really like: I abandoned the earth’s last person.
and the one Kimmi chose. Very funny. “Weird” is a great word, isn’t it?
Just tried to do it with one of my story ideas…
Vacationing with dead grandmother. Feel alive.
Stop looking at computer. Eat turkey.
And without further ado, the winner that made me cry:
You took my hand; hello, future.
I could really visualize that one and loved it. And this was several days pre-breakup, so it wasn’t just me being sentimental.
Kimmi, Circe, and Cristina, thank you for being so bold as to share your stories. Circe, you have such an awesome teacher—I miss the days of being in Mr. Jones’ class.
And Ethan, too funny.
Make things up all the time.
I am a student at NCSSM and could not think of one at the time but once I started reading the others, I came up with one. Here it is:
One little spark; life now over!
Broke, battered, shattered. Soul is tattered.
Today: three birthdays, two deaths. Life?
I really liked You took my hand;hello,future. As well as the new one Vactioning with my dead grandmother. Feel Alive.
Here goes:
New husband bliss; Mother dies, aching.
This, was harder than it looked…
Deceitful heart. He left, be still.
Dream broken. New outlook: Learn mosaic.
Your eyes opened, I was Dad.