Larry Smith is a man who chooses his words wisely. In this modern age of endless sharing in limitless space, Smith challenges people to do the opposite and capture their life, day, moment, mood or thought, in just six words. Doing so can be daunting for people who are long-winded and even those who are tight-lipped, but the resulting sentiments speak for themselves.
Five years ago, Larry (of Smith Magazine) found himself with a looming deadline and an editorial hole so he played off of the bar bet that was once posed to Ernest Hemmingway. According to literary legend, Hemmingway penned his life story in six words, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn". In 2006, Larry wrote, "Big hair. Big heart. Big hurry" and put his readers to task. The six-word memoir was reborn. Nearly five years and soon-to-be six books later, Larry still continues to think in sixes.
Q. How do you define the six-word memoir?
A. Life is complicated. Sum it up.
Q. Writers ramble on blogs, what's the appeal of using six words?
A. Perimeters force you to be creative.
Q. Who is your audience?
A. Obsessively, creatively, revealing lives in six.
Q. How many memoirs does it take to capture a person's life?
A. It could be one or many.
Q. Who do you seek out to share stories in your books?
A. Storyteller flavors? Both famous and obscure
Q. Why is it important for people to share their stories?
A. Stories bind together, define us uniquely.
Q. Why does your project inspire you?
A. Passionate community of storytellers is infectious.
Q. Are you more comfortable behind the lens or in front of it?
A. Working mostly behind and loving view.
Q. Black & white or color photos?
A. B&W: much cooler; Color: real me.
Q. Candid or posed pictures?
A. Unfiltered: the only way of seeing.
Q. What makes a story?
A. Honesty. Specificity. Rhythm. Color. Authenticity. Memorable.
Q. If you were to be remembered by a single image, what would it look like?
A. Laughing ass off at the beach.
Check out more Six-Word Memoirs at Smith Magazine.
Photo courtesy of Larry Smith.
