mashstories

"The coupon slid out from a mauled manila folder. Daniel examined it with only passing attention, just as he had the dozens of old receipts, crumpled sticky notes, and expired train passes that had been unearthed during his forced evacuation."

"The Coupon", written by Conor Yunits and narrated by Erin Lillis, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile".

Can you mash three randomly assigned words into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"My daughter Amy is coming to take me for a drive. She’ll bring tiny sandwiches and a thermos flask, from which she’ll serve me a plastic mug of revolting chamomile tea."

"The Automobile", written by Rosemary Mayo and narrated by Natalie Winter, was inspired by the keywords "happiness", "mug" and "converter".

Can you mash three randomly assigned words into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"Eva was keen to recruit the Cobbs into her research project; cases like theirs didn’t come along often. But, instead of obediently signing the consent form, Sarah was wasting time asking questions."

"Happiness Is In Your Genes" written by Kevin Cheeseman and narrated by Natalie Winter, was inspired by the keywords "happiness", "mug" and "converter".

Can you mash three random words into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"When we disembark, we forgo the guided tour. I say there’s safety in numbers, but Nancy says that the bigger the crowd, the less you see. She wants to absorb as much as we can. I’d rather ride on the bus. Staying on the ship by the pool would be even better, but Nancy wants to explore. In less than a block, we’re lost – exactly what she wanted."

"Shore Leave", written by Dick Carmel and narrated by Duncan Stripp, was inspired by the keywords "mug", "happiness" and "converter".

Can you mash three random words into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"It all got out of hand. Now, with blood seeping into my eyes and my Mother’s suppressed sobs filling my ears, I have to think it was all my fault. I could have stayed home."

"The Rising", written by Ian Andrew and narrated by Duncan Stripp, was inspired by the keywords "carpenter", "vinegar" and "taxes".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"Billy released his shit over a parked car. The greasy missile found its mark and slid down the windshield. That bird had no class."

"Of Crows and Corn", written by Sarah Hausman and narrated by Duncan Stripp, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile".

Can you take three random words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"The Montessori Chess Club comprised members from Congress. Abraham Linkon had come a long way and some said he had ridden on the back of America’s first assassinated leader."

"The Grand Master of Xenophobia", written by Mike Devitt and narrated by Joe Biedrczycki, was inspired by the keywords "congress", "art" and "jealousy".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"Friday night. The sky is prematurely dark, layered by thick clouds heavy with moisture and menace. Thunder cracks. The lights over a parking lot blink from the electrical charge in the air as two silver minivans stop in front of The Pizza Libertine. Doors slide open. Twelve uniformed adults run for the front awning as the clouds let loose their watery torment."

"The Pizza of Dorian Gray", written by Bill Bibo, Jr. and narrated by Stephen Chesterton, was inspired by the keywords "pizza", "selfie" and "corruption".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"Happiness is overrated…

I reached across the desk and tapped a selection into the Acme 10, the mini converter sitting beneath my mug. Bulletproof coffee. Blecch. I don’t know what the hell I had been thinking with chai latte. I was bringing my happy home life to work again."

"The Perfect Employee", written by Claudia Brooke and narrated by Lorraine Ansell, was inspired by the keywords "happiness", "mug" and "converter".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.

"Wren stood still. Even so the numbers kept dwindling. The readout declined through 20 years of common watermarks. Post-baby, pre-baby, wedding. Wren closed her eyes and imagined weightlessness. When she opened them again she was floating two inches off the ground. She grabbed the edge of the sink and started screaming."

"Raptura Largo", written by David Drury and narrated by Erin Lillis, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile".

Can you take three randomly assigned words and craft them into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.