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 (born September 17, 1968, in New Jersey) is an American author and editor, and publisher of Smith Magazine. 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 and publishing the results.[1] The form has been described as "American haiku." [2] Smith credits Ernest Hemingway's reputed shortest story, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn,” with inspiring the viral literary movement.[3]
Background and early career
Smith grew up in New Jersey, the son of Burlington attorney Louis Smith and his wife Carol, a clinical social worker.[4]
He 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, co-edited by Rachel Fershleiser, was selected as a Top 100 Editors' Pick by Amazon in 2008 and became a New York Times bestseller.
In January 2009, Harper Perennial published Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak, also co-edited by Smith and Fershleiser.
Books
- Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. (with Rachel Fershleiser.) Harper Perennial, 2008. ISBN 978-0061374050.
- Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure—Deluxe Edition. (with Rachel Fershleiser.) Harper Perennial, 2008. ISBN 978-0061713712.
- Six Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak: by Writers Famous and Obscure. (with Rachel Fershleiser.) Harper Perennial, January 2009. ISBN 978-0061714627.
- I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure. (with Rachel Fershleiser.) Harper Teen, September 2009. ISBN 978-0061726842.
Notes
- ^ Kloer, Phil. "Write your six-word memoir contest," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (October 11, 2007).
- ^ "It All Happened Here in Philadelphia," Philadelphia magazine.
- ^ Widdicombe, Lizzie. "Say It All in Six Words," New Yorker (February 25, 2008).
- ^ Elizabeth Bumiller, "Piper Kerman and Larry Smith," New York Times, May 21, 2006.
- ^ Smith profile on Smith Magazine website.
- ^ Smith, Larry. "Happy National Smith Day, Happy Birthday To SMITH," SMITH magazine (Sunday, January 6th, 2008).
References
- "Six Maniac: How much do I love thee? Let me count the words," Metro Silicon Valley (February 11, 2009).
- Hafner, Katie. "Laptop Slides Into Bed in Love Triangle," New York Times (August 24, 2006).