What is your six-word story?

[beroq]

Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words and is said to have called it his best work.

What was that story: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

It is a great challenge for any short story writer to write his shortest story, condensed, meaningful and very powerful.

So, if I may ask, what is your six-word story? Could you please share it with us?

Here's mine: "Born from ashes, fallen nation's son."

[Uberzensch]

He's dead. Can we kiss now?

[Chatt]

I not poorly educated, educated poorly.

[Stargazer86]

He's dead. Can we kiss now?


omg that's funny :P :lol:

This thread reminded me of an email fwd I'd read before:

A college class was told they had to write a short story in as few words as possible. The instructions were that the short story had to include the following:
1. Religion
2. Sexuality
3. Mystery

Below is the only A+ in the class:

"Good God, I'm pregnant. I wonder who did it"

[a_little_wisp]

LOL That's brilliant stargazer!!!

Uberzensch - GWAHAHA



Perpetually late, she missed her life.

[BienvenuJDC]

Looking for another word for Thesaurus!

[beroq]

What do you think Hemingway meant in his six-word story?

*The irony concealed in death?
*The irony of dying young?
*Poorness?
*The memory of a painful childhood?
*War?

I thank everyone who has joined thus far.

[beroq]

Looking for another word for Thesaurus!

You should look up in a Thesaurus :)

[prendrelemick]

Ok, ok the herring did it.

[prendrelemick]

I not poorly educated, educated poorly.

I am poorly educated, can't even count

[Captain_Kuchiki]

Those people will never accept you.

[skib]

Oh crap. There it all goes.

[1n50mn14]

Theodore was my mother in law.

[BienvenuJDC]

I was born later I died.

[Silas Thorne]

What do you think Hemingway meant in his six-word story?

*The irony concealed in death?
*The irony of dying young?
*Poorness?
*The memory of a painful childhood?
*War?

I thank everyone who has joined thus far.

Or possibly, less dramatic, a story of parents being given a gift of baby shoes (expensive enough to sell), but when the baby can wear them the baby's feet are too big. They were worried about giving them away to people around them, so sell them to strangers.

Driver kills. Go directly to Jail.

[beroq]

I was born later I died.

Can it be said in another ways such as:

Died the day I was born.

Not immortal for I was born.

[miyako73]

here's mine. Four since 911 is not a word.

911? Dad stabbed you, mom.

[Forever_found]

Bought a rose. Watching it die.

[JacobF]

release the dice, watch them float

[Astronought]

Driving home, pretending she's still there.

[Forever_found]

Nothing to lose, but our chains.

[breathtest]

i'm stuck in constant time, alone

[joao_oliveira]

Once upon a time and they lived hapilly forever after.

[Captain Pike]

[These are fun; now here's mine (that's not it)]

Better get busy, I'm almost 60.

[smoothchocolat]

Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words and is said to have called it his best work.

What was that story: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

It is a great challenge for any short story writer to write his shortest story, condensed, meaningful and very powerful.

So, if I may ask, what is your six-word story? Could you please share it with us?

Here's mine: "Born from ashes, fallen nation's son."
I like to think that I can keep things simple, to pick a six word story:
"Here I am, for your service."

[stratocaster86]

You should put that dildo down

[krispykritta]

You should put that dildo down
rofl
the first one isnt mine i heard it when i was a kid it was actually taught to me as an acronym BOHICA the second one is mine
bend over, here it comes again

it stepped out from the fire

[ms5801a]

These are powerful short stories. I really liked stargazer's. Thats brilliant.

I loved her, after she died.

[ms5801a]

Not slick enough, going to jail.

[blackbelt929]

fish, they will never get thirsty

[blackbelt929]

this is my 6 word short storie

(6 is not a word)

[beroq]

fish, they will never get thirsty

Wow, that was great. So was blackbelt 929's story, despite that it is a five-word story...

[Lettersndnumbrs]

He came, he saw, he conquered.

[ms5801a]

What do you think Hemingway meant in his six-word story?

*The irony concealed in death?
*The irony of dying young?
*Poorness?
*The memory of a painful childhood?
*War?

I thank everyone who has joined thus far.

What automatically came to my mind was a couple excited to have a baby. They bought shoes and other baby stuff like a lot of expecting couples do, and something happens which causes the wife to have a miscarriage. And for some reason they are unable to have anymore kids, so the unworn shoes is a symbol of the future that they are never going to have.

I am interested to hear everyone else's automatic interpretation.

[beroq]

What automatically came to my mind was a couple excited to have a baby. They bought shoes and other baby stuff like a lot of expecting couples do, and something happens which causes the wife to have a miscarriage. And for some reason they are unable to have anymore kids, so the unworn shoes is a symbol of the future that they are never going to have.

I am interested to hear everyone else's automatic interpretation.

When I read that story by Hemingway, almost every idea that comes to my mind carries something pessimistic. It is great that your interpretation is at least partly cloudy.

[aBIGsheep]

Well written, but doesn't make any.

[Sarasvati21]

They blinked, and everything was gone.

[sc9108]

''Deaths short lifes longer and more painful''

[aBIGsheep]

Nothing to lose, but our chains.

Wow, I like that one a lot actually.

[beroq]

''Deaths short lifes longer and more painful''

7? Or, am I seeing wrong? :yawnb:

[sc9108]

7? Or, am I seeing wrong? :yawnb:

7 :[ only thing that came to mind,

[PoeticPassions]

Life is a series of dreams.

[amarna]

Mr. Godot never met a unicorn.

[PoeticPassions]

They wept under love's oppression, gladly.

[sc9108]

It looks easier than it is :),

[sc9108]

Free speech, but nothing left unsaid

[AppY]

An idea! No, it blows. Fin.

[just mercedes]

ink contains all words - just write!

[imthefoolonthehill]

they always say we're just friends.

[beroq]

ink contains all words - just write!

that one was great I bet!

[dacian]

He loves me, I love her

[sc9108]

I went awhole day without talking,

[just mercedes]

born, grow, learn
teach, forget, die

[sc9108]

born, grow, learn
teach, forget, die

I like that one :) ,

[beroq]

I like that one :) ,

So do I. A nice summary of what people call a beautiful life.

[just mercedes]

So do I. A nice summary of what people call a beautiful life.

Thanks, chaps...or chapesses

[sc9108]

So do I. A nice summary of what people call a beautiful life.

Or is it though ? makes you think, and the answer depends on the person reading it,

[stratocaster86]

I reckon "What is your six-word story?" is a god story in itself.

[SolidSnakeEyes]

He visits store, they're sold out.

lol that's the dumbest thing I've ever written.

[beroq]

Or is it though ? makes you think, and the answer depends on the person reading it,

Agreed. Each person would have a different set of six-word story about his/her life.

For an Iraqi child born after the invasion, it would be:

sound, furry, death,
bread, civilization, death.

Or something expressed better than this one.

[dacian]

I have become what I hate

[slightlyajar]

Grab the gun and run, zombies!

Trade my heart for your heart.

[Annabelle]

Six-word story is not a story

[rtc143]

life is what you make it

but we made it all wrong

some say fixable i say not

[rhyminggoat]

Running with scissors down the stairs.

Swimming without a raincoat at best.

_____________________

Beau Gauthreaux
Writing blog: http://fictionspot.net
Art blog: http://rhyminggoat.com

[Raff_Davis]

Coasting to the grave is suicide.

[Sarctoth]

I'm not weird, I'm just crazy

[Sk8ynat]

No risks taken. No life lived.

[laidbackperson]

Casual..Happy...Serious....Painful......Indifferen ce....Happier?

[Fashby]

People: good and bad, no difference.

[Fent]

Last night always comes too soon.

[JazzyKat]

He's a friend. (I love him.)

[Beautifull]

what is right,what is wrong?

[beroq]

Patriotism:

Has driven Cadillac
Never drive Toyota

[JuniperWoolf]

He's dead. Can we kiss now?

:lol: That's awesome.

[Pensive]

And the puppets killed their master.

[breathtest]

I am so far from home

[beroq]

And the puppets killed their master.

Great. Very revolutionary...

[PoeticPassions]

the orchestra played in discord, hopelessly.

[LMK]

Saddened, for death would never come.

[andave_ya]

My Lord is waiting for me.

[Dinaliuyang]

Would you marry me?
Sorry,nope.

[Janine]

put off tomorrow, but not today

[kevinthediltz]

I drown the puppies with faith

[Daniil]

What do you think Hemingway meant in his six-word story?

*The irony concealed in death?
*The irony of dying young?
*Poorness?
*The memory of a painful childhood?
*War?

I thank everyone who has joined thus far.

In my opinion, there`s no concrete meaning of it. I think Hemingway Has written this story because of he wanted other people to discuss it very long time. and he achieved it! maybe there`s a lot of
philosophy in this six words. Maybe it`s just a
stupidity... I don`t know :yawnb:
Here`s my six-words story:
Kill me. I`m cruel zombie.

[bad3ain]

Woke with crap on his head

[joebob]

And it's just what I expected.

[The Walker]

My Lord is waiting for me.

ohh i loved this one! DEEP :)

[Fen]

Rudolf Stein
Auschwitz survivor
1924-2000

[beroq]

In my opinion, there`s no concrete meaning of it. I think Hemingway Has written this story because of he wanted other people to discuss it very long time. and he achieved it! maybe there`s a lot of
philosophy in this six words. Maybe it`s just a
stupidity... I don`t know :yawnb:
Here`s my six-words story:
Kill me. I`m cruel zombie.

If Hemingway just wanted us to keep in wonder by writing this six-word story, then we could say all his others works are written by the same rule. Because they are too widely discussed. There are lots of controversy surrounding them.

I believe Hemingway did mean something with that story. Such a writer who was a master in laconic forms would have done nothing just for fun or for the sake of stupidity.

[Steven Hunley]

Caesar wrote the first: I came, I saw, I conquered

[Delta40]

she washed, she dried, she dreamed.

[KryStaLitsa]

she grabbed the butterfly and flied...

[selkies]

Perfect Protagonists reflect poorly on author

[Monamy]

What do you think Hemingway meant in his six-word story?

*The irony concealed in death?
*The irony of dying young?
*Poorness?
*The memory of a painful childhood?
*War?

I thank everyone who has joined thus far.

I wouldn't really feel strongly to any of those possible answers above, I felt it reflected the idea of "the hardship of living" more powerful than anything else.

Here's my six-words:
Yesterday: Memory, Today: Injury, Tomorrow: Hope

[selkies]

cigarettes and espresso in Paris cafe

[selkies]

Blisters appreciate bicycles more than wallets

[toni]

Dismal skies howled and he perished.

[selkies]

I came, she came, we cuddled

[toni]

A dream, blown by the wind.

[DanielBenoit]

Real or imaginary, does it matter?

[selkies]

Real or imaginary, does it matter?

Having fun matters more than either

[ripa nahar]

"born where,no importent,work punctually"

[Grit]

"Beaten, I smell alcohol. Jack Daniels."

[DanielBenoit]

Hamlet said 'be or not be'

[Grit]

Fear, Hope, Dissapointment. Absolution, Death, Nirvana

[garrett-k]

Where am I going to go?

[beroq]

Would you learn how lovers bleed?

[billl]

The reader finished the story quickly.

[sian1357]

I suspect this wont end well

[motherhubbard]

another kid puked in the floor!

[D.P.Trottier]

I've gone; But I'm still going.

[Gldnslvr]

Why know, just to lie anyways.

[hoope]

lived and loved , died and forgotten

[kinkajou]

Failed at love once, trying again.

[mtpspur]

Dispatcher sends drivers to troubled members.

[Sariel]

She smiled, "I accept monopoly money."

[jambojersey]

It's A Boy, Both Doing Well.

[Maryd.]

Love: Taking a knife for you.

[paulw]

Billy's head is in the garbage

[Dr Jekyll]

Worlds revolving under an oak's shadow...

[Serephitus]

Failed to love, loved to fail.

[Silas Thorne]

zero,crawling hobbling
striding,hobbling, zero.

[a_little_wisp]

It seemed like a good idea.

[The Comedian]

"There was a fire. . . .nothing remains"

[TheFifthElement]

Sorry, took a wrong turn somewhere.

[nocturnal_90s]

I remember I was first introduced to the super short story in one of my Spanish classes where we read "El dinosaurio" (The Dinosaur) by Augusto Monterroso. It read:

Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí.
When he/she awoke, the dinosaur was still there.

According to my professor, it's as packed with meaning as any other story.

Here's mine:

Drink! It's not at all poisonous.

[chrismythoi]

i think this idea is very interesting, and i can see why hemingway thought it was his best story. i suppose all stories have a background which the reader must fill in with their imagination...

All she could do was cry.

[VulpesFulva]

"I do," she said.
He fainted.

[jambojersey]

Organism, Rhymes, Aunt, Number, Gaze, Error.

[beroq]

Nocturnal, I liked the story you provided in Spanish.

[paulw]

She's *****ing at her Anorexic son

[Lumiere]

Nobody there, she kisses the tree.

[beroq]

Nobody there, she kisses the tree.

Sounds like a sad love story.

[Maryd.]

2012, the end of the world.

[loki456]

her silhouette faded through my frustration

[Maryd.]

Once again, the night is young.

[Lads of E3]

I have a very small penis.

[Insomniac]

While reading other super-shorts and turning my thought processes to background tasks, the phrase, "The dead judge not the living," popped into my head.

For some reason it sounds very familiar to me, but various google searches (usually my first and always my last resort) resulted in squat.

The dead judge not the living.

If it's plagiarized, give me some info on it. If not, then that's my super-short.

**haha, just realized, that's not a really a story... oh well, I still want to know about it.

The dead judged not the living.

That's my story.

[hack]

I recognize truths but prefer lies.

[Silas Thorne]

morning, bitter rain,
a welcome gun.

[Maryd.]

Today I'll be ready for tomorrow

[Mrig]

Join the mad race! It's IN!

[Silas Thorne]

Tomorrow
another day
perhaps worth trying.

[Mrig]

Yes Boss!..... Yes., boss..... ahh yes boss!

[Dr Jekyll]

The grass keeps our shadow's secret.

[Maryd.]

The grass keeps our shadow's secret.

I like this one Dr. Jekyll.



At the end of the road

[beroq]

The world is made of forms.

[jambojersey]

The world is made of forms.
Grin And Bare It My Friend. ♥♥♥

[chrissy613]

The sun is shining brightly outside!

[misterblok]

Born.Grew.Lived.Married.Shrunk.Died.

[bad3ain]

Young, Sexy, Rich... and Lonely!

[BienvenuJDC]

The guy above me can't count.

[breannalayne]

always out numbered, never out gunned.

[hillwalker]

Suddenly I wish I hadn't jumped.....

[Hawkman]

Move and the cammel gets it.

[Hawkman]

Oh for heaven' sake, not again!

[BienvenuJDC]

Sleeping girl in hand once again...

[RaoulDuke]

A silver spoon stained with skank.

[Remi Shos]

• "Hey, Babe." "This is Mrs. Babe."

• "..., large fries, and a diet coke..."

• "Honey, I'm pregnant!" "But...I'm sterile."

• "Do you have any last words?"

[James_Patrick]

I lie. It makes life simple.

[Sea in Side]

Stealing a thought from Remi:

"Any last words?" "Yes, just three."

[Sea in Side]

Why is there blood?... and urine?!

[Sea in Side]

Time for bed, wish me luck.

[dizzydoll]

When will we ever learn compassion?

[Sarasvati21]

It's over.
You have regrets.

...Great.

[Revolte]

A single feather for flightless bird.

[scaltz]

I drank, I slept, I died.

[dizzydoll]

http://serve.mysmiley.net/jumping/jumping0044.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-animal-smileys.php)

http://serve.mysmiley.net/jumping/jumping0006.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)

[hillwalker]

Spock, these Smileys are taking over!!!!!!

[dizzydoll]

Its so cool to act childish. http://serve.mysmiley.net/innocent/innocent0006.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-japanese-smileys.php)

[scaltz]

Spock, these Smileys are taking over!!!!!!

Lol xD. Ambigous smileys at that!

Oh found thought of another one!

"We don't know how to die."

I just saw a thread about dying in the "philosophy" section then this came up.

Edit: hahaha that's funny. Just trying your new emoticons :P.

[dizzydoll]

Thanks for making my day Walker. http://forum.thescubasite.com/party/party0007.gif (http://www.thescubasite.com)http://serve.mysmiley.net/animated/anim_27.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net). lol

[dizzydoll]

"We don't know how to die."


Be a man and fight now. http://serve.mysmiley.net/fighting/fighting0040.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)

LOL

[dizzydoll]

Yes being childish definitely suits me. http://forum.thescubasite.com/japanese/jap3.gif (http://www.thescubasite.com)

No more, I will behave now.

[scaltz]

Yes being childish definitely suits me. http://forum.thescubasite.com/japanese/jap3.gif (http://www.thescubasite.com)

No more, I will behave now.

What did you consume just now?

xD

[hillwalker]

'We are Smiley's People' (Le Carre).

[dizzydoll]

All types make up the world.... http://serve.mysmiley.net/japanese/jap16.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-indifferent-smileys.php)

http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0007.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0016.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-msn-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0013.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-winking-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0066.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-unhappy-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0032.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)...http://forum.thescubasite.com/characters/character0025.gif (http://www.thescubasite.com)

[scaltz]

All types make up the world.... http://serve.mysmiley.net/japanese/jap16.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-indifferent-smileys.php)

http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0007.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0016.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-msn-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0013.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-winking-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0066.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-unhappy-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0032.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)...http://forum.thescubasite.com/characters/character0025.gif (http://www.thescubasite.com)

A new world, a fantastic place.

[BienvenuJDC]

All types make up the world.... http://serve.mysmiley.net/japanese/jap16.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-indifferent-smileys.php)

http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0007.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0016.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-msn-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0013.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-winking-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0066.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-unhappy-smileys.php)...http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0032.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)...http://forum.thescubasite.com/characters/character0025.gif (http://www.thescubasite.com)

It looks like the Village People!

[Nikhar]

Live or don't, I suck anyways. :(

[dizzydoll]

You don't suck, you're a sweetheart. http://serve.mysmiley.net/characters/character0001.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-fighting-smileys.php)

[scaltz]

Live or don't, I suck anyways. :(

You don't suck, I'm just better. :conehead:

[dizzydoll]

You don't suck, I'm just better. :conehead:

And you have a cute face. http://serve.mysmiley.net/animated/anim_26.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-laughing-smileys.php)

[scaltz]

And you have a cute face. http://serve.mysmiley.net/animated/anim_26.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-laughing-smileys.php)

Nope, Adam and Eve are Sexier. :angel: :devil:

[BienvenuJDC]

Are all these stories just sequels?

[scaltz]

Are all these stories just sequels?

Great idea! We should make a thread where users create 10 word sequels the one after the another!

[dizzydoll]

Are all these stories just sequels?
Nope we are just goofing around. http://serve.mysmiley.net/animated/anim_63.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)

My brain needs a rest now.

[Hawkman]

• "Honey, I'm pregnant!" "But...I'm sterile."



"You should worry, so am I!"

[scaltz]

"You should worry, so am I!"

So... the baby is not ours?

[BienvenuJDC]

Great idea! We should make a thread where users create 10 word sequels the one after the another!

It's your idea (a good one at that), so do it!!

[Remi Shos]

So... the baby is not ours?


"You know I love you, right?" :aureola: ... :incazzato:

[BienvenuJDC]

"You know I love you, right?" :aureola: ... :incazzato:

Oh, so there is another, huh?

[Remi Shos]

Oh, so there is another, huh?

"You're gonna laugh when you hear..." :smilielol5: :mad5:

[Sea in Side]

"You're gonna laugh when you hear..." :smilielol5: :mad5:

... you know that guy you hate?

[demonic790]

Confined by the chains of love.

[Dodo25]

I'm currently writing a short story that can pretty much be condensed to the following six words:

I'm Pablo and I hate art.

[Dark Mystery]

Sun goes down moon comes up.

[Cunninglinguist]

"I am in love with you"

When meant, what could be more profound than that?

[dizzydoll]

Lady Writer on the T. V. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNWPNPQxpl8&feature=related)

open the link above this line

Where Do You Think You´re Going (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVKUNMDKctw&feature=related)

dont you know its dark outside

Once Upon aTime in the West (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tx9wd1KBSg&feature=related)

so mothers lock up ya daughters

The Mans Too Strong (Wembley Arena) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOrXTZyXWLg&feature=related)

:coolgleamA:

[Revolte]

His blood, it drowned the crown.

[dizzydoll]

http://serve.mysmiley.net/love/love0033.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net), And finally the truth came out. http://serve.mysmiley.net/love/love0038.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)

[moonbird]

-What's up?
-Your mom!
-Ooh, burn!
:coolgleamA:

[BienvenuJDC]

It was a cold dark night...

[Tarvaa]

... you know that guy you hate?

he does much more for me

[Tarvaa]

She is dead...See you later

[J.D. Sparks]

Goodbye, Daddy. You drove him away.

[allislostfornow]

They suffered us for too long.

[MorbidStalker]

"I think therefore I must be."
"Five billions years then all's gone."

Sorry to bring this thread back to life, but after discovering the existence of Hemingway's story, I was unable to find out whether it ever was confirmed that it's really his.

I'm also wondering... did he really only write that on a napkin? Was it eventually officially "published"? Was it ever officially translated?

Or was it always just some sort of an urban legend?

Thanks for your answers!

[sweety]

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, nice kitty.....Ouch!!!! Mammie, mammie:smilielol5:

[moonbird]

Up, down, does it really matter?

[Nicci]

So poor, I can't pay attention.

[Bluehound]

"Look a fire "
"That's my house"

[janeeyre88]

The lightning flashes, the thunder crashes

[pre-op]

Being stabbed ruined John's day completely.

[everyadventure]

Being stabbed ruined John's day completely. HA! Good one :)

[MatthewFarlow]

Cliffhangers always end in this way:

[Calidore]

She had thought she was alone.

[hillwalker]

"It's not that far to jump....."

H

[MystyrMystyry]

Ouch!



Ouch!


Ouch!



Ouch!


Ouch!



Ouch!