Six Word Story Contest 2022: Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Six Word Story Contest! This is the 9th year for our annual March contest, and we received over 300 entries!

Not only is that close to three times what we normally get, there's also a couple of fun items to share this year. First, we got twelve entries from outside the United States, from places as far away as Australia, Greece, Iran, and Nigeria. Also, we got two envelopes full of entries (over 100!) from West Oakland Middle School in Oakland, CA.; we wanted to throw an extra large shout out to Ms. McLean and Ms. Marshall, teachers at West Oakland Middle, for their help in getting 7th and 8th graders there to participate!

And now, what you've been waiting for...here are this year's winners.

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Contest Winners:

• 1st: Wilkerson blinked. An arrowhead? On Mars?
  - Ted Case (Sherwood)
• 2nd: The glass slipper fit many. Damn.
  - Madeline Garland (Sherwood)
• 3rd: That deathbed confession was a doozy.
  - Wendy Gigliotti (Sherwood) 

Youth Winners:

• 1st: Her plane window seat view: fish.
  - Malia Case (Age 16)
• 2nd: "Hold on. It's the last day."
  - Cherry-Rosa Malfoy (Age 14)
• 3rd: Throbbing, he changed "parents" to "parent."
  - Nusaiba Ibnat Haque (Age 14)

Other Staff Favorites (in no particular order):

• She fought hard but injustice reigned.
  - Nwanna Anointed Chimdindu (Nigeria)
• Matured off of pain not age.
  - Teara Perkins (Oakland, CA.)
• I threw your toothbrush away today.
  - Mailea Sass (Tigard)
• Traffic stop. Spooked cop. Closed casket.
  - Brian Burrell (Sherwood)
• Crisp book scent. An adventure begins.
  - Carrie Bailey (Sherwood)
• Fifty years later, still holding hands.
  - Christine Wiley (Sherwood)
• Rushing, the Coroner failed to Yield.
  - Phyllis Nasta (Sherwood)
• The sunflower grew despite the darkness.
  - Sonya Moon (Australia)
• The ocean nibbled. The child shrieked.
  - Chioma Fortune Nwanna (Nigeria)
• She ran out of bullying reports.
  - Sarah Giles (Sherwood)
• Fillmore streets loved sneakers in July.
  - Jenell Marshall (Oakland, CA.)
• Lovers leaving in two different directions.
  - Marianne Bickett (Sherwood)

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The literary legend that started it all: While having dinner with fellow writers of the famous Algonquin Round Table in New York City, Hemingway bet he could write a story in just six words. They bet not. He grabbed a pen and a napkin and wrote: “For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.”  They paid up and Hemingway called it his best work.

Our local and youth winners receive magnetic poetry sets and gift cards to local businesses. Big thanks to this year’s judges: Melanie Dobson, local author; Jo Guediri, Sherwood Engineering Program Associate and local author; Keith Campbell, Sherwood City Manager; Jaime Thoreson, Sherwood Youth Services Librarian II.

Look for a celebration of the winners and honorable mentions on social media this week.