Writer’s Workshop: Six Word Memoirs
by Jenners • 06/01/2011 • Writers Workshop • 51 Comments
Link up at Mama Kat’s!
This week, I decided to do Prompt 1:
Six Word Memoir: Write about a significant time in your life in just six words.
Once I started, I just couldn’t quit so I wrote six-word memoirs for a variety of times in my life. It amazed me how just six words were often enough to get to the essence of something.
Childhood: Goodie goodie loner who read constantly.
High School: Radiated awkwardness. Relieved at the end.
College: Avoided math/science at all costs.
First Serious Relationship: Fell for a voice. Got hurt.
First Job: Exaggerated skills but figured it out.
Wedding: Too many flowers. Not enough cake.
Honeymoon: Brochure was very deceiving. Rained constantly.
Marriage: Often miss forest for the trees.
Motherhood: Messier, louder, more expensive than anticipated.
Stay-At-Home Mom Years: Adjusted well but snack too much.
Housework: Nothing stays clean for long. Dammit!
Dreams: Imagined a novel. Settled for blogging.
Vacations: Were much better before child arrived.
Summertime: Always wishing we had a pool.
Nice! ‘Housework: Nothing stays clean for long. Dammit!’<-bumper sticker alert
It works for cars too!
These are awesome! I don’t think I could be so concise.. I tend to babble
And yes, vacations were definitely more fun pre-kids
It was a good exercise for me. I tend to be too long-winded most times.
Wow. I humbly bow before you.
How’s that for 6 words? I am to long-winded to try this one!
I did it because I am too long-winded. It was a challenge!
How ever did you manage to remain within that 6 word limit and still give such a lot of information? I can so identify with your pre-motherhood years.
It was amazing to me how much info you can impart with just 6 words.
That was awesome and really gave me, what I think is, a fairly clear picture of you! I am sure you have more complexities and depths than those few six words told….but really, I think I get you….and I like you even more than before! If you only look at your childhood, highschool, college and stay-at-home ones….we could be twins!
I’ve found so many separated at birth sisters via blogging … and now I’ve found another one — you!!! ; )
Love this…. I have been so tired lately that’s about all I got is 6 words…
Six word memoir! What a challenge but you did really well dividing it into phases of life!
I can’t imagine summing up my ENTIRE life in 6 words. That would be very difficult.
Love it! I totally feel like I have a snapshot of your life.
And yes, vacations were much more fun BK. (before kids of course)
I don’t think you can really call a vacation with kids a vacation … it is anything but.
Love these! “Vacations: Were much better before child arrived,” made me laugh out loud. We just got back from vacation with our family and my single brother-in-law came with us. I told him that vacationing with children is really effective birth control. He just laughed and nodded his head. I can guarantee he’ll never vacation with us again. It was that bad!
I can totally imagine that is was that bad!!! It just loses all chance of relaxation. In some ways, it would be easier just to stay at home!
you are really good at these! I particularly liked the one about your wedding. I am loving these writing exercises that you have been doing lately. You are a very creative person!
It is fun to challenge myself with these prompts … otherwise I don’t think I could think of anything to write about some weeks.
I love this post! Some of your 6 letter memoirs is similar to what my life is like
Though for my wedding, even though we had more flowers than cake, it was probably because we had too much cake during all those cake testings! Almost couldn’t fit into my wedding dress 
You had cake testings???? Lucky you!! I don’t know why I didn’t insist on that!!!
There’s never enough cake – is there?
Nope … there is not.
LOL! You are always good for my mood. Love them all, but your wedding bio speaks to me
I really don’t know how we got our priorities so wrong! Cake before flowers … ALWAYS!
Couldn’t agree with you more about: Childhood, college, children and summertime…LOL
You are too funny once again
Wow. I can really relate to most of these.
This is really fun! I have a book somewhere on my shelf filled with six-word epitaphs (did I spell that correctly?).
You know, it’s never too late for that novel. I bet it would be great!
I had a book like that too. It was really fun to read. I think there is a series of them and a web site as well.
That was fun to read! Isn’t it interesting how shy/quiet/awkward kids can grow up to be much more outgoing as adults.
I think at some point you just grow in confidence or just stop worrying so much about stuff and just get out there.
I hope you haven’t shelved the novel idea! My memoir for housework: a thankless job that never ends or in 6 other words, who gives a flippin’ rat’s ass
Marriage : after 45 years, let’s not even go there. 6 words can’t even begin to summarize.
Your memoir for housework is perfect!! And I’m thinking now that I need to wait for the Little One to be older to start my book. I don’t have enough free time or energy right now. And 45 years of marriage would leave me speechless too!
I second what you said about motherhood. And what a toll it takes on the body as well (I guess that relates more to what you said about being a SAHM though).
The constant access to snacks is what just KILLS me as a stay-at-home mom. It isn’t good for someone without willpower. I had to have my husband actually HIDE things from me or I just don’t buy them.
Totally awesome just like you are!
Am I paying you to be nice to me or something? : )
I can’t imagine you as a loner. Don’t give up on that novel – I’d stand in line to buy it.
As the first born and the only girl (with two younger brothers who were 1 year apart in age), I was almost forced to be a loner!
Love it! I haven’t figured out what my 6-word memoir would be.
I hear ya on the housework!
Love your answers!
Turns out we had the same dream. I for one am happy blogging (and reading).
At least with blogging you get immediate feedback. It is hard to beat that!
Great six word memoirs. I can relate to many of them. The summertime one use to be one of my dreams, til I got one. Now it’s more work than it’s worth. College memoir, so can relate..I hated math. I did like science though. Great job.
Well, maybe I’ll change that to “good friends with a pool who give us a standing invitation to use it whenever we want.” We are trying out the township pool this year so we’ll see how that goes. I just need to know I can get in water on those hot humid days and cool off!!
Oh what a fun prompt. Love your answers. :O)
Wow! This is a hard prompt!
1 2 3 4 5 6
For a wordy person like myself, it was a challenge.
I did the same thing – I had several six-word phrases, but divided mine by decade. I realize this lets everyone know my approximate age – but by now, who the hell cares?
I can’t wait to read yours … I’m sure they are hilarious. And I’m with you … who the hell cares?