There’s a story in literary legend that Ernest Hemingway, while having dinner with his colleagues, bet them he could write a story in just six words. They bet not. He grabbed a pen and a napkin and wrote, “For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.” His colleagues paid up, and Hemingway called it his best work.

This legend has spawned websites and numerous Twitter accounts dedicated solely to posting six word stories sent in by anyone. Literary magazines such as the New Yorker have held six word story contests, while The Guardian and Wired have also invited some of today’s best writers to give it a try. This fall, UMass Boston’s MFA and Undergraduate Creative Writing Department held their own six word story contest.

Since the beginning of the school year until Nov. 1, students could submit up to three of their own six word stories. Now, the authors of the top 20 entries will read their stories on the third floor of the Campus Center in the Point Lounge on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.

One winner will receive a $100 dollar gift card for the UMass Bookstore, and two runners-up will each receive a $50 gift card.