There’s a rumor, or a literary legend, that Ernest Hemingway was once asked to write a story in just six sentences. Up to the challenge, Hemingway composed these six words, which he thought to be his best work of prose: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” The rumor lives on today, recently spawning a book entitled: Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. To see excerpts of the book and see what other writers have done with this challenge, check out some sample pages at the publisher’s website.
The Hemingway Challenge asks you to do the same. Come up with the best story you can, using only six words or less.
Have a submission for the Hemingway Challenge? Send it in the body of an e-mail with ‘Hemingway Submission’ as the subject to ItsYourWord@gmail.com. If you would like to add a short bio about yourself or share any links please send them along with the e-mail at the end of your letter.
