Six-Word Story

Andrew introduces the six-word memoir exercise, credited to Hemingway's "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Students write their own six-word stories about anything: what drives them, their mantra, something funny or emotional. They pitch and Andrew gives live feedback.

A student shares "Dear grandma, don't worry about us" about grief. Andrew praises its freshness and open-ended quality. Another shares "From grounded in despair to flying." Andrew pushes for more vivid language: "I was hopeless, then I grew wings." A design student shares "Final render complete, client: minor changes," a relatable industry joke. The recurring lesson: avoid being "on the nose" and find language that sparks imagery and emotion rather than stating things directly.