Not Quite What I Was Planning

Do you have a six-word memoir? Can you write one? When I saw the 225-page book Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure, I grabbed a copy off the shelf at the bookstore. And finished reading it in one sitting.

The six-word memoir was launched online in 2006 by SMITH magazine and they’re now compiled into a book, and published this year. It is personal storytelling that soon creates a storm across the Internet.

The book collects over 1,000 six-word memoirs on themes such as frustrations, aspirations, secrets, and many more. Not all entries on the website made their way into print but you can read them here. The book also features illustrations submitted by the writers themselves.

Not Quite What I Was Planning is an inspiring and entertaining read. It’s amazing to see how six words are able to tell the story of one’s life. Here are some of my favorites:

• Found true love, married someone else. - Bjorn Stromberg

• Blogging is easy. Writing is hard. - Jennifer Shreve

• And he nerded as never before. - Jon Thysell

• Not a good Christian, but trying. - Alexander Tsai

• I take photographs. I see life. - Daniel James

• Boys liked her. She preferred books. - Anneliese Cuttle

• Carbohydrates call my name every day. - Mary Petersdorf

• Business school? Bah! Pop music? Hurrah! - Max Robins

• Happy now that I know myself. - Anne Maiwald