6 Word Memoir Holiday Cheer Contest
The holidays are a time for nostalgia, togetherness, hope, and reflection. With the year coming to an end, we want to hear your complete holiday stories told in just 6 words. Capture your fondest memories, family traditions, lessons learned, holiday wishes and more through the power of extreme brevity.
Write a 6 word memoir relating to any winter holiday – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, etc. Get creative with holiday themes and images. Show us your humor, heartfelt reflections, poignant moments, or unique observations on the season.
The Rules:
- Have to be 6 words, no more no less
- Have to be about the holidays, or winter or a family memory
- Must be in the comments below (no emails)
- Deadline December 20, 2023
Great reasons to flex your flash fiction skills:
- Top 5 will appear in our end of the year print and digital issue
- Monthly column opportunity on our website
- Share your work with our global audience
To enter, simply post your festive 6 word memoir in the comments by December 20, 2023. We’ll select favorites to be featured in our print and online magazine. This is a great chance for new writers to get published! Post as many memoirs as you like. 1 per comment please.
Writing impactfully in just 6 words takes practice but can produce beautiful miniature masterpieces. Here are some tips:
- Focus on evocative details, emotions, and imagery over plot
- Don’t waste words – make every one count
- Surprise readers by twisting clichés and expectations
- Strike a balance between universality and intimacy
We can’t wait to get hit right in the holiday feels! Move us, amuse us, warm our hearts and inspire us this season with your 6-word memoirs. Let’s reflect on the holidays and each other through the gift of micro storytelling. Happy writing!
Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page.
- 8 Authors Who Created Literary Masterpieces Keeping Their Day Jobs - March 31, 2025
- Plotter or Pantser? A Writer’s Personality Quiz - March 30, 2025
- 100 Must-Try Mystery Writing Prompts (Solve the Perfect Crime!) - March 22, 2025
Hanging decorations then finding a tree.
Angel tops tree. Snow tops mountains.
“Blessed by love’s gifts, life shines.”
Mexican Christmas, Featuring a lively Posada.
Celebrate Christmas glee,
tinsel, mistletoe, family.
Mother cooks. I watch from playpen.
Santa turns, kisses mom under mistletoe.
Downtown city lights. December nights glimmer.
Christmas Day, Dad’s Birthday, drinking early.
Flurries of snow. Gleams of lights.
Black Friday shopping brings Christmas joy.
Christmas with strangers, loneliness unfriends us.
Fireside stories, whisky, toasting the departed.
True Caribbean Christmas bake Johnny Cake .
Caribbean Christmas is bake Johnny cake .
Our first Christmas, making new traditions.
I got my black eyes peas .
Christmas tree
magic
l i g h t s
their eyes
Deliciously cozy warm happy holiday homecoming!
Snowy trails, footprints joined, paths entwined.
Winter solstice, waiting for the light.
saying thanks, sun, surf, siesta, sleep.
Cookies in oven. Angel wings rise.
Ringing the bell. Spreading cheer, goodwill.
Hot chocolate with marshmallows and peppermint.
Christmas Eve: Church bells, spaghetti, togetherness.
A foggy night; lighted Christmas trees.
Star light
Growing brighter
Silent night
Christmas night
stars
space
to dream
Silent night
snowfall
warms
our hearts
Winter solstice
dark days
behind us
Christmas
wraps
magic
around
our
world
Christmas songs on the car radio.
Christmas morning
white forest
footprints beckon
Lighting the candles on a menorah.
Christmas prayers
for peace and love
Starlit
frozen lake
reflecting
upon
ourselves
Cries
in Jerusalem
Prayers
for change
Family
friends
love
laughter
returning home
Out of office
into the party
School’s out
problems postponed
til January
“Marry me?”
“No, Santa.”
“Bah humbug.”
Silent night,
power cut
spoils party.
WANTED:
Red sleigh
Must fly
URGENT!!!
Open
your heart
invite
Christmas
in….