In SixContest #31, we celebrated the man who started it all. Ernest Hemingway’s six-word novel (“For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.”) inspired us all, so we asked you to take the Hemingway challenge in honor of his 115th birthday on July 21. With nearly 600 entries, there were scores of unique and creative stories, including many incredible riffs on the classic “For sale” beginning. Here are six of our favorites:
6. “Starry dreams. Paltry means. Cunning schemes.” –Liag
5. “Entered hospital a couple. Exited solo.” –DynamicDbytheC
4. “Mother adjusted the mirror, and smirked.” –HeWhat
3. “For sale. Politician’s soul. Highest bid.” –BanjoDan
2. “Spilled the yogurt, a Greek tragedy.” –3peat
And our top-rated Six-Word Novel is…
1. “Bankrupt monastery became a dude ranch.” –TeaTopper
Congrats to TeaTopper and thanks to everyone who joined in the fun! Whether in our Caption Contests, on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or at sixwordmemoirs.com—keep on Sixing!
If you are looking for a wonderful example of a six word story, we’ve gathered a collection of some great examples.
Why not enter the Six Word Wonder contest – write your own six word stories, get published, and win $100
To recap, stories in six words are a special mix of poetry and storytelling. You are confined to just six words and punctuation to share an idea, an event, a moment with the reader. There is a famous story of Hemingway originating the form, but really it dates back to when a scribe first wrote “In the beginning, there was light.”
What makes a great example of a six word story?
Six word stories can be dark, light, funny or tragic. Much like life. For a six word story to really stand out there are a few elements that must be in place.
- The story makes sense to the reader.
- It’s okay for the reader to work a little harder than usual to understand the meaning of a six worder. In fact, that can be part of the fun. But there must be a meaning in their somewhere.
- The story takes the reader on a journey.
- By definition, you want to tell some kind of a story. But a six word story is really more about taking readers from one place to another. That could be a beginning to an end. But it also might be an expectation to a surprise or punch-line, similar to a joke. Or it could be from feeling nothing to feeling something. It could even be rhetorical question that the reader answers in their head.
- The story leaves the reader with an emotion.
- All story telling is about emotion. A six word story might be clever for its own sake, like wordplay. That should give a reader satisfaction from recognising the skill of the words. Or it might tear at the heart strings or tickle your tummy. Six words can make you feel.
Marley was dead. To begin with.
Charles Dickens
For Sale: Baby Shoes. Never Worn.
Attributed to Ernest Hemmingway
Found true love. Married someone else.
David Eggers
To be, or not to be?
William Shakespeare
It was dark inside the wolf.
Margaret Attwood
This example of a six word story above plays with our expectations. We all know the story of Red Riding Hood, but have we ever thought what it must have felt like at the moment she was gobbled up.
Lovely spring weather. Bubonic plague raging.
Evelyn Waugh
Starlet Sex Scandal. Giant squid involved.
Margaret Attwood
New genes demand expression. Third eye
Greg Bear
In the beginning, there was light.
The Bible
This is the oldest example of a six word story that I’m aware of. Opening lines often make excellent moments to kick off a whole novel or non-fiction with six words that pack a punch. And what is a more perfect story than a journey from darkness to light.
Fifteen years since last professional haircut
David Eggers
Well, I thought I was funny.
Stephen Colbert
Longed for him. Got him. Shit!
Margaret Attwood
Don’t put that in your mouth.
Morgan Spurlock
These violent delights have violent ends.
William Shakespeare
Never, ever refuse a breath mint.
Lemony Snicket
Think and wonder. Wonder and think.
Dr Seuss
Six word stories pop up in music from time to time. Here, I’ve tried to capture a few of the best examples.
You’ve got a friend in me.
Randy Newman
Guess what? I’m not a robot.
Marina and the Diamonds
It’s been a hard day’s night.
The Beatles
Six Word Story examples from Reddit
Reddit is a wonderful repository of the six word form. Here are a few of my favourites from r/sixwordstories
Goodbye mission control. Thanks for trying…
/[deleted]
He bottle-feeds his wife’s killer.
u/charmingmysterious
Six word stories, as you can see from the example above, can deal with very dark issues. This story takes a couple of reads before you fully appreciate what has happened to the husband. No words are wasted in revealing the tragedy.
I have mixed drinks about feelings.
u/iNachozi
I just wrote a great cliffhanger.
u/Guavajava
Unfortunately, haiku possibilities, seldom appear here.
u/mathmeistro
This is a fantastic example of using the six word form combined with the haiku form (five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables) to amp up the complexity and interest.
Tomorrow they’ll interview everybody I know.
u/Scream123
Birth certificate. Death certificate. One pen.
u/sixwordsmyth
This example by Techmyst really takes the formatting of a story to it’s limited. I love the way it plays with your expectations and really makes you work to decide what’s really being said.
Time travellers wanted. Inquire within, yesterday.
u/TimeBlossom
For sale: Engagement ring. Never worn.
u/HighOnAmbien
It purposely failed the Turing Test.
u/JamesIgnatius27
“We’ll meet at dinner”, said Hannibal.
u/OhSoSorryWrongHole
This story is a fantastic reminder that you can reference other popular culture to short cut to a story punchline. Anyone who has seen or read Thomas Harris Silence of the Lambs will be under no doubt about what’s on the menu!
More examples of six word stories
If you’re getting into the swing of this now, here’s a bunch more stories taken from Six Word Wonder by Doug Weller.
Won a million. Lost her mind.
One bite, and her reflection vanished.
Returned home wounded, but dead inside.
Superman started dating the Incredible Hulk.
Born. Worked forty years. Heart-attack.
Under my bed, he still waits.
None of his unemployment jokes work.
Belly-flopped into pool. Emptied it.
Through the reinforced glass, you apologised.
Here’s an example of a six word story where you have to think twice to understand the full meaning.
Ambulance finally arrived. Left without siren.
I kissed her neck. Then pushed.
Married young. Now, she’s forgotten me.
One clumsy tweet. International condemnation. Suicide.
Six words can some up a true story. This one was written after a tragic event of somebody being publicly shamed for an unpopular opinion.
Mouse danced ’till old puss pounced.
Regrets? Not wearing a crash helmet…
‘Your WIFE called,’ hissed his wife.
Typical! Hotel California is fully booked.
Brontosaurus munched, oblivious to massive asteroid.
Trainee wizard expelled for bad spelling.
Spicy puns are ideal in the six word form. This one reminds me of Harry Potter for some reason.
How cold she became by morning…
The old king died. Nobody cried.
Unloved celebrity bought gun. Shooting star.
The killer grinned at the accused.
Her lips were red. Blood red.
Tasted the apple, then got naked!
A riff on the Adam and Eve myth. Sounds like it might have been fun to sink into sin!
First rules. Then uniforms. Then guns.
The final meal was his tongue.
Ted. Underestimated. Elevated. Celebrated. Venerated. Assassinated.
This example of a six word story is a special case. The six words are split into six separate brief sentences. It’s especially useful to describe somebody’s life story.
The visitors classified me under food.
At work, she blinked… Everybody died.
Urgent flatshare: Professionals wanted. Exorcist prefered.
If you want to read more examples of six word stories, learn more about six word wonder or even enter the six word story contest, follow the link.
And if you’d like to read some more six word wonders, why not check out the books, Six Word Wonder and Six Word Story?
Carefree God of War
His father disappeared; his brother committed suicide. Thomas Mayo, the God of War, returned, and he swore that he would take revenge…
9.21.4M viewsCompleted
The Guardian’s Sword
Wielding the Guardian’s Divine Sword, there is no one on this world that he dares not kill. With a needle, there is no sickness on this world that he cannot cure. By holding her hand, there is no one that dares to bully her again, not even one bit.
9.5893.0K viewsOngoing
Bercinta Denganmu
Terlahir dari keluarga broken home, Shesa seorang model papan atas yang hidup dalam pergaulan bebas, tak lepas dari hingar bingar kehidupan malam dan cinta satu malam.
Mencari kepuasan dan kebahagiaan jauh dari keluarga yang tak pernah memberikannya kasih sayang.
Hingga pertemuannya dengan seseorang yang membuatnya merasakan cinta yang sesungguhnya.
9.9425.1K viewsCompleted
Tante, mau kan jadi Mamaku?
Aku Intan Mulia Mardani. Mahasiswi tengah semester, tiba-tiba punya tetangga seorang duda yang gantengnya gak kaleng-kaleng. Mahardika Akbar Fahreza.
Sayangnya, tuh duda punya anak nakalnya naudzubillah, yang tiap hari bikin aku naik darah. Ratu Isabella namanya.
Membuat aku mikir 1000x untuk sekedar menggoda Ayah gantengnya. Karena aku gak mau mati muda menghadapi Si Bella ini.
Meski ternyata Bella sudah menargetkan aku menjadi ibu sambungnya. Aku tetap bersikeras menolak, demi masa depanku yang masih panjang.
«Tante, mau kan jadi Mamaku?»
«Ogah!»
«Papa?! Kita cari dukun yuk, buat pelet Tabte Intan!»
Eh, apa-apaan itu, di kira aku ikan Lele apa pake di kasih pelet segala?
Ikuti terus kisahku melawan Bella di sini, yang pasti penuh perjuangan.
Happy reading ….
Note:
Cerita ini sudah tersedia dalam bentuk cetak dan ebook.
9.9420.6K viewsCompleted
Malayang Diyos ng Digmaan
Sa pagbabalik ni Thomas Mayo, isang Diyos ng Digmaan, mula sa giyera, nakaharap niya ang mga taong nais siyang pabagsakin at naging dahilan sa pagkamatay ng kanyang kapatid at pagkawala ng ama. Dahil dito umusbong ang pag udyok sa kanyang paghihiganti…
8.6419.4K viewsOngoing
The CEO’s Ten Million Dollar Wife
One night of boldness leads to a marriage of convenience. Just a plain agreement. No commitment but a lot of sex. She is liking the setup until the ‘right one’ came back and she needs to leave. Without a fuss, she left, bringing the memories and another heartbeat.
9.8380.1K viewsCompleted
Black Card
Steal the CEO’s Black Card or his cold heart?
«Please… Please sir I’m begging you, I didn’t steal the card. Please believe me» Belle hopelessly begged, tears welling her already messy face.
«You deserve to be in prison…fraud!» the store manager exclaimed in pure disdain, glaring as he snickered.
Belle was an orphan from a young age, struggling for her dream. A dream of becoming a great doctor. A dream she weaved together with her late parents.
For several years, a tiny room in a dilapidated building served her humble home, living at the mercy of others.
Most of the time she has empty pockets and an empty stomach. She endured the ridicule from wearing worn-out clothes and torn shoes for medical school.
Life is a struggle for her but never did she think of stealing, especially the BLACK CARD of the famous and cold CEO, Ethan DelValle.
9.7325.4K viewsCompleted
My Boss and Me
Isa lang akong simpleng babae, papasok sa opisina, magtatrabaho at uuwi. Wala na sa isip ko ang mainlove simula ng lokohin ako ng una kong . Kaya naman subsob sa trabaho lang ako, kumbaga eto na ang buhay ko. Nagsimula ng magbago ang buhay ko ng mapromote bilang Executive Secretary ni Mr. Montano. Makakaya ko kayang balewalain ang charm nito lalo pa at saksakan ito ng gwapo?
9.6254.3K viewsCompleted
Siap, Mas Bos!
Awalnya, Aika datang ke pernikahan Kairo sebagai tamu undangan. Siapa sangka, tiba-tiba sebuah kejadian merubah hal itu. Menjadikan Aika mendadak menggantikan mempelai wanita sebelumnya, yang membatalkan pernikahan di menit-menit terakhir menjelang ijab kabul.
Aduh, ini pernikahan atau tahu bulat, sih? Kok, dadakan, gini?
Lebih dari itu, karakter Aika dan Kairo itu bagai langit dan bumi. Satunya cool, satunya bar-bar. Apa mungkin bisa akur nantinya? Kalau malah saling menyakiti, bagaimana?
Akan tetapi, karena si Bos sudah bertitah. Sebagai kacung perusahaan yang masih butuh asupan cuan untuk membeli cimol dan kawan-kawannya. Bisa apa Aika selain manut dan pasrah?
Kairo, «Pokoknya, hari ini kamu harus menikah dengan saya! Mengerti?»
Aika, «Siap, Mas Bos!»
Tidak apa-apa. Selama tiap hari bisa jajan cimol, cilung, cilor dan ci-ci lainnya. Aika ikhlas kok di nikahin ala tahu bulat begini. Penting perutnya kenyang.
Semangat!
9.9253.8K viewsCompleted
Terpaksa Menikah Lagi
Dokter Ardian adalah seorang Dokter kandungan. Ia baru saja menikah dengan wanita yang dicintainya dan saat ini sedang menanti kelahiran buah hati pertamanya.
Namun, di hari bahagia yang ditunggu-tunggunya, tiba-tiba berubah menjadi hari duka baginya. Nadia Rahayu, istri Dokter Ardian tiba-tiba meninggal dunia ketika melahirkan buah hati pertamanya.
Pak Aryo, Papa Dokter Ardian, selalu mendesak Dokter Ardian untuk menikah lagi demi Nizam, cucunya. Ia menyuruh Dokter Ardian untuk menikahi Widia, adik kandung Nadia.
Namun, Dokter Ardian menolaknya karena tahu sifat asli Widia yang tidak tulus menyayangi anaknya.
Dengan siapakah Dokter Ardian akan menikah lagi? Bagaimana kisahnya nanti? Yuk simak ceritanya di sini!
9.8237.8K viewsCompleted
November 6, 2012 · 11:25 am
As the legend goes, Ernest Hemingway sat with William Faulkner and about twenty other people at the Algonquin Round Table. They discussed their different writing styles. Hemingway thought Faulkner used too many words, and Faulkner criticized Hemingway for using not enough words.
In his defense, Hemingway asserted that he could write a fully developed novel in just six words. Faulkner seemed almost offended in his denial. Hemingway bet ten bucks, as did Faulkner, and soon, everyone at the table had wagered, all against Hemingway.
Papa took a piece of paper and scribbled his text. He slid the paper across the table to Faulkner. He read the words and shoved the money over to Hemingway. Everyone asked Faulkner to read it. He picked up the paper, and said, “Baby shoes for sale. Never used.”
Now there are websites that invite people to write their own six word novel. There are many entries, most rather silly, others depressingly confessional, but none of these are actual novels. And so I thought, some one should try this with real novels. Someone soon became me and my novel.
I have a recently finished novel called PRINCE. If I could reduce it to six words, it might read, “Father and son love same woman.” My current nanoscript, SEDITION may be, “Criminal pardoned, must watch friends executed.” Well, I find it interesting, and trying this exercise was quite fun. So what about other stories?
Maybe your stories ideas come one at a time with quite a bit of time in between, or you already have a bucketful of novel seeds. I am of the latter. These are other novel ideas I have expressed in six words.
HEIRLOOM: Save him, then he’ll kill me.
DROVER: Newborn baby travels inside a shoebox.
VALOUR: Enemies are in both war trenches.
THUNDERBOLT: Many women come after lightning strike.
BOSS: Shipping magnate and Mafioso lock horns.
AVIATION: Eager pilot has nowhere to fly.
Now it’s your turn. Tell me your novel is six words in the Comment section. I can’t wait to see some your six word stories.
«Sorry, shoes only sold in pairs.»
«There’s the president and her husband.»
Present: they like me. Absent: hate.
«Kill yourself.» Dies. «So sad! Why?»
«Gross. You’ll go to hell hetero!»
Thinking of you not thinkin’a me.
Feelings, once obtained, seemed to fade.
I had a fun time writing my 6, 6-word novels. These were surprisingly difficult to write at first, so I’m going to be honest, I Google’d some inspiration. The result that popped up kept me on my computer for half an hour! I loved them so much to be honest. They are creative, unique, controversial, truthful, realistic, surprising, and just so good. So I am linking a couple sites below. Take a few minutes they are worth, it in my opinion anyway.
http://www.sixwordstories.net/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/16/six-word-story_n_5332833.html
My sister has issued a challenge. She reminded me that Ernest Hemmingway has such a way with words (while some others of us, on the other hand…with…way…words…not…have…) that he could write a novel in only six words. In case you haven’t heard Hemminghway’s six-word novel, it reads thusly:
FOR SALE. BABY SHOES. NEVER WORN.
Yes, that brings us some ideas, some emotions, does it not? So Terry has challenged me to write a novel in six words. At first it seemed a daunting task, one to which I certainly had to give a good deal of thought, but after that good deal of thought I have indeed come up with several very short “Novels.”
First, I want to tell you Russ’ six-word novel:
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
And, of course the sequel:
‘COS YOU JUST…MIGHT…GET IT.
Now, here is mine:
THINK IT’S OVER, SWEETHEART? THINK AGAIN.
And here’s another one:
HE WAS BETTER THAN THE BEST.
See, the first one’s probably a story of crime and revenge, and I’ll be the second one is a love story.
But this is too easy! Six is too many words! How about five?
THAT SUMMER WAS PURE DELIGHT.
Another love story? But not my four-word novel:
THE DECEPTION IS COMPLETE.
Actually, that’s not original. I’m reading the Bloody Jack series, and that’s a line that seems to keep coming up. But it’s so jam-packed with emotion and intrigue, I couldn’t help using it.
Now, how about three words?
SINGS. DANCES. DIES.
Hmm…wonder what that’s all about?
Two words?
NEVER AGAIN.
And now the ultimate challenge, the one word novel. Here it is:
HELP!
Okay, I’m done.
How about you? Anyone willing to take up the challenge? I’d love to read some more six-word novels!
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