NY Times Crossword
September 4, 2002
Eric Berlin (adapted)

Each "word," as written below, is a visual clue. The words can  be completed in a similar way, so that all the completed words are related in a certain way.

STO
STOR
ORDE
BREA
CHANG

Answer:

Each word can be changed into a new word by adding a single letter:

STOP
STORY
ORDER
BREAD
CHANGE

How the words are related:

Each can be preceded by SHORT to form a common word or phrase.

NOTE: Here are the clues and answers as they appeared in the Times:

SHORT STORY - PAPERBACK BOO
SHORT BREAD - PUMPERNICKE
SHORT STOP - TRAIN STATIO
SHORT CHANGE - METAMORPHOSI