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Vote for the best six-word memoir
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thanks to everyone who entered the Six-Word Memoir Contest, this blog’s version of the original concept at Smith’s Magazine, and keyed to the upcoming book “Not Quite What I Was Planning.”
The range of entries was amazing. There was a lot of humor, some cockeyed philosophizing, plenty of God, and the usual amount of utter cluelessness. (Six words, people. Six. Words.) Some were very positive, some broke my heart, and some I puzzled over.
But with 270 or so entries, the only way to pull off a popular vote is to limit it to 10. And I am the limiter. Many people clearly poured their essence into these, and if you did not make it, I’m sorry. I tried to come up with a range of nominees, and I had to eliminate some that were extremely clever but felt more like a philosophy of life than a memoir.
Here are the 10. I will leave voting open until midnight Oct. 21. Please vote one time (yes, I can tell). The winner, as stated before, gets my advance copy of “Not Quite What I Was Planning” and immeasurable satisfaction.
Best Six-Word Memoirs. Vote for one.
Looked for love, wives caught me.
I grew in confidence, I think.
I missed life. I was working.
Bein’ ruint frees you up some.
Valedictorian now teaches bottom of class.
She was all that. I wanted.
Lost leg, gained perspective and weight.
My teenage self would be pleased.
Husband and children were not enough.
Mama: beauty queen. I favor dad.
Permalink | Comments (32) | Categories: Contests
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By lawyerdaggett
October 16, 2007 7:24 AM | Link to this
I like, I think. Maybe not.
By monteal
October 16, 2007 7:51 AM | Link to this
I like “my teenage self would have been pleased ” it makes you think did I follow my dreams… and were they worth following…..
By Becky
October 16, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this
My teenage self would be pleased.
By KA
October 16, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this
I really enjoyed reading these. I printed them out and chose my favorites (30!) and five were in the list of your ten choices. I vote for My teenage self would be pleased.
By DYJ
October 16, 2007 8:27 AM | Link to this
My vote “I missed life. I was working.”
By workingmom
October 16, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
My teenage self would be pleased.
By mozymozart
October 16, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this
I liked many, but one that caught my eye first time I read it was: My teenage self would be pleased Congrats!
By Righteoussisterfurey
October 16, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
I vote for “Bein ruint frees you up some.”
By Kate
October 16, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
This is hard!! I’ll go with: Lost leg, gained perspective and weight. Sums it up, ya know.
By Peachy
October 16, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
Even though none of mine were nominated :o( I think “My Teenage Self Would Be Pleased” is the best, although there is a bit of sad truth to “I missed life. I was working.”
The Important Thing Is, I Tried.
By Kat
October 16, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
I love “Bein ruint frees you up some.” You can just imagine a whole rich life lived based on that bit of optimism.
By Sue
October 16, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
My teenaged self would be pleased
By Larry
October 16, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this
The absolute truth inherent in Bein’ ruint frees you up some makes it the best title.
By FCM
October 16, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
My take on the top 10
Looked for love, wives caught me.—humorous but is adultery really something we should vote FOR?
I grew in confidence, I think.—hmmm, I like it, I guess.
I missed life. I was working.—Definately something I can relate too. Although I made modifactions before the memoir was necessary.
Bein’ ruint frees you up some.—I think this is on Rhett Butler’s head stone.
Valedictorian now teaches bottom of class.—This person must teach in GA Public Schools.
She was all that. I wanted.—Sounds like someone pinned all their hopes another, what does that say?
Lost leg, gained perspective and weight. —Humorous. Tragic. Would make a good movie.
My teenage self would be pleased.—Very wise, I LOVE THIS. Gets my vote.
Husband and children were not enough.—Did Gloria Steinham die?
Mama: beauty queen. I favor dad.—ROFL!
By kia
October 16, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
My vote is for:
My teenage self would be pleased.
By Pat
October 16, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
My teenage self would be pleased - wow - what a title! I’d read this one.
By WILLOWPEN
October 16, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
I HAVE ONE IN THE TOP TEN!!! YEAH BUT I LIKE THE ONE: “I MISSED LIFE. I WAS WORKING” PROFOUND
By reader
October 16, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
I vote for: “I missed life. I was working” - too true these days…
By Phil Kloer
October 16, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
Folks, I gotta give a shoutout to Willowpen, who really does have one of the Top 10, and voted for someone else. I think that shows a ton of class. Now, Willowpen, you can clinch the Classiness Award if you stop typing in all caps. They do that over on the sports blogs a lot. We know better over here. :)
By Lily Toad
October 16, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
Lost leg, gained perspective and weight. This is complex and makes me want to know more.
By erinanne
October 17, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Bein’ ruint frees you up some.
By GuyUsingFakeEmail
October 17, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
My teenage self would be pleased.
By Cammi317
October 19, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
My teenage self would be pleased.
By Comfort Food
October 19, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
“Bein ruint frees you up some”
By Shannon, M.Div.
October 19, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
I like “Husband and children were not enough.” Other people can never be the source of one’s fulfillment, and I appreciate that someone experiences that a full life has to involve more than giving one’s self away.
By Jane
October 19, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this
My teenage self would be pleased.
By Deanna
October 19, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
I missed life. I was working.
By C1Jay
October 19, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
My teenage self would be pleased
By SexyCool
October 19, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
teenage self gets my vote…also, where can we see ALL of the entries???
thanks…
By Phil Kloer
October 19, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
To Sexycool: All the entries are on the original blog, which is just up a few spots on this blog. If you can see a link labeled Contests along the left side, click that. Or you can cut and paste this URL http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/book/entries/2007/10/11/writeyoursixwordmemoircont.html
By Viki
October 20, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
This was a very very interesting topic! I printed out 15 pages of the posts. I’ve enjoyed reading these several times. I have been reading AJC blogs for a couple of years and pardon the caps Phil, but JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME POSTING (last time in all caps :) My vote goes for Bein ruint frees you up some
By Phil Kloer
October 22, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
Viki: Since it’s your first time posting, we’ll forgive the all caps. Once. But come back and post some more. See how easy it is?