Six Words on a Boardwalk Bench

Share Stories, Give Advice, Ask Questions

By Bill Quain

Welcome to the inaugural edition of my new weekly column, “Six Words on a Boardwalk Bench.” Each week you’ll see the column’s name, followed by a subtitle. This week, the subtitle is Share Stories, Give Advice, Ask Questions – and that’s just what I’m going to invite you to do. Your voice matters… as long as you keep it to six words.

Okay Bill, why the boardwalk bench?

Great question. I live in Ocean City, just off our famous boardwalk. The boardwalk is lined with benches, and years ago, the city began to sell sponsorships for those benches.

Back then, for about $500, you could buy a brass plaque and dedicate the bench to a family member, friend, local hero, etc. My family missed out on the boardwalk bench opportunity, but in 2001, we did get one on Asbury Avenue, the main shopping street in Ocean City.

My six siblings and I dedicated the bench to our parents on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. Mom died shortly after the dedication, and that bench became a bit of a shrine for my dad to visit until his death in 2015.

Today we decorate the bench for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc. One of the things we tie to the bench each year is an ear of Jersey corn. Why corn? Simple: when Dad lived with us for the summer, we served fresh corn at every meal. He shucked the corn each day, and every year he said the same thing – “The corn is hairier this year.” It became a running joke, and a wonderful memory.

But we didn’t realize it was a conversation starter for the local shopkeepers until we met the proprietor of the nearby yoga studio just as we were tying a piece of freshly shucked corn to the bench. She asked us why we chose corn, and we had a great conversation about parents, the shore, etc.

It was then that I realized that those benches, with their brass plaques, were more than just places to sit. They told stories, and they gave people a place to visit where they could share their stories. And, while the brass plaques never changed, the way people interacted with them did.

Six Words, From Boardwalk

To Boardwalk

There is a rumor that Ernest Hemingway was the first one to tell a Six Word Story. Supposedly a fellow bar patron bet the famous author that he could not write a complete story in just six words. Hemmingway won the bet with, “For Sale; Baby Shoes. Never Worn.”

The modern version of the Six Word Story was popularized by Larry Smith, a Philadelphia native and a frequent visitor to the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Larry’s grandfather (aka “the original Smitty”) would walk with Larry on the boards and talk to everyone he met. Larry began to suspect that his grandfather, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, must have a very interesting story to tell, but Smitty always said, “Who would be interested in hearing my story?” It turned out that many people had stories within them, but they needed an easy way to get them out.

Years later, Larry founded “Smith Mag,” an online magazine dedicated to finding the stories within everyday people. At one point, he came across the six-word technique and decided to give it a try.

The first time Larry asked his readers to send in their Six Word Stories he received an astounding 10,000 entries in just two days. It turns out that limiting people to just six words will absolutely unleash their creativity.

NOTE: For a great video, go to YouTube and search for “Six Words Are The Way In,” by Larry Smith. This is a TEDx Talk, and it is terrific.

Six Words Will Take You Places

Before COVID, I spent much of my time traveling the world, giving presentations from my 26 books. Of course, all that ended when the pandemic hit and I turned my attention to writing my latest book, “Who Will You Be When The Masks Come Off?”

In the book, I showed my readers how to use Six-Word Stories to help get them through the disruption of COVID, and how to envision their futures – when the masks come off. It wasn’t long before I was on the road again – sometimes virtually – working with individuals, corporations and organizations. Today I not only use Six-Word Stories, I also help people develop Six-Word Playbooks. And, that brings us to this column…

Share Stories, Give Advice,

Ask Questions

In the coming weeks, I’ll start off each column with a theme and a Six-Word Story. I’ll supply the prompts, and you’ll have the opportunity to use your own six words to share stories, give advice, and ask questions.

Think of it as walking past a bench, seeing my six words, and joining the conversation with your six words. We’ll have an easy system set up for your submissions. And each week, I’ll choose some of the submissions to include in the column.

Just look for the boardwalk bench.

Keep your eyes open. Let’s build memories, friendships, expertise, and enjoyment. The world is waiting for your story.

Bill is a Professor in Stockton University’s Hospitality Management Program. He is the author of 27 books, and a highly-respected speaker.  Even though he is almost totally blind, Bill is a long-distance runner and runs the Ocean City Half Marathon each year.  He lives in Ocean City with his wife Jeanne, and his Guide Dog Trudy.  Visit www.billquain.com or email him at bill@quain.com.