“I quickly became addicted to Six-Word Memoirs. Well-written, touching backstories and priceless photos of many talented writers inspired me to join in May 2014 and hang on for the ride. It truly is the ride of a lifetime; I haven’t found anything else matching its format and emotional appeal.”

Name: Krystyna W. Fedosejevs
Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
SMITH Member Since: May 2014

Within her first two months of joining Six-Word Memoirs, Krystyna posted more than 400 memoirs (“Over 400 sixes; love this place!”) and she has kept pace since with more than 4,000 memoirs to date. Known as CanadaGoose, her memoirs reveal her love of words (“Baking ideas in my mind’s oven”) and intellectual pleasures (“Sipping Bordeaux wine with Leonard Cohen”). Yet there are many tales beneath the surface (“Family rifts: patches I can’t quilt”) that reflect an abundance of introspection (“‘Cautiously optimistic’ holds pessimism in shadows”) and a talent for storytelling in Six Words (“I unplug to open real windows.”). Congratulations to Krystyna Fedosejevs as our Memoirist of the Month for July 2016—learn more about this well-traveled memoirist as she answers our Six Questions:

How did you first hear about Six-Word Memoirs?
What started as a wild goose chase ended as a cue to join the welcoming flock at SMITH Magazine. I’ve been writing flash fiction for 25, 50, 99 and 100-word sites and was curious to see what else was available online. I quickly became addicted to Six-Word Memoirs. Well-written, touching backstories and priceless photos of many talented writers inspired me to join in May 2014 and hang on for the ride. It truly is the ride of a lifetime; I haven’t found anything else matching its format and emotional appeal.

In July 2014, approximately two months after joining Six-Word Memoirs, I had a flash story published in Grant Faulkner’s 100-Word Story site. It was a pleasant surprise to find an article on Grant’s site featuring Larry and his six-word concept. By then, I knew I was following the path of someone special.

I try to plug in every day although availability of Internet and life’s commitments limit my visits. I don’t own a smartphone and normally don’t take my iPad on daily errands. Whenever I’m home or in a hotel, I connect with Six Words. This site is most rewarding—we are free to communicate with whomever we wish, to comment wherever we please, and post our Sixes without an editor predetermining whether they should be posted. I confess, I don’t read everything posted. That would take away time from my writing elsewhere. I connect with a number of members through comments and messages. I feel closer to these people—they add a sparkle to an otherwise lonely life. I’m an empty nester. My husband, although close to retirement, still works grueling long hours. Our son, who recently graduated with a PhD, is now working out East. My social network consists of friendships both online and off. I’m grateful to my friends for filling the void in my life.

When did you start writing and what have been turning points in your creative life?
Aside from letters to grandparents in Polish, I began creative writing when I was about ten. At age eleven, I penned this poem:

A Star

A star shines

in the deep blue sky.

Looking down where

the round ball Earth does lie.

But not all people

see the golden star

and sigh.

At fifteen, I became serious. My unstable home environment, boring school subjects and pathetic teachers propelled my desire to write poetry and draw in the margins of my notebooks. I created comics and passed them around in classes. Teachers remained clueless as to the laughter. In high school, an English teacher had one of my mystery stories showcased in the hallway by the principal’s office for the entire school community to read. Since then, I’ve been focusing on poetry, short stories and creative nonfiction. A few have been published in anthologies and magazines. A few have won awards. Three years ago, I discovered flash fiction. I would like to say I’m a successful writer—I’m not. Too often I get bogged down with my own negativity resulting in less than perfect achievements. I often am stalled by feelings of inferiority.

One of the turning points in my writing adventure took place when I enrolled in the B.A. program with a major in English literature. A classmate helped me regain some of the confidence I lost during mother’s reign of terror. He loved my poems and read a few of mine aloud at one of the campus student coffee hangouts. Regrettably, I was too frightened to be heard. If only I could remember his name and thank him properly. As an older adult, I can now read my poetry in public.

Which authors do you enjoy or admire, including writers on Six-Word Memoirs?
My favorite genres are mystery, adventure, crime and satire. I’m not a science fiction fan. I don’t care for horror; there’s enough of that in the real world without scaring myself further. I enjoy biographies of inspirational people.

My favorite authors have spun their words in the distant past. I was a professional librarian once upon a time—bookcases at my home keep in order the works of William Blake, Agatha Christie, Wilkie Collins, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Stephen Leacock, Keats, Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Wordsworth, and many more. From the modern era, my favorite authors include Margaret Atwood, Leonard Cohen, Yann Martel and Kate Morton.

There are dozens of writers I follow at Six-Word Memoirs for a number of reasons. I can’t single out individuals lest I forget and thereby hurt someone. Subject matter presented is most important. When the writing style brings that subject to life and has an emotional impact on me, I favorite the Six. Some of the backstories are incredibly well-written. I favorite their accompanying Sixes; likewise for the Sixes presenting unusual and/or inspiring photos or illustrations.

Can you share a favorite Six-Word Memoir, or other story of yours on SMITH and tell us why it’s meaningful to you?
Only one favorite? Gosh, I think I came up with close to fifty. I’ve narrowed the list down to two:
“I can’t possibly mistake your voice.” It’s a voice I’ve heard often. Have related to at times of grief, indifference and tolerance. Have felt its effect on me. A voice I have learned to respect because it belongs to someone I hold dear. “Touch me with your genuine understanding” came about as a plea for acceptance. When too many times I’ve been trotted upon with the insincerity of others, their mark leaves me with despair and distrust. I long for others to be true to themselves, hence true to me. To make an effort to understand me as I reciprocate understanding with them. For only with genuine understanding can we fully respect each other.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time and what do you enjoy doing?
My permanent residence is in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I enjoy reading, baking, singing (I’ve recently taken lessons focusing on musicals and opera), playing piano, traveling (I write while traveling whenever I can), drawing and watercolor painting.

Finally, Krystyna Fedosejevs, what are your Six Words for today?
“Hungry for the meaning in words.”