A 6-word memoir is a unique way to tell a story about your life in just a few words. It’s a fun and challenging exercise that can help you to distill the most important parts of your life into a brief and impactful statement. And now, you have the chance to share your 6-word memoir with the world by entering our 6-word memoir contest!
In this blog post, we will explain what a 6-word memoir is, provide some tips for writing a great one, and tell you how to enter our contest. We will also share some examples of 6-word memoirs to inspire you.
What is a 6-word memoir?
A 6-word memoir is a brief statement that tells a story about your life. It’s a creative way to share your experiences and thoughts with others in a concise and impactful way.
A 6-word memoir is typically a sentence that is written in the first-person point of view, such as “I learned to stop loving myself” or “I made my dreams a reality.” However, you can also use the third-person point of view, such as “She overcame her fear of failure” or “He found his one true calling.” Or even better, dispense with the pronoun all together and let your imagination go wild.
The key to a great 6-word memoir is to be creative and use language that is powerful and evocative. Your memoir should be able to stand on its own, without any additional context or explanation.
Six of the best attributes of memoirs written in 6 words
- Concision: A six-word memoir should be brief and to the point, using only six words to tell a powerful and impactful story.
- Creativity: A six-word memoir should be original and unique, using language and words in creative and evocative ways.
- Emotion: A six-word memoir should be able to convey emotion and feeling, using words and phrases that are powerful and evocative.
- Focus: A six-word memoir should be focused and clear, using only a few words to convey a specific idea or experience.
- Clarity: A six-word memoir should be easy to understand and clear, using language that is straightforward and without any ambiguity.
- Impact: A six-word memoir should be impactful and memorable, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Tips for writing a great 6-word memoir
- Start with a blank sheet of paper and a pen or pencil.
- Take some time to think about your life and the experiences that have shaped you. What are the most important things that have happened to you? What are the moments that have had the biggest impact on your life?
- Write down as many words as you can think of that relate to your life and experiences. Don’t worry about making complete sentences or being perfect – just get your thoughts down on paper.
- Look for common themes and ideas in your words. What are the recurring ideas or experiences that stand out? What are the words that are the most powerful or evocative?
- Start to play with your words and rearrange them into different combinations. Look for ways to create a short and impactful statement that tells a story about your life.
- Be creative and don’t be afraid to experiment. Try different combinations of words and see what works best.
- When you are satisfied with your 6-word memoir, read it out loud to yourself and see how it sounds. Does it flow smoothly? Does it have a strong rhythm? Does it convey the message you want to share?
- Edit and refine your memoir until you are happy with it.
What mistakes should you try to avoid when writing a six word memoir?
Here are some mistakes to avoid when writing a six-word memoir:
- Don’t be too general or vague. Your memoir should be specific and personal, so avoid using words that are too broad or general.
- Don’t use too many or too few words. A six-word memoir should be concise and to the point, so avoid using more than six words.
- Don’t use cliches or overused phrases. A six-word memoir should be original and unique, so avoid using cliches or phrases that have been used too many times before.
- Don’t try to say too much. A six-word memoir should be focused and impactful, so avoid trying to include too many different ideas or experiences in your memoir.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different combinations of words. A six-word memoir should be creative and evocative, so don’t be afraid to play around with your words and see what works best.
- Don’t be afraid to edit and refine your memoir. A six-word memoir should be well-written and polished, so don’t be afraid to go back and make changes until you are happy with your memoir.
How many words should a memoir be?
A member should be exactly six words long – no more, no less.
How to enter our 6-word memoir contest
Entering our 6-word memoir contest is easy! Simply follow these steps:
- Write your six-word memoir and make sure it is grammatically correct and free of spelling errors.
- Visit the Six Word Wonder contest.
- Fill out the entry form with your name, contact information, and your six-word memoirs.
- Submit your entry and wait to hear from us.
We will review all of the entries and select a winner based on the creativity and impact of the six-word memoir. The winner will receive a cash prize and the opportunity to have their memoir featured in the next published six word wonder collection.
Ten writing prompts to get you started with your autobiographical ideas.
Here are ten writing prompts for a short autobiography:
- Write about a significant event or experience that changed the course of your life.
- Write about a person who has had a profound impact on your life and why.
- Write about a time when you faced a challenge or obstacle and how you overcame it.
- Write about a passion or hobby that has brought meaning and fulfillment to your life.
- Write about a difficult decision you had to make and how it has affected your life.
- Write about a defining moment or turning point in your life and how it has shaped who you are today.
- Write about a personal quality or trait that you are proud of and how it has helped you in your life.
- Write about a time when you faced adversity or hardship and how you persevered.
- Write about a significant accomplishment or achievement that you are proud of and why.
- Write about a dream or goal that you have pursued and how it has shaped your life.
Books to improve your writing skills for the contest
Here are some books that can help you improve your writing skills:
- “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White
- “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser
- “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott
- “The Writing Life” by Annie Dillard
- “The Sense of Style” by Steven Pinker
- “The Art of Fiction” by John Gardner
- “The Writer’s Journey” by Christopher Vogler
- “The Writing Process” by Brenda Spatt
- “The Craft of Writing” by Isaac Asimov
- “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers” by Renni Browne and Dave King.
Examples of six-word memoirs using opening with i.
Here are some examples of six-word memoirs to inspire you. Each one opens with “I”:
- “I wrote my own story, unapologetically”
- “I embraced my individuality and shone”
- “I took the road less traveled”
- “I found strength in my vulnerability”
- “I learned to truly let go”
- “I embraced my imperfections and shone”
- “I found beauty in the unexpected”
- “I laughed, I loved, I conquered”
- “From heartache to happiness, I survived”
- “I found my voice and spoke up”
- “I faced my demons and triumphed”
- “I lived, then left a legacy”
You can enter the Six Word Wonder contest here. And why not read some more six word stories?