Ernest Hemingway, the journalist who became a renowned novelist, has been celebrated for his crisp, understated prose. This lends credence to the belief that he could have penned the most iconic six-word story ever known.
Urban legend has it that Hemingway crafted the poignant phrase “For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn” in a wager with fellow writers. However, there’s no concrete proof of this bet, and it’s quite probable that this famous piece, often attributed to Hemingway, wasn’t even his creation.
The myth places Hemingway in the hotel Algonquin during the 1920s. Reportedly, over lunch with writer friends, he claimed he could compose a complete narrative in exactly six words. Scoffing at the mere suggestion, each writer happily wagered bets with Hemingway. Hemingway hunched and began scribbling words upon a napkin and circulated it among them. Despite its brevity, “Baby Shoes” was acknowledged by all, to indeed be a complete tale.
Curiously this narrative emerged posthumously, long after Hemingway’s death in 1961. It was first printed in a 1991 publication by Peter Miller, who mentioned hearing it from an anonymous newspaper syndicator in 1974.
From there, the story’s origins grew increasingly opaque. It was later featured in the solo Hemingway play “Papa” and later in an article I read in a 1998 Reader’s Digest written by Arthur C. Clarke. The lore of Hemingway’s succinct style brought “Baby Shoes” unprecedented attention.
Sitting back in my chair, I became curious why others have not attempted to be as pithy as Mr. Hemingway. With some resolve, I said to myself, “Maybe I’ll try that. How difficult could it be?” Here are my initial attempts.
“Wartime letter, hidden away. Never opened.”
“Lost ring, found under oak tree.”
“For Sale, Wedding Ring, Including Honeymoon.”
“From Deli to Blogger. Lowered bar.”
“For Hire. Ghost writer. Jule’s blog”.
Maybe some of our readers have some ideas?
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Anne Slanders 
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