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YWP Week 7: The six-worders

Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story using only six words. His response: For sale: Baby shoes, never used. In our first ONLINE CHALLENGE, we asked students to take the same challenge. We received well over 100 entries. Here are the best, some of which were printed in the five newspapers now carrying the Young Writers Project. By the way, if you have a hankering to write a six-word story or, even, add another, feel free to include it in the comment section. And many thanks to Matthew Peterson, English Teacher at Hartford High School; this challenge was his suggestion. The best entries in no particular order:


Signed papers, desert camies, Purple Heart
-- Sabrina Rowell, Hartford High School


My heart throbbed; the door closed.
-- Emily Fisher, Champlain Valley Union High School


Maybe I'll skip lunch again today.
-- Camille Bower, Camels Hump Middle School


Came and waited. No one here.
-- Preston Palmer, Hartford High School


Honeymooning, the amnesiac lost his wife.
In retrospect, tomorrow no longer mattered.

-- John Grobe, Hartford High School


She leaves, it breaks, he's gone.
-- Mallory Andrews, Hartford High School


Suitcase in street, something in it
Wind blowing outside, doors creaking inside
Somebody's face in clouds, but whose?

-- Kai Eastman, Hartford High School


The trees crack and window shakes!
-- Brandon Bergeron, Hartford High School


Soccer game, wet grass, broken leg.
-- Courtney Boyd, Hartford High School


They won. I'm left in sorrow.
-- Preston Palmer, Hartford High School


"Coppers! Quick! Hide the cash fast."
-- Joshua Bouthillier, Hartford High School


Man in bus cold and dead.
-- Robert Shaw, Hartford High School


Halloween night, rocks fly, hit cars
-- Georgia Potter, Hartford High School


Drop the chocolate, nobody gets hurt.
-- Nora Foote, Hartford High School


First time, hearts pounding, planes accelerating.
-- Emily Dumont, Hartford High School


Message: “Mom, I killed the cat.”
-- Luke Mayer, Hartford High School


She looked; he winked; she blushed.
Shot in the heart, awoke, storm

-- Jaz Greiss, Hartford High School


Too much? Too little? Which one?
Days go by as I wait.
Take hold, you can't let go.
Sadness overwhelms me, I can't breathe.

-- Addie Dunn, Hartford High School


Late night, adrenaline rushing, people cheering.
-- Tim Hamel, Hartford High School


Tropical vacation, Losing control, Watery grave
-- Sabrina Rowell, Hartford High School


Mom, need money. Prison accepts checks.
-- Jennifer Grobe, Hartford High School


I screamed hate from the mountaintop.
-- Kailah Nadeau, Hartford High School


Tina weeps, not pain nor joy.
-- Rachel L.


After he fell, what came next?
-- Ryan Hoisington, Hartford High School


A picture found, who is it?
-- Shelby M.


Cold night, starry sky, awe struck.
-- -- Ashley K.


Feet stomping, heart pounding, shots fired.
-- Brandon Bergeron, Hartford High School


Where'd you go, miss you so.
-- Dillon Sass, Hartford High School


Tension, staring, voiceless breath, awkward silence.
-- B. Gardner, Hartford High School


Flying through, winter weather, feeling fine.
-- Tim Giebink, Champlain Valley Union High School


He bravely jumps, hopes, forgot parachute
-- Sam Putnam, Hartford High School


Door opening, halls filling, loud noises.
Door bell rings; no one there.

-- Chris Lowery, Hartford High School


I threw the phone and left.
-- Alison Wettstein, Champlain Valley Union High School


Subs: 12 inches of sandwich. Mmmmmm.
Halloween: Didn't Dress Up. Kept Dignity.

-- Andrew Sweeny, Champlain Valley Union High School


Freshly fallen snow covers old tracks.
-- Jonathan Bateman, Champlain Valley Union High School


Can't think of a six-word essay.
-- Aidan Zebertavage, Champlain Valley Union High School


Let music flow, free your soul
-- Katherine C.


The wave came, pulling us apart.
-- Brian Charron


A vacant expression filled her eyes.
Did you hear the guns yesterday?
Broken bottles lie outside Daddy's door.
By midnight tears stained her homework.

-- Camille Bower, Camels Hump Middle School


The dog at the pound escaped.
-- Sophia Spence, Richmond Elementary School


The lack of inspiration restrained him
-- Ian Boyajian, Essex High School


She spies him across the room.
Car accident: A hit and run
She falls, and he catches her
She runs; greeting an empty room
Searching for clothes, she is late.

-- Sarah D.


Bang! Bang! And then he died.
-- Malcolm Ross Shepler, Orchard Valley School


Remorse: Teardrops on the windowpane.
-- Jason L.

Zeal_37mm's picture

Emotional

Ship is sinking, sailor let go!

It's amazing the emotion one can get across in so few words. Great job, all of you. These all made me laugh, some even made me shed a tear.
Amazing conecepts.

Schila's picture

yah i agree~

totally great job!

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