6-Word Memoir

 

Image shared on Twitter/X Alexis Wilk

Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway accepted the challenge of writing a story using only six words. He wrote, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Since then, language arts teachers have used Hemingway’s example for writing with clarity and conciseness. Thousands of participants have written their own stories, legacies, and leadership philosophies with the same six-word structure. Larry Smith tweaked this challenge to have his community write six words about their life. He called them Six-Word Memoirs. Others have stretched this task to one sentence, such as this one about President Lincoln. “He preserved the Union and freed the slaves.” Every January, many people post their One Word on social media and further explain why that one word (sometimes up to three) will help them focus for the upcoming year. All of these tasks are similar in that they challenge the author to succinctly summarize their values, philosophy, life experience, aspirations, or legacy in only a few words.  

The challenge of reducing a life’s story into a few words requires self-awareness, reflection, and clarity. What are the person’s core values, beliefs, and pivotal experiences? This practice often requires deep introspection. The writer is forced to distill complex thoughts into a few powerful words, frequently conveying deep emotion and insight.  It also challenges the author to be creative and choose words with maximum impact and resonance. Many of these brief statements have universal appeal, allowing others to connect and relate to the sentiments expressed because of humor or the emotional response elicited. 

How do you write a Six-Word Memoir?

1. Start with writing forty words about your life. Include moments that have defined or changed you. Focus on central themes, values, or emotions. 

2. Use some of those forty words to narrow your story to twenty words. Choose impactful words that carry weight and evoke strong imagery or emotion.

3. Finally, narrow down your story to six words. Make sure that each word contributes to the overall message you want to convey. Aim to tell the story with simplicity.

Overall, this exercise is a fun challenge. However, educators at any stage of their career can benefit from crafting their own six-word memoir. It will succinctly summarize their core teaching philosophy and the impact that they want to have on the students and adults they serve. A well-crafted memoir can serve as a motivational guiding statement, bridging generations and making the educator’s influence accessible and enduring. It can encapsulate key teachings, principles, or lessons the educator aims to impart to students, new teachers, and others. A six-word memoir can communicate a leader’s philosophy and vision for the future and inspire future generations. It can also serve as a visual reminder to the author about their commitment to serve.

Examples of 6-Word Memoirs