According to legend, Ernest Hemingway was either challenged or perhaps entered a bar bet that he could write a complete story in six words. Well he won with the following story:
For sale: baby shoes, never used.
At first glance there is not much to see. But if you ask yourself the question; why is it that the shoes have never been worn? then the story take on more meaning.
A few days ago I was speaking with my brother about short fiction. I had just read Flannery O’Connor’s brilliant piece titled “Everything that Rises Must Converge.” It is an amazing story because it’s an interaction between to very unlikeable characters. Each character on their own would not make a story, but the combination of the two brings out a very meaningful dialog that will stay with you for a long time.
During the conversation with my brother, I mentioned the six word Hemingway story. My brother was not really impressed and on the spot made up his own.
Sat down. Couldn’t shit. Wiped anyway.
The last two words were only added to make it six words. At first I just laughed. But then I thought about it. Why would someone “wipe anyway?” I can think of many reasons. All of which I will never put to words.
I congratulated him later for his accidental literary genius. I think his story Is just as valid as Hemingway’s was as being a six word complete story.
wr414andmycats 
I like this post, a lot. I like that I’m sitting here now, elaborating on six words to make a ridiculously complex story, and really, all it took were those six words and the questions that ensued. I also like what your post implies. The idea that you don’t have to have five hundred words, or five thousand, to tell a good story. Sometimes, the simplest of stories leave the reader far more entertained, far more imaginative, and far more involved than the longer novels and tales. Thanks for that.
Hemingway and O’Conner are both Amazing authors and heroes to writers of all genre’s. Although I do not think that six word short stories are the epitome of writing skills, I do love to write them now and again, and writing a good one is not so easy. Although your brother managed to catch the concept it’s only level of validity to Hemingway’s masterpiece is that it has 6 words. Your brothers achieves the goal, I cannot argue that, but it does not achieve the level of depth and questioning which Hemingway’s encourages. And I think those two factors are what matter most for the fine point genre of six word short stories- what depth of thought the story encourages and the quality of the questions it induces in the reader. For your brothers we have maybe two questions, and honestly… I doubt we want the answer to any of them. For Mr. Hemingway’s we are moved to feel emotions, mostly sad, and ask questions which most likely have sad answers, but we connect with it at a deeper level. I am glad that you chose six word shorts as a topic for your blog post, I am enjoying your layout and content. Keep it up!
I think most people believe more words are needed to communicate their idea, believing they need to spell out everything, leaving nothing to the imagination to their audience. I played with the six word story, struggling to make the story six. I told my husband about the six word story. One time he comes with School. Tired. Ate. Fat. Stressed. Graduated. I love when I struggle with something and someone does the same thing in seconds.