Six Word Memoir

What is a memoir?

A memoir is a historical biography written from a person’s experience.

Sometimes people write their life stories and people want to read them. Anne Frank, Frank McCourt, and Samuel Pepys wrote about their lives in journals and diaries and wound up becoming famous because of what they wrote down.

At the same time, some people have become famous for writing what is called ‘flash writing,’ really, really short pieces of fiction or nonfiction that can still be very powerful.

As an example, Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest writers in American history, once wrote:

‘For sale: baby shoes, never worn.’

Even though it’s only six words, those are six VERY powerful, very sad words.

These two trends, memoirs and flash writing, have met in the last few years. Your task as sixth graders is to write about your own life using ONLY six words.

What can you possibly say in JUST six words? What can you do with only six words?

Examples

I’m short, but I don’t care

What makes you think I’m stupid?

Flying to new heights….and beyond.

Living my life to the fullest.

Better to give than to receive.

Inspiring books speak to my soul

My heart belongs only to food.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Some people have talents. I sleep.

Assignment

Come up with as many 6 word memoirs as you can on a piece of paper. We will share with the class.

Final copy: On an index card, you will neatly write, in pen, your best 6 word memoir. Your name, date, and class must be on the top red line of the index card.