Not Quite What I Was Planning
Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure
A review of Smith Magazine's "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure."
There's a reason the haiku is so inspiring. It's the same reason the short story has swept the world of fiction with such ferocity: the fewer the words, the more meaning in each. That's why Smith Magazine's Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure is so successful. Each word has been carefully chosen. Each sentence speaks a breadth of insight into someone's world.
Prepare for a Strange Ride
Not Quite What I Was Planning is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster; the submissions seemingly randomized so you'll swing from one extreme to the other. You'll get a glimpse into the hearts and minds of hundreds of strangers. You'll read joy among failure, and triumph among regret. But, as such, it is brilliantly appropriate as it succeeds in succinctly mirroring the ups and downs, of daily life.
From Joyce Carol Oats to Dave Eggers to Your Next Door Neighbor
Entries span from the hilarious (“Hope my obituary spells “debonair” correctly.” –Gregg Easterbrook), to the heartbreaking (“I still make coffee for two.” – Zak Nelson); the pensive (“Born in the desert, still thirsty." – Georgene Nunn), to the understated (“So it goes, a tad askew.” –Michael Dickter). You'll find established, well-respected writers and personalities like Dave Eggers (“Fifteen years since last professional haircut.”), Joyce Carol Oats (“Revenge is living well, without you,”), and Stephen Colbert (“Well, I thought it was funny.”), alongside the obscure writer who might as well be your neighbor.
A Study of the Human Condition; a Glimpse Into Your Neighbor’s Backyard
Perhaps part of the book's draw is its ability to tap into the inner voyeur in all of us. But what really makes it so special is the inherent humanity, the "everyman" struggle or sentiment in these stirring memoirs that everyone can relate to. As you read other's tales, you'll undoubtedly consider your own life. You may learn things about yourself that you hadn't considered. You might find ways to articulate the background of your day-to-day. You'll certainly be tempted to create your own six word memoir, but where do you begin?
Write Your Own Six Word Memoir
Imagine trying to sum your life up in six words. What statement, question or idea speaks to who you are? Do you select a single poignant moment? Make a silly joke? Hint at the mundane of the everyday? Ask yourself these questions as you peruse the more than 300 pages of this unique, delighting and addicting collection.
