By Chad Love

When I first thought up the idea for the six-word story contest I expected the usual response my blogs generate: a dozen or so comments, the obligatory question about which picture at the top is me (yes, sir, I am indeed the "slack-jawed hillbilly" on the left...) and that one guy who always chides me about my alleged bashing of the Dubya/Darth Cheney administration (Do you maybe have me confused with Bill Maher?).
 
David Petzal I'm not. So imagine my surprise when the contest not only generated 465-odd entries, but apparently broke the website in the process (it’s now fixed). Thanks, guys. Truly. The overtime for that one's coming out of my already-meager check.
 
In all seriousness, I'm thrilled. The response was overwhelming. I had no idea there were so many budding Hemingways out there. Either you all share a common love of the simply-written word or the temptation of winning a genuine piece of printer paper (and a F&S ball cap) was too great to resist.
 
Some of the entries were hilarious, many of them were poignant, a few were a bit...different. (Cliff Shelby of "Your wife called. I covered up" I'm talking to you. Dude, I'm an open-minded guy but you're making me a little uncomfortable...).
 
However, virtually every single one of them spoke to me on some level, with the exception of the one about sea urchins, because they terrify me.
 
It was an extremely difficult decision but in the end, I chose "He looked up. Death came quick." from rebel1776.
 
It's a good story but what I liked about it was its very Hemingway-esque turn of phrase. I could easily imagine Papa leaning on the bar in some Key West dive, knocking back a rum drink and then writing these very words.
 
So congratulations, Rebel1776.
 
You won. Go back to work.
 
But first shoot an e-mail to the online editors with your name and mailing address.

Comments (42)

from KingFisher907 wrote 3 years 4 days ago

congrats rebel1776!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from idahooutdoors wrote 3 years 4 days ago

"I wanted to win, I lost"

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from The Armchair Ou... wrote 3 years 4 days ago

I could have won, but didn't.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Big O wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Rebel won, we are all happy.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dneaster3 wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Shoulda entered. Now back to work.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from idahooutdoors wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Six word contest, may not stop.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from idahooutdoors wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Chad created a monster, can't quit...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jasonb wrote 3 years 4 days ago

My final entry:

"Dam*, I really wanted that hat!"

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jay wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Oh well, better luck next time.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Proverbs wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Not everyone can write. Rebel can.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dgbroox wrote 3 years 4 days ago

With less entries, stood greater chance!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Christian Emter wrote 3 years 4 days ago

You should have another contest.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jordy wrote 3 years 4 days ago

This's a shootout. You draw-"BANG"... ... ...

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ed J wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Rebel 1776 won, the rest lost

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from kolbster wrote 3 years 4 days ago

how long will it go.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Alex Pernice th... wrote 3 years 4 days ago

D*mn! chad started an annoying monster...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Alex Pernice th... wrote 3 years 4 days ago

chad, we can't stop this now!!!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 3 years 4 days ago

I lost. You lost. Rebel won.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ziggy4334 wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Nice work, rebel1776. You have unlocked the secret area. Now, be interesting.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from hnestle wrote 3 years 4 days ago

It started, it end, it lives

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jasonb wrote 3 years 4 days ago

With thirteen plusses, thought I'd win

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dotcomaphobe wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Mine was good, but wasn't great.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dotcomaphobe wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Hey, that post was six words!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dotcomaphobe wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Wait a minute... what's going on?!?!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from crm3006 wrote 3 years 4 days ago

He must not have read mine.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MattB wrote 3 years 3 days ago

what's up Doc? This must stop.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Golfing Sportsman wrote 3 years 3 days ago

I guess mine wasn't that good.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ELVATOLOCO wrote 3 years 3 days ago

I WENT. I SHOT. I MISSED

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Beekeeper wrote 3 years 3 days ago

I came, I saw, I lost...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Del in KS wrote 3 years 3 days ago

I came, I wrote, I lost

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from BuckTheSystem wrote 3 years 3 days ago

Well done, and completely original

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Joshua wrote 3 years 2 days ago

Autumn morning.
First buck.
BANG!
Success.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 2 days ago

Six word contest, and I lost.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 2 days ago

I wrote, It sucked, I lost.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 2 days ago

I don't think it's ever gunna end....

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 2 days ago

I don't think it's ever gunna end....

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from deckbob wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

Six words? No cussing? ----, can't!

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Tanja wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

So my sea urchins did speak to you, anyway.... they said "boo!". If you cut them open with scissors, it's easy to get at thelusicious orange meat inside... much better than whelks and limpets.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dotcomaphobe wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

That's more than six words, Tanja.

: )

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ralph the Rifleman wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

Silly way to end this posting...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from chadlove wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

Please stop. Can't take much more...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from teufelhunden wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

Alleged bashing? So you do jest.

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Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from idahooutdoors wrote 3 years 4 days ago

"I wanted to win, I lost"

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from The Armchair Ou... wrote 3 years 4 days ago

I could have won, but didn't.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jordy wrote 3 years 4 days ago

This's a shootout. You draw-"BANG"... ... ...

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ELVATOLOCO wrote 3 years 3 days ago

I WENT. I SHOT. I MISSED

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from deckbob wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

Six words? No cussing? ----, can't!

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from KingFisher907 wrote 3 years 4 days ago

congrats rebel1776!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Big O wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Rebel won, we are all happy.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dneaster3 wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Shoulda entered. Now back to work.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from idahooutdoors wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Six word contest, may not stop.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from idahooutdoors wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Chad created a monster, can't quit...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jasonb wrote 3 years 4 days ago

My final entry:

"Dam*, I really wanted that hat!"

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jay wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Oh well, better luck next time.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Proverbs wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Not everyone can write. Rebel can.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dgbroox wrote 3 years 4 days ago

With less entries, stood greater chance!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Christian Emter wrote 3 years 4 days ago

You should have another contest.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ed J wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Rebel 1776 won, the rest lost

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from kolbster wrote 3 years 4 days ago

how long will it go.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Alex Pernice th... wrote 3 years 4 days ago

D*mn! chad started an annoying monster...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Alex Pernice th... wrote 3 years 4 days ago

chad, we can't stop this now!!!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 3 years 4 days ago

I lost. You lost. Rebel won.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ziggy4334 wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Nice work, rebel1776. You have unlocked the secret area. Now, be interesting.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from hnestle wrote 3 years 4 days ago

It started, it end, it lives

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jasonb wrote 3 years 4 days ago

With thirteen plusses, thought I'd win

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dotcomaphobe wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Mine was good, but wasn't great.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dotcomaphobe wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Hey, that post was six words!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dotcomaphobe wrote 3 years 4 days ago

Wait a minute... what's going on?!?!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from crm3006 wrote 3 years 4 days ago

He must not have read mine.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MattB wrote 3 years 3 days ago

what's up Doc? This must stop.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Golfing Sportsman wrote 3 years 3 days ago

I guess mine wasn't that good.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Beekeeper wrote 3 years 3 days ago

I came, I saw, I lost...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Del in KS wrote 3 years 3 days ago

I came, I wrote, I lost

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from BuckTheSystem wrote 3 years 3 days ago

Well done, and completely original

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Joshua wrote 3 years 2 days ago

Autumn morning.
First buck.
BANG!
Success.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 2 days ago

Six word contest, and I lost.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 2 days ago

I wrote, It sucked, I lost.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 2 days ago

I don't think it's ever gunna end....

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 2 days ago

I don't think it's ever gunna end....

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Tanja wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

So my sea urchins did speak to you, anyway.... they said "boo!". If you cut them open with scissors, it's easy to get at thelusicious orange meat inside... much better than whelks and limpets.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dotcomaphobe wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

That's more than six words, Tanja.

: )

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ralph the Rifleman wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

Silly way to end this posting...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from chadlove wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

Please stop. Can't take much more...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from teufelhunden wrote 2 years 51 weeks ago

Alleged bashing? So you do jest.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.