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Thursday, February 24, 2011

6 Word Memoirs: Tell Us Yours

SMITH Magazine's Six-word memoirs site.

SMITH Magazine's six-word memoirs site.

SMITH Magazine has published a handful of books full of Six-word memoirs. We’re going to speak with the founder of the project.

Can you write your life’s story in 6 words? How about these examples, from SMITH: “Wake up. Coffee. Back to bed.” Or “Laundry never done. Children Always Dressed.” Send us yours.

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

  • Michael

    Work. Layoffs. Repeat. Start Business. Recession.

  • Jerry Stephens

    I can drink any one’s coffee.

  • KarenJ

    Not just along for the ride.

  • Robby R

    family business, textiles, gone, wasted life

    • Kyler

      Don’t dispair… I don’t know your story but I feel for you.

  • Giuseppe Saitta

    Born under fascism.
    Thrived in Democracy.

  • Bignaztat

    All done. What next, where to?

  • Caroline Stevenson

    “Keep on going, it gets better.”

    Caroline

  • Ellen J. Reich

    Feminist prolife Jew seeking fellow travelers.
    Ellen J. Reich

  • Carlton11

    Liberty Poetry Conformity Serenity Simplicity Generosity

  • Blimey99

    Found love young, the lucky dog.

  • L C Smith

    Outsider – heartache – metamorphosis – comfortable in difference

  • BayouBanshee

    Celtic Tiger Bit Bayou Banshee. Ouch.

  • Ellen J. Reich

    Odd. Posted “memoir.” Deemed unacceptable? Removed.

  • Philnee

    Woke up old surprised now what

  • Kyler

    son? daughter! angst artist unconditional love

  • Private Sector Frog

    “Six words? Nope, couldn’t do it.”

  • Susan719

    Too heavy-Focus on dieting-Eat

  • Greg

    Still don’t know what I’m doing.

  • Wm. C

    This is all Illusion but love

  • Mike McClure

    surfing, balanced between freedom and security

  • Private Sector Frog

    Jack to Barack – FAST! Ten more?

  • George

    Chasing the dime, so little time.

  • Olivia

    Meditate
    Ruminate
    Generate
    Replicate
    Tolerate
    Celebrate

  • JB

    Believed I did ‘A’. Accomplished ‘B’.

  • Private Sector Frog

    “Can I have a rim shot!”

  • Ollurg9

    take medication, hope for equilibrium

  • Albert R. Garcia

    Good start, bad finish, oh well.

  • Doug

    A couple of years ago my wife and I spent the first few days of our vacation writing our six word memoirs. Here are some of mine:

    Analog man in a digital world.
    Wife, work, whiskey; I loved them.
    Heard water’s call. Afraid of drowning.
    Often stopped to pet random dogs.

    What is the difference between a six word memoir and an epitaph?

  • Nan

    Spiritual Agnostic in search of God.

  • george arnold

    business, pleasure-
    sometimes shaken,
    sometimes stirred

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1064618617 Edward Azadex Thomas

    Three : Jobs : Sacrificing : All : For : Family

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1064618617 Edward Azadex Thomas

    Three : Jobs : Sacrificing : All : For : Family

    • Kas Smith

      i feel your sadness brother

  • Xerocada1

    six years. move again. with him.

  • david

    Climbing the spout again and again

  • Bill

    Brat, athlete, depressed, awakened, dedicated, service. (span 69yrs)

  • Marita

    Irish. Immigrant. Recovering Alcoholic. Belong nowhere.

  • Jderkis

    Long days, short nights: working Mom.

  • AGR

    Excellent student. Loving Mom. Not Done

  • Linda

    Embrace the day…smile at someone

  • Margesull

    I still need to lose weight

  • Silvia

    Happiness, love, pasion, sadness, hope, fulfillment

  • wendy

    career without degree. childless. lesbian. 40!

  • heather

    To dance is therapy in motion

  • http://www.c8kingphotography.com C8King

    Manhattan detour; heart belongs to NOLA.

  • Lagaidh

    I made people forget time.

  • Cathyrukswelch

    I still believe in Santa Claus.

    • Hallfreakyzoid

      That’s right Santa, Virginias are everywhere!

  • Dava

    Damned if I do or don’t.

  • Gottfried02138

    Thought I’d marry, like singe life

  • Bob H.

    trying not to be an a**hole

  • John

    Didn’t do enough for six words.

  • Sarah Renfro

    Former model, current Reverend, always dancing.

  • Kjo

    Earth, birth, life, love, death, earth

  • LiliGrace83

    Dealing with Dad’s depression, distance daily.

  • Richard

    I should have never said goodbye

  • Liz M.

    Wha’d I do to deserve this

  • Scott McCandless

    Successful outside, empty inside. Why bother?

  • Treyepode

    sad childhood. addiction. recovery. happy now

  • Nsasryrufns

    These are the good old days

  • Conniefre

    Retired from work. I’m now living.
    Connie F

  • jlar

    trinitarian existential relational experience tactile faith

  • Kelly

    Multi-tasking
    Underemployed
    Writer
    Seeks
    Life’s Meaning
    -Kelly, Vancouver, Washington

  • Anonymous

    Truth to self equals happiness

  • Jeffm

    Combat veteran: Shell shocked American, idle.

  • Andy

    Sad beginning, middle struggled, happy end

  • Jim Geiser

    Love and loved by Jeanette, forever.

  • the gaucho

    traded my car for a banjo

  • Oswaldmoop

    Baby boomer changing diapers every day

  • Ron

    One appointment; diabetes and prostate cancer.

  • Capebreton1234

    Life, death, art, beauty, love, mysterty

  • Amzu

    IPhone, a teenager and my life.

  • John Spring

    lifelong mailman, what was I thinking?

  • Jeannie

    Found life meaningless. Got over it.

  • Tom

    Orphaned early
    Persevered
    Prospered
    Life’s blessed

  • Isabel

    My religion as my underwear, private.

  • Lolap

    getting older but still doing yoga

  • Janis Gonzales

    “LIFE IS NOT PERFECT. THE END”!!!

    Janis Gonzales…Las Vegas, Nevada

  • MU2 Wade

    Bluiett called Caverly “Bahá’í”– thank God!

  • Eileen

    Cancer conqueror, organic, exercise, icecream, chocolate.

  • melissa

    Minister and mommy, no better vocations!

  • Dawneca

    Loved and loved and loved again.

  • carol

    Lessons learned;life not over yet.

  • Doughardy

    Lucky guy. Wounded world. Get busy!

  • Andrew M

    I had nothing better to do.

  • Cofathome

    Wonder, oppression, depression, meditation, activation, self-possession

  • Leslie

    crazy
    exciting
    impulsive
    driven
    memorable
    outlandish

  • Jeannine Gendron

    Mothers love times four minus one.

  • Harleybarb

    Stayed barefoot as long as possible.

  • Madison

    When ‘goodbye’ never crossed my mind.

  • christina

    a cat lady isn’t four cats.
     

  • Babydoll96

    shy…but yet outgoing just quiet

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FIA74EEKIDC2CGHNMZ2DZ3ALLM Blessed Jade

    Lifestyles of the rich and famous

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FIA74EEKIDC2CGHNMZ2DZ3ALLM Blessed Jade

    Saying goodbye is hard to do.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FIA74EEKIDC2CGHNMZ2DZ3ALLM Blessed Jade

    Living life like its a game

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FIA74EEKIDC2CGHNMZ2DZ3ALLM Blessed Jade

    Smiling when you want to cry

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FIA74EEKIDC2CGHNMZ2DZ3ALLM Blessed Jade

    slipping when it says to slide

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FIA74EEKIDC2CGHNMZ2DZ3ALLM Blessed Jade

    Pushing when the door says pull

  • Theodore Hoppe

    Then again, what was I thinking?

  • kjstevens

    I try; still not good enough…

  • Duffy Johnson

    Then: young, naive; now: older, learning

  • Tanish Gupta

    Never waste any opportunity life gives 

  • Smiley_

    I like food more than people.

  • Smiley_

    Saying goodbye is the hardest part.

  • Schnezana

    I hated America. I left it!

  • carolina garcia

    Born to have the greatest friends

  • Sexybeth2887638

    TOXIC: to fall in love again.

  • ali

    Tan Italian Skin; Blue Irish Eyes

  • ali

    Head in clouds. Bright up here :)

  • ali

    “it’ll be fun” “no, it won’t”

  • ali

    Who Am I? I’m Jean Valjean.

  • ali

    Sam. Cleo. Dogs are my life.

  • ali

    Katniss Everdeen the Girl on Fire!!!!

  • ali

    She’ll be the one you remember.

  • ali

    so unsure, yet eager to try.

  • Logan

     There’s actually a game for this!

    (http://www.areyougame.com/interact/item.asp?itemno=01299)

  • tumblrgirl

    We met. We loved. He left.

  • ChinchillaLover

    I feel a need to create

  • jaekae24

    Im doing well; teetering on insanity.

  • Ashley Johnsonfudge

    Tear filled eyes; Skinned up knees!

  • Marie

    The guys I loved became priests.

  • Patw1984

    Moms should pick thier kids mates

  • moo

    The early bird gets the worm.

  • moo

    KATNISS EVERDEEN THE GIRL ON FIRE!

  • moo

    Words have meaning… choose them wisley.

  • Missygoudey

    I wasn’t listening, please repeat

  • ForgetTheWorld

    Scars tell what words just can’t.

  • why

    My wrists. They are stained red

    • Rachel Orey

      Please don`t hurt yourself (: Someone, or anyone, may be there for you, you just might not be able to see them: Born This Way.

  • divinggirl

    lifes what you make it

  • e

    Art expresses me when I can’t

  • Ohmygoditsmorgan

    life is hard without your friends

  • Mwfalk

    you take shit until it stops

  • Danielle

    I’m just trying to stay sane…

  • Loopy_hoppy

    How could you forget about me.

  • Datvi

    Amazing life…Thanks! I’m done now.

  • Themarygen

    Scars just make you… Stronger

  • Themarygen

    Loves to travel,hates planes

  • Tim

    From the Streets to Law School

  • Jessica55577

    Need love like I need life

  • Baileytimlin7

    Every failure leads up to success

  • Khadija

    I play soccer. Ready for position!

  • Imadalfn2

    Loved by children and small animals

  • Cornelius

    Never let bad memories get you.

  • Skyler Eidle

    My pain.  Your game.  My hero…

  • Skyler Eidle

    My name, that’s all you know.

  • Strongblackwoman76

    Chosen. Oblivious. Believer. Spiritual Growth Seeker.

  • Sly39dashia

    ”Independent woman, strong believer, big dreamer.”

  • Holden

    Born, married ,baby, divorced,  married, divorced

  • guest

    Being young always ends too early

  • Wsdcindy

    Men meet woman. Woman is lesbian.

  • Baskteball3535

    My story is still being written. 

  • Krys135246

    Threw the towel, picked it up
    -krystalynn

  • Krys135246

    walked across, was the grass greener
    -krystalynn

  • Krys135246

    you did, was it worth it?
    -krystalynn

  • Celsny

    I was alone. Found Doctor Who

  • Tabitha Ruff

    Can’t move on from your death

  • Dylonkills

    left to die but still strong

  • Francesca

    Still trying to find Mr. Right. 

  • Curly Brunette

    Best memories come from bad ideas

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