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February262008

Lizzie Widdicombe: An Ingenious Talk Technique

Filed under: Looked Into   Tagged: , , ,

Widdcombe covered a festive book event (Not Quite What I Was Planning). Each pithy phrase is subtly witty: It’s no longer than six words. Appropriate for the book in question! I couldn’t make the party, sadly. But I did contribute a tale. Oh, you’d like to hear it? “Do as say, not as did.” (P. 180, in all its glory.) Another memoirist compiled a master list. Moved to write your short story? Show off your quick, dirty syntax.

Comments

I think each sentence is exactly six words; no more, no less. Well done, indeed. Of the “memoirs” cited, none approach Hemingway’s completeness, in my opinion.

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