Six-Word Stories for Hemingway’s Birthday
Posted by editors on Jul 21, 2014 in Uncategorized | 10 comments
Legend has it that one afternoon while lunching with friends at a New York café, Ernest Hemingway was bet he couldn’t write a novel in under 6 words.
As each of his writer friends entered the pot, Hemingway took a sip of his drink, replied, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn,” and collected his winnings.
Though some attribute the story’s creation to a bar bet, others refer to a magazine challenge, and still others claim the story is older than Hemingway himself.
In the introduction to A Moveable Feast, Hemingway writes, “If the reader prefers, this book may be regarded as fiction. But there is always the chance that such a book of fiction may throw some light on what has been written as fact.” Whether this story is myth or fact (or a little bit of both), it is a testament to Hemingway’s renown as an irresistibly concise writer that the story is so closely linked with his legend.
So in honor of Ernest Hemingway’s 115 birthday, we challenge you to send us your six-word stories. You can tweet them to @Sprylit or post them below in the comments.
— Mark-Anthony Lewis
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Smart enough.
Married liar.
Wiser now.
First date, oysterfest. Correction: last date.
one stroke
hard on
little death
2.migraine comes
darkness soothes
pillow head
3.last call
barfly kiss
pretty hangover
4.happy husband
bends over
cleavage greeting
Blind boy finds violin in attic.
I once dreamed of being famous.
For sale. French ticklers. Never worn.
The Queen ushered in…the knight.
Cake, candles, wishes for a rewind.
I climbed a mountain, then another.
I am Dali’s illegitimate child.