mashstories
Storytelling
The Mash Stories Podcast showcased stories from our competition's shortlist. It no longer posts new episodes, but please enjoy some stories from our archives! Our writers take three unlikely words and turn them into an absorbing tale of 500 words. The winners receive $100, also payable in bitcoin. Mash Stories also offers a blog filled with tips for setting your pen to paper in the first place. We provide a podcast that narrates all of our competitions’ shortlisted stories.
Location:
United Kingdom
Description:
The Mash Stories Podcast showcased stories from our competition's shortlist. It no longer posts new episodes, but please enjoy some stories from our archives! Our writers take three unlikely words and turn them into an absorbing tale of 500 words. The winners receive $100, also payable in bitcoin. Mash Stories also offers a blog filled with tips for setting your pen to paper in the first place. We provide a podcast that narrates all of our competitions’ shortlisted stories.
Twitter:
@mashstories
Language:
English
Website:
http://mashstories.com/podcast/
Email:
kate@mashstories.com
Episodes
FINALE: Sparked Memories by Elizabeth E. Toole
8/16/2016
This is the final episode of the Mash Stories podcast. Thank you for listening! You can keep the stories coming at http://mashstories.com or have a nostalgic listening binge at http://mashstories.com/podcast. Thanks to all of our talented narrators, and to the authors for sending us such a feast of stories to broadcast. "Sparked Memories", written by Elizabeth E. Toole and narrated by Elisa Berkeley, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile". Can you mash three...
Duration:00:04:54
The Only Sure Thing by John McElhinney
8/16/2016
"Carlos lies flat on his back, flailing at the sucking hole in his face. I reached for him and grabbed his webbing. As I pulled him, a pinprick of light flashed from the hill. The bullet knocked my helmet off and I fell back, dragging my friend to safety." "The Only Sure Thing", written by John McElhinney and narrated by Joe Biedrzycki, was inspired by the keywords "vinegar", "carpenter" and "taxes". Can you mash three randomly assigned words into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash...
Duration:00:04:36
The Interns by Anthony Emecheta
8/11/2016
"Maryleen and Derek were among the interns undergoing training for a chance to get absorbed into the Nigerian Television Authority. Before their departure for street practical, their trainer revealed to them that the team that returned with the best news coverage gets the job." "The Interns", written by Anthony Emecheta and narrated by Elisa Berkeley, was inspired by the keywords "congress", "art" and "jealousy". Can you mash three randomly assigned words into a story of 500 words or fewer?...
Duration:00:04:41
Straight To The Top by L.J. Kelley
8/10/2016
"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of beer, if one of those bottles should happen to fall…ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall…. It was an art form, really. She occupied herself not with the motions themselves, but with the lyrics. The “good ol\’ boys” song seemed fitting somehow, in the dank basement corner of the Library of Congress." "Straight to the Top", written by L.J. Kelley and narrated by Elisa Berkeley, was inspired by the keywords "art", "congress"...
Duration:00:04:34
Playback by Conor Yunits
8/9/2016
"James burst from the basement, grinning like a toddler who’s learned to speak. 'I’ve done it!' In his hand he clutched a small black box, with a large conical microphone on one end and a wire connected to a small speaker on the other." "Playback", written by Conor Yunits and narrated by Duncan Stripp, was inspired by the keywords "mug", "converter" and "happiness". It also happens to be the winner of the tenth Mash Stories Competition! Can you mash three randomly assigned words into a story...
Duration:00:05:08
I Make Things by Gregory K. Shipman
8/9/2016
"'I make things.' My mother hated it whenever I said that. The dude next to me on the puke green bus stop bench nods." "I Make Things", written by Gregory K. Shipman and narrated by Joe Biedrzycki, was inspired by the keywords "taxes", "vinegar" and "carpenter". Can you mash three randomly assigned words into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.
Duration:00:04:25
A Guest For Dinner by James Tate
8/8/2016
"I don’t think taking the box of Halloween masks should be considered stealing. I didn’t ask for them, but they were just sitting there behind the novelty store for anyone to pick up. Besides, mom didn’t ask me to move to Texas, did she? Nobody ever asks me what I want." "A Guest for Dinner", written by James Tate and narrated by Joe Biedrzycki, was inspired by the keywords "Halloween", "common" and "missile". Can you mash three randomly assigned words into a story of 500 words or fewer?...
Duration:00:03:53
Why We Hide Under Desks by Conor Yunits
8/7/2016
"I don't know why we hide under desks. Maybe the teachers know, but they haven't explained very well." "Why We Hide Under Desks", written by Conor Yunits and narrated by Elisa Berkeley, 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.
Duration:00:04:38
Painted Ladies by Sarah Hausman
8/4/2016
"Forks clinked against dishes as we ate quietly. Eggs again. Always eggs. Mom said we should be happy to still have eggs every day since the stores closed. Because if the sickness didn’t get you, starvation would." "Painted Ladies", written by Sarah Hausman and narrated by Erin Lillis, was inspired by the keywords "pizza", "selfie" and "corruption". Can you mash three randomly assigned words into a story of 500 words or fewer? Take the Mash Challenge at http://mashstories.com.
Duration:00:04:06
Saudade by Phil Skiff
8/3/2016
"Fisk stared at the coffee cup in his hands. It had the logo of a bank, common in Phoenix. A thousand miles from here. It was stained and spider webbed with brown cracks." "Saudade" written by Phil Skiff and narrated by Joe Biedrrzycki, 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.
Duration:00:03:41
The Coupon by Conor Yunits
8/2/2016
"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...
Duration:00:04:42
The Automobile by Rosemary Mayo
8/1/2016
"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.
Duration:00:05:20
Happiness Is In The Genes by Kevin Cheeseman
7/28/2016
"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.
Duration:00:04:40
Shore Leave by Dick Carmel
7/25/2016
"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...
Duration:00:04:57
The Rising by Ian Andrew
7/21/2016
"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.
Duration:00:05:15
Of Crows And Corn by Sarah Hausman
7/18/2016
"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.
Duration:00:04:36
GrandMaster Of Xenophobia
7/11/2016
"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.
Duration:00:04:35
The Pizza Of Dorian Gray by Bill Bibo, Jr.
7/7/2016
"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",...
Duration:00:05:39
The Perfect Employee by Claudia Brooke
7/4/2016
"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...
Duration:00:04:28
Raptura Largo by David Drury
6/27/2016
"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...
Duration:00:04:15