Write a Six Word Memoir

Draft, Try It Out, Revise and Edit WORD MEMOIR WRITE A Tap on the right or the right arrow to go forward

Quick Draft and Brainstorm 1 Click on this page to go to a Youth Voices Doc. Try a few short memoirs out quickly. Just see what happens! Then take a step back and BRAINSTORM!

Quick Draft and Brainstorm 1 Consider what you want to communicate about yourself. Is it that you are thoughtful? An activist? Athlete? Try something like this: “Most alive on the soccer field.” Some students like to make a list of their characteristics or beliefs. Here’s one way you could brainstorm: Make a table like this (click here) in your Doc then replace the bullets with YOUR details.

Try it out! 2 After you have some thoughts about what your story is, try to communicate that in a SINGLE SENTENCE. DON'T COUNT WORDS YET! Write a whole bunch of these single sentences.

Try it out! 2 They are short. It doesn’t take long. Some writers like to take one idea and write it many different ways using different words. Choose your favorite sentence.

Try it out! 2 NOW TRY TO SAY THE SAME IDEA IN ONLY SIX WORDS! It might be helpful to look at examples if you are stuck. (Click anywhere on this page to see Six Word Memoirs on NowComment.) Which of the published six word memoirs stood out to you, and why? How can you try to do the same with your sentence? Ask other youth and your teacher/mentor which ones they think work best and why.

Revise and Edit 3 Once you have some to work with, begin revising and editing. How can we improve the craft of 6-word memoirs by using PUNCTUATION and by CUTTING UNNECESSARY WORDS?

Revise and Edit 3 Click anywhere on this page to return to the examples on NowComment. Notice that many of them do not use "I" and cut other unnecessary words. Pick one of your own memoirs and try to write it a few different ways. Click this image to find the Six Word Memoir Template, ready for you to duplicate and remix.