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What would you like to leave as your legacy?
A long time ago Mike Stelzner challenged me to a meme which should be right up any writer’s street. It’s called the six word memoir, where you effectively write a testament to your life in six words. Should be a cinch, right? Wrong! I am the soul of brevity, but that’s a challenge even for me. So I got to thinking about what I would want people to see as my legacy, both as a writer and as a person.
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Great Copy
One of the things I would like people to think about me is that I did great writing. I’m not talking great in the sense of the classics, but great in the sense of fit for purpose, achieving the aims that people wanted to meet with the writing. I would like people to be moved by what I write, whether to tears or to laughter or to action, and that’s something that I sometimes achieve. (I don’t think any writer achieves it all the time, but I’m pretty happy with my hit rate.)
Great Thinking
Next, I’d like to be known for the quality of my thinking. Again, I’m not looking for Nobel Prizes, but I like people who engage with me to gain something from the conversation and for us to learn from each other. I enjoy bouncing ideas off people and ending up with something new. I enjoy persuading people to my point of view and seeing the logic of theirs. In other words, I love constructive debate.
Great Person
Finally, though perhaps it’s the most important, I would like people to think I’m a nice person. (Most people want to be seen that way, don’t they?).  I’m sorry, but I am just not suited to the cut and thrust, high powered boardroom tactics. I like to be nice to people and I like them to be nice to me. In writing, that means answering questions from writers who are just starting out, or helping my writing friends craft bids or deal with tricky clients.
Great copy, great thinking, great person – those are the six words I’d choose at the moment (that may change). What are yours?
Sharon,
I’d certainly have to give that one a great deal of thought before choosing my six words. But, I love your choices! They’re wonderful words–and all are certainly true of you! Thanks for sharing them and providing such a great explanation of the reasons for your choices! Your post reflects precisely what these three phrases represent!
“Great” Read!
Jeanne
*ponders* It certainly is a challenging exercise. I’ll have to think on my own six words.
I love the words you’ve chosen for yourself. It becomes something to live up to, words that impact every choice in life. I wonder how your choices today will change in the years to come.
I, lived, laughed, loved, learned, shared. I used words because if said to someone who knows me they will smile and say, yes that was him.
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Great choices and a great legacy, too.
Thanks Jeanne. I thought about these for a long time and decided that it was better to give some context rather than simply list the words. Would love to see your six words one day.
Yes, it’s certain that the words will change as I change, Rebecca.