Ernest Hemingway, that master of the deceptively simple, was challenged by his friends to produce an entire story in six words. My source does not record how long it took him to produce the right six words, but the effect stays with the reader a long, long time.
“For sale: baby shoes, never used.”
At this website, you can read offering from other writers and even submit an entry or two. Some are almost in the league of the master, and for some reason, “chilling” is a tone that comes up a lot. I’m off to pick the right six words.
Those are quite possibly the most heartbreaking six words I’ve ever read together in a sentence.
See, this is why the mastery of language leaves me in awe. I only wish I possessed the ability to produce such an impact in so economical a way.
Thanks for sharing this.
Hemingway considered this to be some of his best work. It does get the mind a’whirring with tragic possibility.
Reblogged this on PORTAFOLIO. BITACORA DE UN TRANSFUGA. 2000.2010.