Relevant Magazine recently held a short-story contest as a promotion for A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. It was a great idea, and the stories that came in were terrific. And when they asked for short stories, they really meant it. Each story had to be under 140 characters. I thought I’d reprint the ten winners. Great stuff.
Cosette: The plane touches down and my seven years with out a sister are over. The little piece of China fits perfectly in my arms. Our family, complete
Vagabond: Peering through the skeleton mask and picking up my tricycle, I turned to see the police squad car pulled over behind me.
FirstnameL: When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.
Architeuthistic: As the Decentville populace grew more demanding, Justice Jane secretly wondered if Sir Kilzalot was still hiring. Oh! He was.
cabbagemilk: When Feldman woke up in a tub full of Stove Top stuffing he thought to himself “I knew I shouldn’t have shaved my chest”
Kevin Stinehart: As the cashier gave a knowing look scanning the prenatal vitamins, I realized she is the first person on earth to know we are having a baby.
Craig Patrick: A true companion thru many a tale descended to me in a ship w/ a sail. His fury unmatched, his roar full of grace: grizzly bear from space.
Dave Jennings: Jennie leaned across the front seat for our first kiss. The back of my head hit the driver’s side window in retreat. I couldn’t reciprocate.
Gordon: Seeing the church marquee was a guillotine to the last ray of hope left in the pastor and father of three: God hates fags! It spoke of him.
trikelow: He thought she could be The One. Thanksgiving was Tofurkey. God closes a door.
Think you can do better. Feel free to leave some more in the comments. Remember, a story involves a character that wants something and goes through conflict to get it.
