1. Writing a six-word memoir... In order to narrow down a life into six words, a writer needs to begin with many words and ideas. Follow these instructions to complete a six-word memoir.

2. Writing a six-word memoir... In November 2006, writer and editor Larry Smith issued a challenge to fans of his Web publication, SMITH Magazine. Smith asked his readers to describe their lives in six words. The Six-Word Memoir contest officially ended after a month, but the stories kept coming. Five years on, participants have contributed more than half a million mini-memoirs. "There is inspiration everywhere," he says. "Even if you don't think you're a storyteller, you are."

3. Start with a list List as many words, topics, memories, or personality traits as you can about yourself – activities you do, items, belongings, places you like, and feelings you have. Don’t edit, cross out, change, or rewrite words. Don’t worry about spelling – just write. You are going for quantity, so write as much as you can in about three minutes. You should fill at least one full page.

4. Example list: Singer, writer, happy, tired, overworked, camping, colorful, shoes, sea shore, dragons, faeries, teacher, Spanish, Internet, laughing, cartoons, 70s, rock music, Jeep, teddy bears, church, baths, jingles, gum, crayons, super heroes, technology, legos, reading, Saturday morning, dancing, weight lifting, Ziggy, more shoes, sunrises, mother, daughters, snakes, dogs, mythology, thinking, dreamer, fries…

5. Now, circle the two or three words that stand out for you, the ones that you could say more about.

6. Example list: Singer, writer, happy, tired, overworked, camping, colorful, shoes, sea shore, dragons, faeries, teacher, Spanish, Internet, laughing, cartoons, 70s, rock music, Jeep, teddy bears, church, long baths, jingles, gum, crayons, super heroes, technology, legos, reading, Saturday morning, dancing, weight lifting, Ziggy, more shoes, sunrises, mother, daughters, snakes, dogs, mythology, thinking, dreamer, fries

7. Pick one item and freewrite about the thought. That means you just start writing about that idea, object, role, or event. The only rule is don’t stop writing for at least two or three minutes. Whatever comes to mind is fair game. mother

8. I’ve been a mother for 14 years and have 3 ½ kids. This means that one is a step-child. She does not want me to be her mother, but she wants her mother to be me. This is a difficult situation that will never be resolved. As for my other three children, I have a son and two daughters. I have learned that being a parent is by far the hardest thing I have ever done. I am not only responsible... Freewrite example…

9. ...for myself but also for the lives of three other people. I can only control so much of what they do and no matter how much I think something is right or wrong, they will end up doing what they want. Sometimes they are right, but sometimes they aren’t so right. Then the consequences hurt, especially when they have to pay for choices that I might have been able to help them avoid. Freewrite continued …

10. Synthesize As a result of the freewrite, you have a sense of your topic. Synthesize, combine the individual elements into an understandable whole, your writing into a phrase that captures the essence of what your topic means to you. The topic of the previous writer was “mother.” Her idea captured the struggle of helping someone go through life’s lessons and dealing with one's own lack of control.

11. a 6-word memoir… Helping them grow ages me daily.

12. a 6-word memoir… Look at some examples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= wqVysqoMiTY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= on4ZTzJeKjI

13. a 6-word memoir… Now you can add pictures/or clip art that help represent your memoir. Use a 9x12 size of construction paper and write creatively or type the actual words.

14. a 6-word memoir… Be sure to put your first and last name on your paper. It is due FRIDAY! The assignment is worth 15 points = 5 pts for creativity with your words 5 pts for neatness/spelling/layout 5 pts for the free write paragraph

15. Inner cowboy adrift on literate shores

16. Seeking home, balance outside a turbulent world