“I pop onto Six-Word Memoirs every day or so for inspiration, to catch up on heartwarming stories of truth, current events and contests. I adore the connectivity the site provides. I am constantly amazed how one six-word sentence can spark inspiration and evoke emotion.”

Name: Christine Macdonald
Place: Long Beach, California
SMITH Member Since: January 2011

Christine Macdonald finds power in her deeply personal revelations. With her first memoirs, Christine showed us her willingness to be vulnerable (“Going back so I move forward”) and bare it all (“Realizing my worth without the pole). Although Christine isn’t the type of Sixer to post thousands of memoirs like many of our “power users,” her bold truths have led to numerous features on our site and in our publications. Christine follows @sixwords on Twitter, posting many of her Six-Word Memoirs and entries in our SixContests as @thatgalkiki (“I was stripping, not selling flowers”). Christine’s candid tale, “Sunset Strip” is included in our longer-form collection, The Moment: Wild, Poignant, Life-Changing Stories from 125 Writers and Artists Famous & Obscure, and her astute memoir, “In love with love isn’t Love.” is featured in The Best Advice in Six Words. Congratulations to our Memoirist of the Month for June, Christine Macdonald. As she answers our Six Questions, you’ll discover why Christine’s dignified honesty is applauded within our Six Words community:

How did you first hear about Six-Word Memoirs?
Friend and fellow author/memoirist, Lily Burana introduced me online to Larry Smith and SMITH Magazine. Larry was seeking out stories for his anthology, The Moment: Wild, Poignant, Life-Changing Stories from 125 Writers and Artists Famous & Obscure. Lily knew of my story, how I was a stripper and drug addict in my home town of Waikiki back in the late 80s and early 90s. She knows I’m in the process of writing a memoir and thought that my story — specifically what made me walk away — would be an interesting contribution for Larry’s project. I submitted my story and my chapter; “Sunset Strip” is published in The Moment.

I pop onto Six-Word Memoirs every day or so for inspiration, to catch up on heartwarming stories of truth, current events and contests. I adore the connectivity the site provides. I am constantly amazed how one six word sentence can spark inspiration and evoke emotion.

When did you start writing and what have been turning points in your creative life?
From the first night I worked as an adult entertainment dancer in 1987, I’ve been working on my story. It started out in the dressing room between sets as drunken scribble on cocktail napkins (complaining about the customers, mostly), some of which I still have.

In 1990, soon after my twenty-first birthday, I realized the stories I’ve been writing were morphing into a book. Too immersed in the underbelly of addiction and self-loathing, I was far from ready to be serious about sharing my life. But I knew one day I would be.

It would take several years to build enough confidence to actually share my words with anyone. Meeting Carrie Fisher a few years ago was huge. When I told her I was writing my memoir, but struggling to get out of my own way, I asked her advice. Her three words gave me permission to lift the veil of uncertainty and really get serious. She told me, simply: “tell the truth.”

Which authors do you enjoy or admire, including writers on Six-Word Memoirs?
Anything Augusten Burroughs; I’m also a huge fan of Lily Burana, Jillian Lauren, Kristen Johnston (yes, that actress from 3rd Rock from the Sun – read her book, Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster – you’ll see what I mean), David Sedaris, and Mary Karr.

There are so many writers on SMITH that move me, it’s hard to narrow them down. The ones with backstories of lost love and longing truly pull on my heart strings. Call it the romantic in me, but I always leave their stories with hope that their next chapter will bring more light and true laughter from the shadows of such dark circumstance.

Can you share a favorite Six-Word Memoir, or other story of yours on SMITH and tell us why it’s meaningful to you?
“Stripper turned writer. More exposed now.” When I was 13 years old I developed a very serious skin disease that left over 80 percent of my face severely scarred. People in school were merciless, calling me Freddy Kruger and Pizza Face. Later that year I was sexually abused by an older school mate. Because of my insecurities, I actually thought the rape was validation that meant I was pretty. Working as a nude stripper was another twisted feeling of validation of being pretty – I never felt truly exposed because I was too busy feeling like a rock star. Years later, after several surgeries to help remedy the scarring, I’m still very self-conscious. When it was time to read in front of a crowd as part of Larry’s book tour, I was paralyzed with fear. This Six-Word Memoir about being more exposed as a writer is one of my most personal. Words on the page reveal so much more than my naked body ever did.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time and what do you enjoy doing?
Since moving off the island of Oahu in 1996 — packed two suitcases and a dream! — I’ve lived all over the California coast. I’ve been in Long Beach with Stella, my three-legged pup since 2014 and love it. When I’m not at work or at the dog beach with Stella, I’m working on final edits to my memoir and hope to publish soon.

I’m a big lover of live entertainment. Most weekends, I’m at a local comedy club or visiting an unknown musical artist. You can usually find me in the smaller, more independent venues around Los Angeles County. Also, you can’t get me away from the water. I’m very lucky to live four blocks from the ocean, so Stella and I enjoy the bike trails during the day as much as possible.

After leaving the stripping life, with no formal college education, I managed to land sales jobs through the years. When you think of it…stripping is the ultimate sales job. I’ve been a hair care sales rep, a computer sales person, marketing manager and even an advertising executive. After being laid off from the advertising job during the market crash of 2008, I worked for a temp agency as an executive assistant. I’ve been doing it ever since and love the stress-free environment.

Finally, Christine Macdonald, what are your Six Words for today?
“Honored to be part of SMITH.”

Ed. Note: you can learn more about Christine Macdonald at www.poletosoul.com