The Writing Life and the Six-Word Story

You've probably known from an early age that you're a writer. You've thought about it, maybe written some things, possibly even gotten a publication or two. Perhaps you're curious. What is the writing life and what is it really like? Is it the same as we see in films and on TV? It's possible you've also read the famous six-word story that's attributed to Ernest Hemingway: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." This works as a story not just because of what it says, but what it implies. In a way, this tiny story can tell us a great deal about what being a writer is really like: there's the part that comes before, that most people don't see, as well as all the work that goes into during. What about afterwards? Again, that's unseen, but both the story and the writing life have a certain trajectory. We'll discuss both and, time permitting, possibly discuss a few brief works of your own.

Falmouth University

At Falmouth University, we’re fostering the fusion of creativity and technology to bring about new ideas, new ways of thinking, doing, making and creating – working in sectors as diverse as eHealth, agri-tech, fintech, fashion, tourism and immersive technology.