Eighteen Words. A Thousand Lives.
Ready to see what women over 50 can say in just 18 words?
Below, you’ll find minimoirs from our readers—bold, funny, and beautifully human. Read a few, then take the challenge yourself. Because your story deserves to be told, too.
To Share Your Life in 18 Words
Click HERE to submit your 18 word minimoir for a chance to have it featured here!
Complete the Challenge on your own, as part of a group or club you belong to (book club, game club, knitting group, or writing group, just to name a few), or offer the challenge to a group you work with.
The rules are simple: Submissions should be from women over 50, exactly 18 words, and biographical.
Looking for inspiration? Read the minimoirs below from our fabulous readers, and then let your personal story come to life.
Read this article for the origin story of our Minimoir™ Challenge.
We can’t wait to read your minimoir.
The Minimoir Collection
Funny, bold, authentic memoirs told in 18 words.
Get inspired, then take the challenge yourself.
Walker, 71, Central VA
She was a good girl. Now adult, her mother says: Please don’t say anything to upset your brothers.
Jessie, 91, Laguna Woods CA
Nine decades plus, living history, known great love, experienced art, endured pain, enjoyed people, and am still here.
Debra, 59, Long Beach CA
Jewish New York girl moves to California; finds love. Banker to Gerontologist, honoring loving ancestors, caring for others.
Barb, 65, Prosper TX
Small town girl. Teacher, stockbroker, stay-at-home mom, office worker. Married, four daughters, five grandchildren. Happy. Loved.
Susan, 70, St. Augustine FL
I came into this lifetime to learn to be kind, strong, and genuine. I’m still working on it.
Adrienne, 55, Cincinnati OH
I keep moving toward a more authentic me by challenging my limits, honoring the opportunities, because I can.
Linda, 61, Boston MA
Brother dies. At 21, grief overwhelms. Recover at 23. Single till 39. Marry at 42. Baby at 43.
Risa, 74, Oakland CA
Storyteller, married young. Found helping careers, worked, wrote, and bore three children. Now I’m my husband’s caregiver. Bittersweet.
Pauline, 60, Lincolnshire (UK)
Scarred but standing, I faced the mirror. Once afraid, now unbroken. Cancer came, tried, failed. I’m still here.
Vicki, 69, Mill Valley CA
Divorcing at midlife as a mom turned this once shy hippie girl into a successful journalist and author.
Lori, 64, Hendersonville NC
I ran away from home at 53. Then found the woman that I was always meant to be.
Carol, 74, San Jose CA
Not of this world. More outlier than outcast. I am who I am, take it or leave it.
Jen, 59, Red Bank NJ
Not one but two brushes with death too young. So a battery keeps my heart ticking at 59.
Theresa, 60, Dayton OH
I’ve survived most abuses known. Yet still, I rise. I won’t let them define me. Only I can.
Karen, 63, Baltimore MD
I died. When I woke up, I sounded like Brenda Vaccaro, not a good thing for a cantor.
Kerry, 57, St. Petersburg
After cancer, politics, and motherhood remade me, I claimed the story I’d buried–the one that demanded light.
Sunny, 71, USA
Bohemian, nomadic adventuress and domestic goddess, in awe of this miraculous life I’ve been so blessed to live.
Elizabeth, 54, Las Vegas NV
After years of being forced into a box, I found the courage to be whatever shape I want.
Leslie, 72, Sister Bay WI
Silent night made me silent no more. Embracing the true power of “I am the way”: my mantra.
Charlotte, 63, Millington MD
Lost neglected child, mother, survivor. Divorced, broke, alone. Words became my bricks. Built a house, work, hope, future.
Kathy, 66, East Helena MT
A constellation of selves–neglected, lonely, and alone; trusting but betrayed; angry, determined; still awed by life’s beauty.
Renee, 62, Denver CO
I used time like it was endless until I could see the end. Now I treasure each day.
Karen, 63, Baltimore MD
I was the girl shot out of the cannon, Broadway-bound, now singing in synagogue and polishing poems.
Holly, 57, Dexter Township MI
I am reading and writing as much as I want, working to live, but not living to work.
Michael, 71, Chatsworth
Christmas Eve 2025. I’m inside. I was outside for 25 years. I learned a lot. I’m stronger now..
Gabrielle, 54, Elkins Park
Wanted to be Miss Piggy. Theater school, crazy jobs, writing, love.
Parenting neurodivergent kids, big C twice. Defiant.
Michele, 60, Northford CT
She dreams, fighting the shackles of expectations not meant for her, ascends to become her own fierce champion.
Karen, 59, Millville PA
Four decades after my first riding lesson, I’m still enchanted with horses and my life in the saddle.
L, 62, Lincolnshire IL
Spilling feminist truth, words on page to heal rage. Ongoing peace talks with a body overused and fractured.
April, 51, Providence RI
Abused in many forms, fighter, owning my life, kind but powerful, empathetic, passionate, loud, and forever unabashedly real.
Mary, 63, Columbia Station OH
Tumultuous childhood, young love, mothering joys, loss, big C, scarred, learner, ever-evolving, stronger, wiser, lover, embracing ambiguity.
Tracy, 65, Brodhead WI
From disco queen to bingo queen, the in-between of love, laughter, and tears has been a blessing.
Elizabeth, 69, Graham NC
My husband bench-pressed me before his softball games, but that was 40 years and 20 pounds ago.
Mica, 66, Ocala FL
Unwanted at birth, overworked in life, survived a cult, men, and my own brain—emerged sarcastic, slightly feral.
Julie, 66, Windermere FL
My controlling mother said proper ladies don’t ride motorcycles; I say cheers to being thoroughly and completely improper.
Slavica, 67, Belgrade Serbia
Seven years after defending my Doctorate in Economics, I was fired as a “technological surplus” —shocked, in disbelief.
Lisa, 62, Bethesda MD
Reading since 3, journaling since 14, striving to be the best partner, parent, writer, friend at every age.
Susan, 71, Mesa AZ
A Leo woman in a relationship with a married Gemini man, started as sex but grew to love.
Beth, 71, Sun City AZ
25 years keeping my head down; 45 speaking my truth despite barriers. Safe and blooming in old age.
Janet, 69, Marysville MI
Unwanted misfit. I know. Successful without pride. Ate my words until I couldn’t. Sometimes breathless yet I rise.
Barbie, 51, Houston TX
Sun. Fun. Lost. Boys. Blur. Lies. Man. Left. Found. Fought. Free. Friends. Michael. Love. Daughters. Sad. Fat. Family.
Angela, 68, Tallahassee FL
Early sob story. Grew beyond it. JOY now found in art, laughter, music, chosen family, and inner peace.
Michelle, 54, Ridgely
Rising above scapegoating and lies, to mothering hard, flawed and otherwise. Nothing keeps me from Spirit’s loving embrace.
Susan, 74, Edgartown MA
Watching my parents drink themselves stupid and mean, I decided no, not for me. I am fine. Now.
Heather, 50, Staunton, VA
Today he packed up the last box, loaded it into her truck, and promised to visit for Christmas.
Haline, 89, Pompano Beach
89-year-old Polish girl from Brooklyn. 100% Pisces. She paints. She writes. She’s me. I love her.
Teresa, 71, Poughkeepsie NY
The pills lined up like soldiers, fatigue glued me to the couch, quiet terror of every unfamiliar ache.
Nina, 60, Brunswick ME
A Viking Jewess, I’ve set sail, wandered and wondered. Norway, USA, Israel, discovering new iterations of my multiplicity.
Jacqueline, 61, Brooklyn NY
Bookish farm girl turned New Yorker. Single mom, favorite granny, author, world traveler, loyal friend and joyful lover.
Bobbie, 71, Williamburg MI
Student, lover, warrior, corporate executive, husband, father, divorcee, remarried, transgender epiphany, renewed vows, Living life authentically, finally peace!
Linda, 66, Salem SC
Fragile orchid learns to heed her soul’s desires. Transforms into a wildflower, thriving in the most unlikely places.
Julie, 46, Lawrence KS
Loud, outcast; didn’t play by the rules. Until the rules changed, I found words gave me comfort.
Mira, 78, Methuen MA
Three countries, languages, two divorces, one long loving marriage then widowhood. Pandemic gift’s, the love of my life
Susan, 70, St. Augustine FL
An only child with five siblings, being wholly myself within a tribe. The gift has endured 70 years.
Robin, 70, Brunswick ME
A Micro Memoir:
I was born.
For forty years, I did not die.
Then I learned to live.
Sharon, 65, Silverton OR
Death defined childhood.
Birth defined womanhood.
I have no lover.
I am Crone, the love of my life.
Kim, 61, Sea Cliff NY
Three of five, dreamer, reader, pleaser, always nurturing, surviving, recovering. Brave, fierce advocate. Guided by mommas–mine excluded.
Karen, 63, Corvallis OR
Trauma-filled, from self-destruction to wholeness and courage. A life I’m proud of—forward bound, living joyfully.
Heather, 72, Langley WA
I was always leaving—home, jobs, cities, husbands, the country. Writing my stories made me circle back home.
Eve, 58, Los Angeles CA
The youngest, a sensitive soul, she starved until she fed herself, and then doctored others toward their healing.
Heidi, 54, Peoria AZ
Son arrived with Down syndrome. Health scares, therapies, advocacy, love. He changed my path. He redefined my life.
Cari, 63, Chippewa Falls WI
Wild child. Daddy’s girl. Youngest sibling. Stubborn. Fiercely independent Harley rider. Found love late. Still chasing the wind.
Charlotte, 63, Millington MD
One of seven, mother, survivor. Divorced, broke, alone. Words became my bricks: building a house, work, hope, future.
Elizabeth, 74, Pittsfield MA
Being slightly odd made the difference in my life. I visualize colors that I have not created . . . yet.
Randye, 65, Philadelphia PA
Born with gifts I didn’t know I had. Now at 65 I understand, embrace, and use them all.
Donna, 75, Rumson NJ
My life has been an adventure. No regrets. Travel, family and friends. Much love. And more to come.
Elizabeth, 58, Los Angeles CA
DC kid—bad home, good school. Harvard, Russian launched. Masters, adventures shaped. Life handed me to social work.
Lou Anne, 70, Prattville AL
Free spirit born into a family that wasn’t. Became the mom that I deserved. My dream journey fulfilled.
Ellen, 68, Ocean Isle Beach NC
Only child, traveled world. Two kids, widowed. Family scarred by mental illness, estrangement. Now love, writing, inspire me.
Vel, 59, Harrisburg
Considered a freak when I was young. Now happy, found someone who loves me for who I am.
Dhyana, 79, Siesta Key FL
I wrote. I laughed. I loved:
Me
Alive
Living large
And sometimes small
Finding ways
To love
You
Victoria, 68, USA
Marine vet, hockey gal, six children, lived good, bad, rich, and poor life and still enjoying it all!
