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10 Compelling Six Word Stories
The Ernest Hemingway Challenge
I first read about this challenge a few days ago while reading a story on Medium titled: One of Hemingway’s Most Powerful Stories Was Just Six Words. Grant Piper published the piece March 14, 2022. It was the inspiration for my story.
The legend behind the challenge originates at a bar in Paris around 1920. Ernest Hemingway and a gaggle of fellow writers are putting back a few cocktails. The guys are telling war stories around the table, half drunk when they decide to test the American.
Hemingway’s reputation proceeds him. The group offers Ernest a bet that he couldn’t write a compelling story in 6 words or fewer. After several tense minutes, the famous writer scribbles words on a napkin, and pushes it to the center of the table.
Baby shoes for sale. Never used.
The group happily pays the bet. The legend lives on to this day. Below is my spin on the writing challenge: Ten Heartbreaking Six Word Stories.
MY SIX WORD STORIES
- Hot winter. Cold summer. Climate changed.
2. A fatherless father failing at fatherhood.
3. Little black boy lynched for smiling.
