Short and Sweet
a writing prompt for you + April Writing Hour + a Faith & Grief workshop
Welcome to Writing in Company. Each week I share some words and a writing prompt, meant to be jumping-off points for you to write about what matters. Use the prompts however you like—to journal, to draft thoughts for your own writing project, as meditation or prayer ideas, or for another creative endeavor. You can always look back through the archive for more ideas. Grab your pen and paper, and let your words loose on the page.
Just a brief post today, as I’m sandwiching the writing between taking the dog to the vet, and taking myself to Florida for a quick trip to see family.
Here’s my thought process about today’s prompt:
Not much time…what’s short and easy to explain? Answer: Six word memoirs.
In my writing workshops, I’ve used the idea of a six-word memoir as a prompt. The most famous example comes from Ernest Hemingway, who supposedly wrote the heartbreaking: For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
There are others from famous people, collected by Six-Word Memoirs:
Shonda Rhimes: Write. Mother. Sleep. Repeat as needed.
George Takei: Even after internment, still love America.
Elizabeth Gilbert: Me see world! Me write stories!
Lin-Manuel Miranda: Immigrants, we get the job done.
Stephen Colbert: Well, I thought it was funny.
And some uncredited I’ve gathered from who-knows-where:
Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends.
From migrant worker to NASA astronaut1
Married by Elvis, divorced by Friday
Every 20 years, I reinvent myself.
The good child, until I wasn’t.
I got this far in the post and thought, wearily: Maybe six words is too many. How about three?
Every editor or teacher I’ve ever had would rejoice to see me trying to eliminate words. (As well as commas, parenthetical asides, ellipses—and em dashes….)
If I were to write a story using three-word summaries about this morning’s vet trip it would go like this:
anxious old dog
chart: “will bite”
didn’t bite today
she’s not aggressive
she’s just sensitive
it costs what?!
fully vaxxed / vexed
we’re both exhausted
In a 2022 post on her excellent Substack, The Cottage, Diana Butler Bass reflected on the disciples’ plea in Luke 17:5, “Increase our faith.” Bass said “Sometimes three words are all that are needed.” Then, she shared a list of other short, powerful three-word theologies from the New Testament. Each one is a whole sermon/story/essay.
God is love
Love your neighbor
Here am I
Be not afraid
Peace on earth
Love one another
Do unto others
Faith, hope, love
Pray like this
Go, do likewise
God will provide
Love is patient
Love your enemies
Seventy times seven
Thy Kingdom come
Love never fails
“The way is often found in the smallest things, the fewest words,” Bass wrote, then invited her readers to share three words that sum up their longings, or are guiding their spiritual journeys. The comments on her post are inspiring. You can read it here.
a writing prompt
What three-word memoirs or stories can you write about your day, your dog, your hopes, your fears, or your faith? Be funny, be serious. Be short and sweet.
You can even use four, five, or six words, if you need to….
April Writing Hour - Saturday, April 27 | 4-5 pm Eastern
My next live writing hour on Zoom for paid subscribers is later this month. If you want to write in company with others, you are welcome to join in. You can upgrade your subscription for a month ($7) just to try it. A separate email to paid subscribers will go out with the link, or you can find it on my Substack tab called Writing Hours. Let’s be brave and write together.
Upcoming Faith & Grief workshop
Please pass the word about the upcoming series called Light the Way through Faith & Grief, a Dallas-based group that does such good work with and for grieving people. They are holding a special series of online roundtables and workshops in May and June about grief and parenting. Topics include Parenting While Grieving, Grieving Your Parent, Mindful Memory Keeping, and I’ll be leading a Bereaved Mothers Writing Workshop on Saturday May 4th. Find out more about the series and my workshop and register here: Light the Way
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Join in the conversation with others in the comments. Tell us what you think about the prompt, or where your writing takes you.
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I’m guessing this is from José Hernández, the subject of the movie “A Million Miles Away” which you should definitely stream. Read more here.
"the way is often found in the fewest words,.." yes! needed that this week as I wrangle with some writing. Making it much too hard. Thanks, Julie, as always... Hope to see you next Saturday in group.
Love this! I remember reading that Bass post years ago and loving the simplicity and power of the three word gospel.
One of my six word memoirs (well five): greets everyone with open hands.