Saying a little and saying a lot

6-Word Stories & Memoirs

Memoir (from French: mémoire: memoria, meaning memory or reminiscence), is a literary nonfiction genre. More specifically, it is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events, both public or private that took place in the subject's life.

First, what is a memoir?

Memoir and personal narrative are very similar and definitely have some overlap.

Both genres involve writing about one’s personal experiences.

One difference, is that a personal narrative usually centers around one event (and the feelings, experiences, emotions associated with that event), while memoir is a depiction of how a narrator remembers her own life in full (i.e. memories and reflections are key).

Memoir vs. Personal Narrative?

So, Ms. Chirico, you’re asking us to tell our whole life story…

in only SIX words?!

YES. EXACTLY!

Larry Smith’s Six-Word Project

Exploited by texters, gossip columnists, haikuists. Not associated with the biography genre. But then—why shouldn’t it be? Life expectancies rise; attention spans shrink. Six words can tell a story. That’s a new book’s premise, anyway. “Not Quite What I Was Planning.” A compilation of teeny tiny memoirs. The forebear, it’s assumed, is Hemingway. (Legend: he wrote a miniature masterpiece. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Slightly sappy, but a decent sixer.)”

From “Say It All In Six Words” by Lizzie Widdicombe

for The New Yorker

“Brevity: a good thing in writing.

How do we boil things down to their most elemental parts?

When you take away the fluff and the extra, what remains?

How can you still be descriptive when you only have 6 words?

But… wait…

Change what you are complaining about. (Doug Beach)

Looking ahead. Looking back. No middle. (Gabe Oppenheim)

These years writing about those ones. (Jamie-Lee Josselyn)

Slightly awkward, clumsy, asks many questions (Tahneer Oksman)

Whats The Worst That Could Happen? (Mike VanHelder)

Old soul, young spirit, hopeful heart. (Sarah Di Fede)

I am not defined by words. (Sarah Di Fede)

Some examples:

1. Write a six-word story about your first day of school.

2. Write a six-word story describing your best friend.

3. Write a six-word story using song lyrics.4. Write a six-word story about your Formal

Essay topic.5. Write a six-word memoir.

YOUR TURN

Part 1: Finish your six-word stories (including your six-word memoir). Choose your favorite six-word story. Re-write it in your Notebook. Now expand that story into a paragraph (you must fill one full page).

Writer’s Notebook Entry #5