Three-Minute Fiction
Weekends on All Things Considered's contest has a simple premise: Listeners send in original short stories that can be read in three minutes or less.
Stories From Round 11
For Round 11, guest judge Karen Russell asked you to send us original short fiction in which a character finds something he or she has no intention of returning. We are no longer accepting submissions, but stay tuned! In the coming weeks, we'll be reading excerpts from your stories on the air and posting some of our favorites right here.
Karen Russell's debut novel, Swamplandia! was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2012. Her most recent work is a collection of short stories, Vampires in the Lemon Grove.
Three-Minute Fiction Round 11: Finders Keepers
()For this round of our short story contest, write a piece of original fiction in which a character finds something he or she has no intention of returning.
Three-Minute Fiction
Ghost Words
May 19, 2013 The letter smelled of lavender and vanilla, like she couldn't decide which perfume to use so she used both. Her hand-writing had been drawn with the careful precision only seventh-grade girls in love have patience for.
Three-Minute Fiction
Ten Ring Fingers
May 19, 2013 She found the first ring on a night that smelled of body odor and beer. The bar's last customers had finally given up hope of taking her to bed and staggered away, leaving her to clean the stains of their desperation.
Three-Minute Fiction
Plum Baby
May 18, 2013 There isn't enough time in this world to grow your own tree. That tree is a plum baby still, never mind it's tall as the house those men are taking from us. It grew up with me.
Stories From Round 10
Three-Minute Fiction
Sorry For Your Loss
March 9, 2013 Hi, it's me — Christine. I can't believe you still have this number. That I still remember it. But there's your voice on the machine ... like no time has passed. I'm so sorry for your loss, Nick, for your mom. Can anyone else hear this? [PRESS # TO ERASE AND RERECORD YOUR MESSAGE]
Three-Minute Fiction
Everything's Under Control
March 7, 2013 YOU HAVE ... TWO ... NEW MESSAGES. Pickup sis. It's me ... Listen, I'm in jail — but I'm not asking for bail this time. I just need you to make some phone calls since I only get the one. First, call the administrative offices at the zoo, tell them the baby elephant is not missing.
Three-Minute Fiction
The Escape
March 3, 2013 Hey, Julia ......... it's me ....... Kind of glad you're not picking up — this'll be easier. Maybe. So. Here goes. I'm going to ask you to do something for me. It's not an ordinary best friend kind of favor — God, I wish it was. I wish I just needed you to pick up my dry cleaning or something ...
Three-Minute Fiction
Three Little Words
March 3, 2013 Hi, sweetie. I don't really want to say this on a message, but I just can't wait any longer. You know how we were snuggled up under the blanket in the park last week? Yeah, that was nice. Our six-month anniversary.
Three-Minute Fiction
Call Me?
March 2, 2013 The llama was not my fault. Don't hang up! You probably hung up. How long is a voice mail message? Three minutes? Look, you're going to have to call me back. There is no way I'm gonna be able to explain everything in three minutes. You're not gonna call me back.
Three-Minute Fiction
Leave Me In London
March 2, 2013 You're sleeping, I know. That's why I'm calling. I'm staring at the old Spitalfields church and someone is playing a bagpipe on a roof across the street. I never even wanted to enter a church before we came here. Now I'm crying in every cathedral. It's London, this city.
Three-Minute Fiction
After The Tone
February 24, 2013 First of all, I'm not sure you know this, but there's no need for you to say, "Leave a message after the tone," because the automated woman says that immediately after you. It's redundant. I thought you should know.
Three-Minute Fiction
Space-Time Capsule
February 24, 2013 Hey, sweets. It's me. Found your note in the crisper. So sneaky! Glad to know you'll miss me more than fresh produce even when you're facing a year's worth of dehydrated broccoli and beefish bits. Spam! Made me smile. And sad. Did you hide more?
Three-Minute Fiction
Chubby Bunny
February 23, 2013 Hey mom, it's Kelsey, sorry for calling so late. I'm kinda glad you didn't answer though, this is will be easier if I can just let my words dribble out without any interruption.
Three-Minute Fiction
Voice Mail Is For Suckers
February 23, 2013 Dude, yeah. It's me. Look, what is the deal? Where are you? You haven't responded to a single email. Everyone is worried, man. We checked your Facebook and you haven't updated your status in a week. A freaking week. You haven't even liked anything. And you like everything. Like. Like. Like.
Three-Minute Fiction
It's Not OK To Act This Way
February 17, 2013 Hi Mom, it's me, I guess you're out. I'm trying to follow this recipe and I was hoping you would know what I could substitute for a half cup of butter. I figure probably oil or something but it would be nice to know from someone who has first hand experience.
Three-Minute Fiction
You Have Reached Sarah Wellman
February 17, 2013 Oh, um, hey Sarah, this is Brad Davis from Slingshot and, um, I'm pleased — Hold on: your greeting there on your voice mail kind of threw me off. Did it seriously say "you have reached Sarah Wellman. Please leave a message"? It did, didn't it? Wow.
Three-Minute Fiction
Call From The Cabin
February 16, 2013 Hey Jimmy, it's Kevin. Pick up if you're there. We just pulled up to your cabin. What? Oh. Ellen says hi. Annie too, but she's sleeping in her car seat. Anyway, it's pitch black. No lights on in the cabin. You said you'd leave the porch light on.
