Six Word Story
Inspired by Hemingway's legendary six-word story ('For sale: baby shoes, never worn'), this exercise asks participants to capture something meaningful — their team's challenge, their vision, their user's experience — in exactly six words. The radical constraint forces clarity, creativity, and prioritisation. What's essential when you can only use six words?
How to run it
- 1
Introduce the format with Hemingway's example.
- 2
Set the prompt: 'Write the story of [your team / our challenge / our user / this year] in exactly six words.'
- 3
Give 5 minutes for individual writing. Exactly six words — no more, no fewer.
- 4
Participants share their six-word stories.
- 5
Discuss: what choices did people make? What was left out? What surprised you?
- 6
Optionally vote on the story that most resonates with the group.
Tips
The constraint is non-negotiable — 'exactly six words' produces more creative results than 'about six words'.
Articles ('a', 'the') count.
Numbers count.
The struggling with the constraint is the exercise.
Variations
Apply to product vision: 'Write our product vision in six words.' Use for retrospectives: 'Describe this sprint in six words.' Run as a closing exercise: 'What are you taking away from today in six words?'
Where it fits
Frequently asked questions
When should I use Six Word Story?â–¾
Use Six Word Story when you want to: Workshop openings and closings; Vision and strategy workshops; Creative warm-ups; Team storytelling sessions.
How long does Six Word Story take?â–¾
Six Word Story typically takes 10–20 minutes.
How many participants does Six Word Story work for?â–¾
Six Word Story works best for groups of 2–100 participants.
What materials do I need for Six Word Story?â–¾
To run Six Word Story you will need: cards or sticky notes, pens.
How difficult is Six Word Story to facilitate?â–¾
Six Word Story is rated beginner — straightforward to facilitate even without prior experience.
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