Sometimes it only takes a word.  Or, in this case, six.  I’ve begun reading I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets, a book complied of poignant six word sentences written by various teenagers.  Each page holds various sentences that demand careful attention.  One sentence can reveal someone’s world.

For me, the concept of the micro-sentence was first introduced by Holly Zachariah of The Columbus Dispatch.  This summer the journalist visited our Urban Writing Retreat group and explained how pivotal individual word choices have been in her career.  She challenged our group to share our life story in just six words.  Each word holds so much value when working with such limited space.  It’s more overwhelming than it seems.

Still, the teens who wrote for I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets contributed an impressive array of short, short, SHORT stories.  Below are a few of my personal favorites from the book:

• Holden caught me in the rye.  (Brittany F.)
• A never-ending series of marvelous misadventures.  (Kirby S.)
• Prefer Indiana Jones to Mr. Darcy. (Laura H.)

You can submit your own six-word tale at www.smithteens.com!  Go for it!

I had the great pleasure of meeting George Ella Lyon during a recent writing retreat.  Our group got to read her novel With a Hammer for my Heart.  It’s always interesting being involved in projects that offer a chance to read young adult fiction.  You just neve know what you’re going to discover.  This book was written about an unusual friendship between two of the characters, and Lyon detailed the consequences of their choice to be close.  There were some confusing parts about how intense that relationship might be, but otherwise the book was an interesting look at Kentucky culture and the complexity of family bonds.

Reading the book and listening to Ms. Lyon talk made me want to try her same style of writing in the voice of another character.  Maybe I’ll test that out when I write my novel this November.  :)

As I move into my thirties, I’m reading more and more nonfiction books.  Sometimes, these end up being really riveting.  Scott McClellan’s What Happened was a really interesting look into politics, as have several other biographies and autobiographies I’ve read about Washington insiders.  Lately, I’ve found the old saying to be accurate:  Truth really IS more interesting than fiction.

To be honest, though, some of the non-fiction I read lately is less fascinating.  I’m thinking about buying a home, and those books are certainly not written in the most compelling style.  Plus, as much fun as it is to plan parties and showers for friends, the books about the business of weddings are overwhelming.

Still, I find myself turning to books for big ideas and guidance.  More and more, I’ll read other blogs and online newpaper articles, but there is nothing like curling up with a great book to find out a little more about one corner of the world.