Six-Word Love Stories for Q!

Please note: The contest is now closed. Thanks so much to all who shared 6 words with us. You're all winners, you know that, but below are a smattering of our favourites by category (and the real winners* too.)

It's a Valentine-week writing challenge here on Q: Six-Word Love Stories!

Yes, just SIX words. We can't take credit for that idea. It apparently originated with Ernest Hemingway, who ... once wrote a story in just six words that went like this: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." He's said to have thought it was his best work.

Since then, many have taken up the challenge. Check out these six words from Joan Rivers: "Liars! Hysterectomy didn't improve sex life." And Margaret Atwood: "Longed for him. Got him. Shit." Joss Whedon: "Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so."

Now it's your turn. Our challenge is simple. Write a love story in 6 words. Feel free to interpret "love story" as creatively as possible: robot love, radar love, escape from love. Let yourself be inspired by ANY of the wide range of feelings Valentine's Day can evoke... Just do it in 6 words.

Post your entries right here or email them to q@cbc.ca. We ... can't ... wait ... to ... read... them. That's 6 words. The winner and some runners-up will be announced on Friday, February 15. We've got some great books to give away too ... so write us. *Be sure to include your full name and where you are writing from.*

Some stories that stood out:

Angry little love stories:

"'I love you too,' he lied." - Wendy Nember, Cambridge, Ont.

vs

"Guitar Hero is not a date." - Samantha Ashenhurst*, Mississauga, Ont.

Sweet little love stories:

"Fearing loss... She drove him away." - Alex Gill*, Ottawa

vs

"Both girls, we kissed, families freaked!!" - Tracy Reynolds, Ottawa

Real little love stories:

"You're dying. I cut your toenails." - Peter Rukavina*, Charlottetown

vs

"Saw her today, cried all night." - Doug Broeska, Winnipeg


Odd little love stories:

"Butcher's strong hands: vegetarian, I fell." - Nicki Haigh, Nanaimo, BC

vs

"Bondage game. Lost key. Cute locksmith." - Katherine Fawcett*, Penticton, BC


Wise little love stories:

"One hundred years, all new people." - John Henry* (age 81), Charlottetown

vs

"Dumped on Facebook. Now strictly analog." - Guy Fox*