Write a story about someone who has put “Blood Sweat & Tears” into getting where they are — only to question whether it was worth it.

Posted in Angst on Jun 2, 2023

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✍️ 47 stories

“Let sleeping dreams lie” by Zoe Perditus

Submitted to Contest #201

I was seventeen when I started bargaining with the years of my life. It started with a choice. Law in the Netherlands, or Classics in Rome. The latter was my dream. I kept a box in my bedroom. Cardboard, from Ikea, tucked under the cherry brown coffee table. I had spent a year filling it with things I would bring. Orange candles shaped like pumpkins, for my first October in Rome. A meal planner with a notepad to be used for grocery lists. It was orange, matching the candles. There was a magnet on the back. I would have stuck it to the fridge...

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“Kpop Fantasy, Mpop Reality” by Ian James

Submitted to Contest #201

"Koyuki, nice voice but no soul. An idol? I've seen amateurs do better at karaoke nights," the stern lady in the plaid and cap spat out. This scene, ripped from a documentary I saw four years back, has seared its way into my memory. It showcased a young Japanese hopeful trying to crack into Kpop, forever reshaping my understanding of the business. In my younger years, Kpop was my religion. I worshipped at the altar of GOT7 in secondary school and pledged my loyalty to Blackpink upon their arrival. I drowned in K-dramas, bled money on mercha...

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“Golden Years” by Meggie Lin

Submitted to Contest #201

It was December 31st, my birthday or in other words New Year’s Eve. It seems like nothing had changed in the course of ten years. I still had my crazy addiction to ice cream, I still worked for a bookstore in Adelaide. Yeah I had got a little promotion and now earnt an extra 2 dollars and 46 cents but I wasn’t where I planned to be ten years ago in 2013. I remember the day clearly. A cloudy but humid night. The night was like a blanket that covered the town and even though blackness was all that was visible to the human eye, wispy cl...

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“It Comes Back To Bite You” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #201

“Luke, medication time” the familiar voice said. “Sit up now, here you are. Hold out your hand, two tablet, here’s your water. That’s it, pop them in your mouth and drink your water down. Good man. I’ll be back later to check on you.” Luke could just make out the silhouette of Lucy leaving the room. He knew she was one of a few people who came in to his room to check on him, give him medication, and just check on his general well-being, especially when he was having a ‘down’ period. His bed was warm and cosy as he pulled the soft cover up ar...

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“Opal Wings ” by Ellie Aronica

Submitted to Contest #201

Mother On this occasion. The first Friday of the month of May. I conceived a baby girl. My baby was born into quicksand. I’ve always thought it would be relaxing. It’s very relaxing being stuck. In quicksand, in molasses, in my mind or even in yours. My baby girl will never be a bird, just like her father, and me, I never flew. Happy being stuck in your arms where it's safe. Trapped in gum, under the tide. The second my cord was cut I was thrown into the sky. “Put me back!!” I wailed to the midwife. “I'm scared, this air is c...

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“Growing Pains” by Sophie Lyerly

Submitted to Contest #201

Ever since I was homeschooled, my father wanted me to try out public school for high school. Well, the year has finally come, and I’m going to public school for the very first time. Ever. I can’t say I’m not terrified. I’m weird, like, super weird. I’m the girl that listens to those “Pretty Chinese boys” and spends money on their merch only to not wear it because of bullies. But I was forced to be the black sheep at the school regardless of my pained cries. School was difficult. I had the pressure of my parents wanting me to get good...

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“The measure of opportunities” by Paul Costa Gavin

Submitted to Contest #201

Write a story about someone who has put “Blood Sweat & Tears” into getting where they are — only to question whether it was worth it. The measure of opportunities This is the story of Paul Costa Gavin, an American-Brazilian writer, considered excellent among critics, literary theorists, and university professors in Rio de Janeiro, but who remained almost obscure to the general public for several decades because he was unable to transmit the values of a new culture to...

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“Beat and Sorrow” by Pryor Rose

Submitted to Contest #201

The sound of screams echoed around the arena drowning out the linger of her vocals, which resonated from the speakers connected to her microphone. Even with the fullness of the surround sound she could barely hear herself think from the deafening roar of fans singing along to the lyrics she herself had written, the sounds sinking away as the song came to an end only to shift into a soft adagio of notes that began her next number.Stepping up to the microphone stand she slid the base of the mic into place wrapping her fingers about the handle ...

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“Is There Still a Woman Behind the Mask?” by R. M. Moore

Submitted to Contest #201

I should have felt happy. I wanted to feel happy. My dressing room had elegant dresses hanging from all the racks, fancy scarves draped across almost every surface, and so many shoes dotted the floor that an obvious path led to my vanity mirror. Numerous tubes of lipstick sat along the surface, some of them unopened, nail polish remained in their rainbow arrangement, mascara and eyeshadow waited impatiently to be picked up. All of them were the best brands money could buy. Thousands of people were counting down my future appearance, whic...

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“A Fighter's Journey” by Connor McBride

Submitted to Contest #201

The first thing he noticed upon opening his eyes were the vibrations of an eruption coming through the canvas below. The sounds of the arena began as background noise, but the clapping and screaming grew ever louder as he slowly recovered. The flashing lights and the crowd of moving bodies looked like a night club through the eyes of a party animal. “You’re alright, you’re alright,” were the first words he could made sense of. He tried to utter a response, but he couldn’t tell if the word...

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“Tony-A Memoir” by Amy B

Submitted to Contest #201

Tony, a Memoir Thump. Thump. Thump. By the third bang of his head on the long wooden table, the pain was radiating behind his eyes. A tear trickled down. The first review had come out and it was…not good. Truthfully, it was one of the worst he had seen in a while. “Derivative…drivel…arrogant.” And those were the least upsetting words from the review. Seven years. He had spent seven years working to get this book published. Late nights. Countless rejection letters. Thirteen editors who passed it up. Until finally, Mac Lenoy took him un...

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“Lies” by Neehsup Selpmid

Submitted to Contest #201

Lies It was the best day of our lives. Finally, the four of us, Hyo, Nari, Bora, and me, Moon, were going to debut as a Kpop group. We were hugging and laughing and crying. After four years of being a trainee, surviving through the high-pressure evaluations, it was finally happening. I hadn’t expected it to happen at all. Our manager kept telling us we were the worst trainees in the company, that we had to improve a lot, that our visuals weren’t up to Korean beauty standards. But somehow we made it. I don't know why they selected me despite ...

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“It’s All 4YOU” by Shay Waters

Submitted to Contest #201

Joo Mi stared out the van window as they headed back to the house after a full day of training. The steps to their new dance were hard, but she knew the fans would love it. Their group, 4YOU, was known for its intricate choreography and moving lyrics. They were also preparing to release their new album which was set to have a goddess theme, which meant dazzling costumes and fun new hairstyles. The fans were sure to eat it up. Their manager was reviewing the week’s schedule as well as the company directives for their upcoming to...

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“Something There” by Jemille West

Submitted to Contest #201

The Stage Manager's words swirled in my mind as I tried to grasp their fullmeaning.Suddenly my producer gently tapped my shoulder."Joon-Ho, simply go through these curtains when I give you the signal." 'Joon-Ho,' a name I hadn't heard in a while. I nodded and stepped aside as the production assistant demonstrated one final time, pulling the heavy redvelvet curtains aside as the stage manager announced my stage name:'Luminex.'Luminex, the name that rolled off the tongues of millions of K-pop fans, andnow it would extend to the entire world. O...

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“Musicless” by Christin Edge

Submitted to Contest #201

“You’ve done us proud, kid.” “If only your grandpa could see you now.” “Forget the fridge, this is going in the living room!” “All your hard work is finally paying off.” … Right? My new pumps, a gift from Mom, pinch my feet. Hidden beneath the thin robes is the dress bequeathed from Grandma. Dad paid his hard-earned money for the hairdo now crushed under my cap. I can’t take my eyes off the stage. Name after name brings me closer and closer to the end of the line. Where the culmination of all my hopes and dreams are finally made reality. F...

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Write a story about someone who has put “Blood Sweat & Tears” into getting where they are — only to question whether it was worth it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 47 stories

“Let sleeping dreams lie” by Zoe Perditus

“Kpop Fantasy, Mpop Reality” by Ian James

“Golden Years” by Meggie Lin

“It Comes Back To Bite You” by Valerie Preston

“Opal Wings ” by Ellie Aronica

“Growing Pains” by Sophie Lyerly

“The measure of opportunities” by Paul Costa Gavin

“Beat and Sorrow” by Pryor Rose

“Is There Still a Woman Behind the Mask?” by R. M. Moore

“A Fighter's Journey” by Connor McBride

“Tony-A Memoir” by Amy B

“Lies” by Neehsup Selpmid

“It’s All 4YOU” by Shay Waters

“Something There” by Jemille West

“Musicless” by Christin Edge

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story at a large entertainment venue, after the show has ended, amongst the discarded plastic cups and confetti.

Write a story from the point of view of a “sasaeng” (an obsessive fan).

Write a story inspired by SHINee’s “Ring Ding Dong”, where someone can’t get a song out of their head no matter how hard they try.

Write about someone who has always done something as part of a group, and is now starting to set out solo, or vice versa.

Contest #201

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

170

Contest entries

94

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: