I don't like Ernest Hemingway. At all. I am currently sending loathsome thoughts to where ever he is buried. So it's really a shame that my high school english teacher decided to dedicate six weeks to studying his writings, because we never really got along after that.
But.
Hemingway once wrote a (very) short story in just six words:
"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
And at first I think "oh yea, Ernie, good job. Like my flippin' first-grader couldn't do better. Psha. gah. whatever." And then Richard and I spend the better part of an evening coming up with our own six-word stories, and find it surprisingly difficult. And I even begin to admire some things about Hemingway's little story, like the symmetry, the compression of a whole lifetime of grief, and the how he creates distance while remaining intimate.
And that is where I draw the line, because I stubbornly refuse to ever admire Hemingway, the old jerk:
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So here's a fun challenge: write a story! make it six words! post them in the comment section to share with everyone- it's kinda like actually getting published!
Here's some of the ones Richard and I hashed out:
"Dear John. It was fun. Not."
"Airport Parking. Arrivals/Departures. Terminal Hotel."
"What did you think would happen?!"
"I'm sorry. No admittance without insurance."
For the monomaniacs:
"Wanted: White whale harpooner. Light travel."
For the Austen-ites:
"Just married: Elizabeth Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcey"
And for the Twilights:
"Vegetarian vampire marries high school sweetheart."
Have Fun!

Don't do it! I'm tellin' Mom!
ReplyDeleteor
This a good length? Oh, shoot.
This is really fun. I may end up thinking about them all night. And I, too, dislike Hemmingway stuff.
I'll do it in a day......
ReplyDeleteNo more sick kids ever, PLEASE!
Seriously fun idea. I will try it when the kids are well. Hope yours are well
Ok, I have never "officially" read any Hemingway, but his short lines really are sad when you really ponder what he is saying and to me that is a skill to evoke emotion in just a few short words. Of course now I have to read some more of his work to see if I really like what he has to say. :)
ReplyDeleteMine: "I hear about this on NPR."
ReplyDeleteLove it.
Ok here is mine "stuttering robber leaves empty handed."
ReplyDeleteSharon and I talked about this for a good half hour this morning. We made up all kinds of 6-word stories with varying degrees of success.
ReplyDeleteHere's my [current] story:
Devoted wife supports disappointed executive's schooling.
Ok you are so totally gonna be sick of me at the end, but I meant "Stuttering robber leaves BANK empty handed!" ha ha! One minor detail I had left off on my previous comment. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll try again later. All of mine sounded mopey...and borish.
ReplyDeleteUtter rubbish, I say.
(Can you tell I'm a wee bit obsessed with a BBC show at the moment?)
Cheeri-o, my good man.
Veteran writes: no nonsense, abrupt ending.
ReplyDeletehold my beer and watch this
ReplyDeletestranger,friend, lover- dementia- lost forever
Gone on hike with the dog.
ReplyDelete