Larry Smith (editor)
Larry Smith | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Non-fiction writer, editor |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Six word memoirs |
| Notable works | Not Quite What I Was Planning", "Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak" |
| Spouse | Piper Eressea Kerman |
Larry Smith' is an American author and editor. He is best-known for developing the "six word memoir" a literary subgenre that took on a life of its own in popular culture as publications began holding reader contests [1] and publishing the results. It has been described as "American haiku." [2] Smith credits Ernest Hemingway's reputed shortest story, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn,” with inspiring the literary form. [3]
Background and early career
Smith grew up in New Jersey, the son of Burlington, N.J. attorney Louis Smith and clinical social worker.[4].
Smith worked a founding editor of the magazine P.O.V. and editor-in-chief of its sister publication, Egg, as well as an editor of Might magazine with Dave Eggers. He was also managing editor of the news service AlterNet [5] and editor of the city guide network, Boulevards.
Smith also worked as executive editor of Yahoo! Internet Life, senior editor at ESPN The Magazine and articles editor at Men's Journal. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Popular Science, Men’s Health, Salon, Slate, and other places.
Smith Magazine and Six Word Memoirs
On January 6, 2006, National Smith Day, Smith co-founded the online Smith Magazine with Tim Barkow. [6]
Two years later, Smith's book, "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure" was selected as a Top 100 Editors' Pick by Amazon in 2008 and became a New York Times bestseller.
In January 2009, HarperPerennial published "Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak."
Books
- Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure" with Rachel Fershleiser (2008)
- "Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak: by Writers Famous and Obscure , (2009)
References
- ^ http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/book/entries/2007/10/11/write_your_sixword_memoir_cont.html Write your six-word memoir contest
- ^ http://www.phillymag.com/philly/six_word_memoirs
- ^ http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/02/25/080225ta_talk_widdicombe
- ^ Elizabeth Bumiller, "Piper Kerman and Larry Smith," New York Times, May 21, 2006
- ^ http://www.smithmag.net/about/team/
- ^ http://www.smithmag.net/2008/01/06/happy-national-smith-day-happy-birthday-to-smith/
External links
- [1] Smith Magazine
- [2] Say It All in Six Words by Lizzie Widdicombe, The New Yorker, February 25, 2008
- Metro Silicon Valley article on Six Word Memoirs, "Six Maniac" http://www.metroactive.com/metro/02.11.09/cover-0906.html], February 11, 2009
- [3] Wedding announcement in New York Times
- [4] "Laptop Slides Into Bed in Love Triangle"