six word bios

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Recently, hundreds of Claire Lynch Band friends and fans participated in a fun creative writing contest: to write your bio in six words.

Corrina Logston from Red Bud, IL submitted our winning contest entry:

Action, adventure, romance - my Hollywood life.

I loved the punchy quality of this bio, and the way it could just as easily be serious or tongue-in-cheek.

Five bios won an "Honorable Mention" award:

Maintain yard. Never been to prison.
Jack Tolan, Rex, GA

An amateur 'ologist of many subjects.
Jimmy Wells, Cullman, AL

Irish poet self-published with refrigerator magnets.
Shannon Sanford, Seymour, CT

Sunrise tea / sunset song / simple pleasures.
Ramona Ault, Vista, CA

In my life, I love dogs.
Hannah Menson, (age 9), Roswell, GA

Hannah was the youngest entrant in our contest, but we all know adults who will identify with her bio. Another great "doggy" bio came from William Talbot of Marietta, GA: "Only my dog knows the truth." I especially love the contrast between Corrinna's "Hollywood" image and Jack Tolan's invocation of the more mundane aspects of life represented by our regular chores - and the accomplishment of staying out of prison!

Chris Stuart, who wrote one of the most requested songs in my repertoire, "Thibodaux", submitted this clever pair: "Why Life Is Like Six Words: Six words go by so fast."

Jim Gallagher of Staunton, VA submitted this poignant sextet of "-mony" words: "Patrimony, harmony, matrimony, acrimony, testimony, alimony."

Many entries involved bluegrass music; this clever one is from Glen Hayes of Powder Springs, GA: "Pickin' bug bit, live with sting." David Dennie of Norfolk, VA came up with this interesting sum-up of his life: "45 LP 8-track cassette CD MP3".

Nancy Cardwell of Nashville sent one many of us can identify with: "Drink strong espresso, make a list." And one of my favorites, from John Jeter of Greenville, SC, is this gem: "On Fate's interstate, I U-turned." (Okay, so maybe that one is short a word, but still...)

Here are some other good'uns:

Always wanted to be inconspicuously significant. - James Madison Thomas, St. Petersburg, FL

Merging Walter Cronkite and Tammy Wynette. - Fred Bartenstein, Yellow Springs, OH

Grew old and became my dad. - Tim Custer, Friedens, PA

Nine to Five? I'd rather pick. - Greg Trafidlo, Salem, VA

Silence addicted surrounded by noise junkies. - Margaret Hardiman, Pulaski, TN

Was able to reach a misunderstanding. -Ted Williams, Syracuse, NY
and Ted's second entry was also interesting: Countless generations, all down to me.

Brilliant orphan underachieves, usually ignoring regrets. - Steve Johnson, Herndon, VA

Fumbling gratefully through grace and kinship. - Keith Mobley

Life's a trip. I gotta go..... Nick Orciuoli, Ruidoso, NM

Sensing life's absurdity, decided to capitulate. Jamie Manning, Lexington, MA

Sweet chocolates and smiling green sneakers. Faye Brewer, Portage, MI

Fiddling while dinner burns, I laugh. -Barbara Lamb, Nashville, TN

Plan A, Plan B, Plan C... -Tim Sciullo, Pittsburgh, TN

Here's a clever entry from Michael Bandes of Needham, WA that combined this contest with last year's haiku contest:
Occasionally
was misidentified as
Dean Moriarty.

A long series of bad haircuts. -Michael Cohen, Kenner, LA

Uprooted, pruned, transplanted to bear fruit! -Janice Hayes, Powder Springs, GA

Sail all day, drop anchor, smile. -Marty Ace, Crestview, FL

Another clever pair, from David Singleton, Scranton, PA:
Sold the farm, learned to dance.
Wanted: The answers. No questions asked.

And another intriguing pair, from Drue Tulip-Valerio, Gainesville, FL:
Didn't plan for widowhood - forcible adventure.
Pregnant at 46 - don't believe stats.

Trusting in God, believing in dreams. -Ricky Dunn, Star, NC

Enthusiastically marginal late blooming wandering fool. -Jay Randall, Birmingham, AL

Nights drag on, years fly by. David Thompson, Bozeman, MT

Still a child yet a gran! Kathy Schrank, Norcross, GA

Determination and surrender dance in me. Glenda Pender, Dahlonega, GA

Here's another nice one from Nancy Cardwell of Nashville:
Listen, care, help where I can.

Attack life and hear "well done". -Mark Whorton, Huntsville, AL

Ditched "should." Thirty years kicking habit. Ayesha Syed, Malverne, NY

Living wide open, rewarded with love! -Susan Still

Here's another nice one from "honorable mention" winner Ramona Ault:
Dreamed of adventure / found love's enough

Life altering words: Activation, Deployment, Goodbye! -LaVon Kay Howard

Not young, but I'm still immature. Trudy Heffernan, Fairbanks, AK

Creatively undoing generations of interpersonal misunderstandings. Deborah Robins, Oakland, CA

Old too soon, smart too late. Russ Hunsberger, Fountainville, PA

As a profession, "student" really rocks! -Lisa Aschman, Nashville, TN

There were many more good ones - an impressive group of friends and fans, indeed! I'll wrap up the list with one that I especially identified with:

Singing, playing, writing, recording, touring, justifying. Larry Burch, Woodsfield, OH

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