One thing became obvious; the concept of storytelling isn’t all that clear to everyone, and the assignment of crafting a story in only six words produced hundreds of political slogans, proverbs, partial allegories, pitches, activist statements, five-word stories, seven-word stories, quotes from Julius Caesar, Voltaire, the Boy Scouts, Lincoln, Ben Franklin, Martin Luther King and Forrest Gump, as well as numerous catch phrases, copied and pasted six-word stories from across the internet, and a few original six-word stories.

And while there are certainly a number of definitions of what makes a compelling story, Hemingway’s example—For sale: baby shoes, never worn—set the standard for the contest.

Hemingway’s enduring six-word tale works because of the natural human need for resolution. We can’t help but try and fill in the blanks in his dramatic narrative in order to complete the picture or tell the story. Our brain wants closure and has the ability to form almost instantaneous conclusions from relatively little information. Provided the given information adequately sets the stage and taps into established mental models we all carry.

The story Hemingway modeled works because we can put ourselves in it. We easily relate to it via the universal human experience. And any time we become emotionally engaged in the story we have a stake in its outcome. When our brain gets engaged and starts assembling the pieces of data that form a complete and vivid message, that story becomes even more memorable, benefitting both storyteller and audience.

Here then are the three six-word stories that most resonated with us. The winners of a signed copy of Executive Presence: The Art of Commanding Respect Like a CEO (McGraw-Hill 2010) are:

1) One night. Working together. Fired separately.
Posted by Sanjay Malhotra

2) Jobless. I will start my own.
Posted by Kate Alexander

3) FOUND: Engagement Ring on Brooklyn Bridge
Posted by Sam Worman

Aside from our top three, there were a number of others we liked and which deserve honorable mention:

Her heartbeat wasn’t on the sonogram.
Posted by Sarah Schlott

Story challenge. Voices in head. Addicted.
Posted by Curt Valmy

Crime Report: Jill. Up Hill. Jacked.
Posted by J. Allan Tyler, Ed.M

Door Closes; Her Chanel Perfume Remains
Posted by Melanie Wahl

It worked but nobody bought it.
Posted by Graham Courtney

Everyone ready? We go on three!
Posted by Mark Cichonski

I (1) Have (2) Trouble (3) Meeting (4) Expectations! (5) …..
Posted by Rick Corcoran

Been to OZ, now in Kansas.
Posted by Trish Boone

Growing old, mandatory; growing up, optional!
Posted by Joseph Gater

She was fun, I was constant.
Posted by Dan Clark

Unbelievably hot. Taking my clothes off.
Posted by Kate Alexander

Hi, honey. I am not home.
Posted by Kate Alexander

Last dry match in the storm
Posted by Robin Reed

Logged on, read blog, was fired!
Posted by Bettie Mader

Betrayal; blind anger; a knife. Regret.
Posted by Laura Smith Dunaief

We know. We don’t want to.
Posted by Beth Lanes Battinelli, PhD

My resume was fine years ago!
Posted by Bryan Williams

Congratulations to the three winners! And thanks to all for participating. I hope this process was helpful to anyone who has a stake in developing more concise and compelling messages that resonate with audiences on an emotional level.

Cheers!
Harrison