"Three-Minute Fiction: Deadline Nears"

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GUY RAZ, Host:

And that's the sound that lets you know our Three-Minute Fiction contest is now open. And if you haven't heard, here's the challenge this round.

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE: One of the characters must cry.

RAZ: And one more thing...

NGOZI ADICHIE: One of the characters must tell a joke.

RAZ: That's our judge, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She'll be picking the winner, which could be you, but there's just one week left to enter this round. To see the full rules and submit your story, go to our website, npr.org/threeminutefiction. And that's Three Minute Fiction, all spelled out, no spaces.

(SOUNDBITE OF CLOCK TICKING)