12 First-rate Six-word Stories

Posted on September 13th, 2007 in Literature by Beatrice Adams

If brevity is the soul of wit, then these 12 six-word short stories would be the wittiest products of literary genius we’ve ever seen.

Hemingway once wrote the most heartbreaking short story in just six words:

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Following in his footsteps, more writers rose to the challenge of writing short stories using just six words. Here are some of the best I’ve seen:

Inspirational

“Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.” – William Shatner

Comic

“Longed for him. Got him. Shit.” – Margaret Atwood
“We kissed. She melted. Mop, please!” – James Patrick Kelly

“I couldn’t believe she’d shoot me.” – Howard Chaykin
“Easy. Just touch the match to…” – Ursula K. Le Guin

Tragic

“With bloody hands, I say good-bye.” – Frank Miller
“Three to Iraq. One came back.” – Graeme Gibson

Thought-Provoking

“Epitaph: Foolish humans, never escaped Earth.” – Vernor Vinge
“It cost too much, staying human.” – Bruce Sterling
“TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!! nobody there…” – Harry Harrison

“I saw, darling, but do lie.” – Orson Scott Card

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Tags: Bruce Sterling, Frank Miller, Graeme Gibson, Harry Harrison, Hemingway, Howard Chaykin, humor, James Patrick Kelly, Literature, Margaret Atwood, Orson Scott Card, short stories, six-word, story, Ursula K. Le Guin, Vernor Vinge, William Shatner

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19 Responses to “12 First-rate Six-word Stories”

C A Johnson
September 16th, 2007 at 4:00 pm

Great job on your column. Who knew that you can write a short story with just six words.
Liane Schmidt
September 19th, 2007 at 10:09 pm

Dear Beatrice,

Interesting article. Thank you for sharing it!

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

-Liane Schmidt.
francie
September 21st, 2007 at 9:38 am

Very Good Beatrice,
What an interesting and fun read!
Nick Kenney
October 11th, 2007 at 5:59 am

WOW! Talk about setting the bar high! This is great food for thought, eh? So, we think we can write…try writing a story using only 6 words! Thanks Beatrice, I enjoyed it tremendously!
ed markowski
November 29th, 2007 at 10:20 pm

after payday she didn’t know me.
ed markowski
November 29th, 2007 at 10:21 pm

after payday she forgot my name.
ed markowski
November 29th, 2007 at 10:24 pm

happy hour. no one calls home.
Alonda
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm

interesting details. thanks.
Darlene McFarlane
January 15th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Very good list, Beatrice. I didn’t know any of them. When I was a small girl, my dad shared with me the shortest poem in the world. It was titled Fleas. Adam Had’em.
louie jerome
January 15th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

One picture paints a thousand words!
Ruby Hawk
January 15th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

Interesting, Sometimes it only takes a few words to tell the story.
Sandra L. Petersen
January 17th, 2008 at 12:08 pm

I had to add my vote to this thought-provoking article. To me, the Hemingway quote and the one by Graeme Gibson were the saddest. Good selection.
M.C. Johnson
January 19th, 2008 at 1:20 pm

I enjoyed reading these!
Erica Barton
January 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

I didn’t think it was possible. These are intriguing.
Olivia
February 1st, 2008 at 11:18 pm

i wrote one of them twice… oops
Olivia
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 am

I came up with a good one right after i posted this
“I now pronounce you” … “WAIT! STOP!”
Hyper Space Rebel
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:31 pm

This really goes to show that truly good literature comes from the reader, not the writer.

Great collection.
Stormoftranquility
April 11th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

Loved it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thresia paulose
April 20th, 2008 at 10:10 am

Short and sweet in a little box