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Our Three-Minute Fiction contest has a simple premise: Listeners send in original short stories that can be read in three minutes or less. That, according to the official rules, means 600 words or less. To make things even more interesting, we set up a device for each round to serve as the jumping-off point for the story.

Patchett's not only picking our winner; she's also given us the challenge to inspire your stories. For Round Four, your story must include these four words: "plant," "button," "trick" and "fly."

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HOW TO ENTER. The Contest begins at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on March 27, 2010, and entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 11, 2010. To enter, go to www.npr.org/threeminutefiction and click on the link "Send Us Your Original Short Story." Fill out the personal information form and upload your entry following the online instructions. Only one (1) entry per person. If you attempt to submit more than one (1) entry by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods, all of your entries may be disqualified. There is no fee to submit an entry. By submitting an entry to the Contest, each entrant agrees to comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and acknowledges that the decisions of the SPONSOR shall be final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest.

PRIZE. One (1) Contest Winner will be interviewed and have his/her Story read on-air during Weekend All Things Considered and will receive an autographed copy of each of the Ann Patchett books "Truth & Beauty: A Friendship" and "What now?" (total approximate value - $30.00). No substitution, cash redemption or transfer of right to receive prizes is permitted, except in the discretion of SPONSOR, which reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Prize consists only of items expressly specified in these Official Rules.

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