Do you know six words?
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Somewhere among the innocuous items that have popped into my view during recent visits to aol, yahoo and such have been mentions of a new type of writing involving six words. The idea is to create a memorable phrase using just six words.

A little Google investigation reveals that a Web site for online storytelling, smithmag.net, apparently was the start of it all. It created “Six-Word Memoirs” which garnered heavy publicity through The New Yorker magazine, although Ernest Hemingway is recognized as Smith’s inspiration and author of the original six-word novel: “For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” (Shows you the power of six words, doesn’t it?)

Smith’s online efforts have spawned two books so far. Other spin-offs: AARP magazine has asked readers to share their most memorable meals in six words; a new book by Steve Morgan entitled “Sales Memoirs" encapsulates sales in six words, and NBCOlympics.com wants people’s best six-word Olympic story for its Web site.

There probably is even more out there, but I’ve seen enough to inspire me.  I believe we can reduce woodworking to six words, too, and have some fun in the process. So I issue a challenge to the industry to get creative and submit your six-word thoughts in the comments area below.

Here are some I came up with for starters:

Measure twice, cut once, no worries.

Sharpening tools, a woodworker’s daily grind.

Air compressors: The pressure’s always on.

Clean air starts the perfect finish.

I’ll bet you can do even better than that!


Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.