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The World's Shortest Story
It was said that Ernest Hemingway once made a bet that he could write the world's shortest story. It would be a tearjerker of a tale only six words long.
His six-word story was, “For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.”
Hemingway won the bet.
Researchers have long since proven that Hemingway's baby shoe story has been around since at least 1906. It wasn't even attributed to Hemingway until 1991, 30 years after the author's death. In fact, these types of micro tales go back so far that even William Shakespeare employed them.
“These violent delights have violent ends.”
“Eaten out of house and home.”
And perhaps his most famous line,
“To be or not to be.”
This type of micro story is called “flash fiction.” These six-word memoirs were so popular that they spawned a series of books, one of which became a New York Times bestseller.
Here are some more examples:
“Never, ever refuse a breath mint.”
“I still make coffee for two.”
“Goodbye mission control. Thanks for trying…”
Six-word stories like these also work in music. Here are a few instances where you can't even read them without singing along:
“It's been a hard day's night.”
“Want a whole lot of love.”
“Every little thing gonna be alright.”
“You've got a friend in me.”
But regardless of who wrote it, the six-word tale has something to show us. Simply put, you don't need many words to create a big reaction.
Henry David Thoreau spent two years living by Walden Pond in the early Nineteenth Century. Thoreau wrote about what he learned during his time there in his now classic Walden. And while I don't remember a six-word story from that book, I do remember that Thoreau used very few words to sum up his premise when he wrote, “Simplify, simplify.”
Clearly, Thoreau understood that it didn't take a big vocabulary to make a big point (although, to be fair, if Thoreau really believed in what he was saying, why wouldn't he have just written “Simplify”?).
After all, as Shakespeare's Polonius once quipped to Hamlet, “Brevity is the soul of wit!”
Compelling contest delivered with mastery. (One word short…Atta boy Bruce)
Thank you Mark!!
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Bruce…
You know that I am a fan, but this one may have changed some of my current marketing projects!
I have been struggling to explain a grand concept…and perhaps I have been using too many words! I am thinking that I need to create a Six Word Flash explanation that would be my lead for the project.
Easier said than done…but I plan to give it a try.
Thanks for the continuing inspiration.
Kent
Thanks Kent. Please report back on what you discover.
Fun fact…
“Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure” was edited by Smith Magazine. Smith Magazine was founded by Larry Smith whose wife Piper Kerman was the author/subject of the book/show, “Orange is the New Black”.
I attended the National Storytelling Festival a few years ago and saw them speak together. They were great. I purchased both of their books and had a chance to chat with them when I got them signed.
Small world.
I cannot take credit for this.
“The wife had a better lawyer.”
Whoever can take credit deserves it. Good one Rich. Thanks.
Good presentation, great information, enjoyed it, and all of your other stories
Thank you Arthur.