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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#201: K-popular

South Korean girl group Blackpink recently made history by becoming the first Asian act to headline Coachella, performing in front of over 125,000 people (and millions more tuning in via live stream). This isn’t the first “Korean Wave” (or Hallyu) to reach foreign shores; before Blackpink and BTS there was PSY with “Gangnam Style” and groups like BIGBANG and SHINee, to name just a few. Now we’re on to a 4th generation of idols taking over social media with dance challenges and catchy tunes.

K-pop is a fascinating universe with some of the most dedicated (and at times overbearing) fans in the world. Like all things, it comes with the good and the bad. Behind the uplifting messages, the discipline, and the talent also lies a high-pressure industry, one which has sparked debates about artist exploitation and the price people are willing to pay for fame. This week's prompts are inspired by K-pop, its fans, and the dizzying highs and lows of megastardom.

This week's prompts

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

Adults – 53 stories

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

Character – 34 stories

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

Angst – 47 stories

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.

Funny – 16 stories

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

Character – 20 stories

Stories

“Richmond, 500 Miles” by Don Tucker

Submitted to Contest #201

I would say it started happening right around the time that Fiona left me. She could have left me for any number of reasons throughout the years. The flicking of the light switches three times before we go to bed. The washing of my hands until they were raw. Maybe it was getting out of bed three or four times throughout the night to make sure the stove was off. Now that I think of it, she was really pissed when we were late to her sister’s wedding. I turned around halfway through the three-hour drive because I thought I left the front door u...

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“Warning: QC-IDLE-06 Highly Volatile” by Anna Xie

Submitted to Contest #201

Transcript of Channel 8 Broadcast concerning The Song Start Time: 5:02 PM, 08/10/2023 At 5:02 PM on the 10th of August, every TV across the United Republic of Bolgnia broadcasted this message for 10 minutes and 52 seconds. On each TV screen appeared a blank white stage and crowded heads beneath the stage. Filming location is Time Rectangle in New Yorkie City for its immaculate lighting. Atop the blank stage is a podium of stark oak wood. Behind the podium stands a man in a pin straight black tux, matching black earpiece, piercing black e...

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“Evaluation Day” by Sara Brown

Submitted to Contest #201

The group thought Yuqi would stop humming at some point, but they made it through their scheduled breakfast, morning training, and Russian lessons with a consistent, catchy melody emitting from the smallest of the bunch. Even during designated quiet time, she would find a way to drum the beat with her fingers or make it through the choreography using only her shoulders. Their right feet struck the ground at the same time as they all marched to this week’s evaluation. Seven gave Yuqi the side eye as she lightly clicked her tongue to a...

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“A love letter ” by Sofia Albertini

Submitted to Contest #201

Paris, 3rd of June, 2023 This is a love letter. A love letter that you’ll never read. It’s a letter meant for you, that I’m really writing for me, for someone else to read about us. Yes, we’re complicated that way. Where does one even start with love letters? It can’t be from the first time I met you; I simply have no recollection of it. Maybe from the last time I saw you - standing by the veranda when time left a trail of soft wrinkles beneath your eyes. I hate those days, the days when time feels heavy, like an impending storm waitin...

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“THE TALENT'S THE BOSS” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #201

THE TALENT’S THE BOSS Bobby-Lee sat alone in the dressing room, the show long over, the crowds that had screamed for the Pussycat Imps long since dispersed, the other Imps departed having barely wished her farewell or good luck. As she stared around her at the incredible amount of mess left behind, it was difficult to come to terms with the fact that never again would all four of them perform in front of their fanatical fans. This backstage area was really such a small room, yet the Imps had left such a shambles of clutter for somebody else ...

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“Solitude never left” by Hanniyah Canty

Submitted to Contest #201

The tour bus would always feel like a home away from home for Mikey. Although he hated making anywhere feel comfortable enough to settle down in, he couldn’t help but turn the rectangular space into a half assed man cave on wheels. It was a bond he cultivated overtime, giving him the comfort to lean in further than he had expected. The space's interior was naturally dark, so his first instinct was to string a series of LED lights across the velveted ceiling. They would light up the whole space giving his eyes something pretty to gloss over. ...

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“Farewell Tour” by Jennifer Lynn

Submitted to Contest #201

Farewell Tour The last note of the last song on our final tour has long faded, replaced by the sounds of the road crew. Joking with each other, talking about plans for after they get the equipment loaded and set torn down. Some planning on to where to eat after, what will be open at the late hour. The blinding bright stage lights swapped out for house lights. From my vantage point in the empty theater, I can see the crew working quickly but carefully. Kicking up shiny bits of confetti mixed up in the dust as they cross the stage. Cle...

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“Plastic Cups and Confetti” by Marissa Marie

Submitted to Contest #201

I could feel the music reverberating throughout my entire body, infecting my being in the best way possible. All of my thoughts were a mushy, distant memory, and all that surrounded me in their absence was the bass wailing through the air. People swirled all around me, dancing, laughing, singing, some of them trying in vain to talk to one another. What a beautiful, jumbled mess. Here, in this time and space, nothing mattered. Not the big issues like the politics of the world outside or the shameful atrocities of mankind. Not the little thing...

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“Ooh, Kimmy” by Rose Nord

Submitted to Contest #201

[Trigger warning: cyberbullying, self-harm, implied abuse/neglect] Kimmy hadn’t meant for anyone to get hurt. She just wanted a chance. Was that too much to ask? A chance at love, for a sixteen-year-old girl, who’s never had love in her life before Jin. And now she’s sitting here, smelling like a dumpster, blood caked into her blouse, tears streaming down her swollen face. Tonight was supposed to be special, and instead, she’s in a jail cell while Jin performs in the stadium across town and she can’t even watch the livestream because the ...

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“She's Everything” by Allyson Pang

Submitted to Contest #201

The Cheeto-dust dipped ends of the chopsticks dip back into the plastic bag before getting shoved aside suddenly. The bag crinkles under the force, almost knocked from its place on her desk. Her fingers scramble to click into the site. It had the horrible tendency to crash at the first influx of people trying to get in and she could not lose another chance. Everything is already pre-loaded. Credit card: good. Account: logged into. General info: already set up. It only takes seconds. “Ha!” The phone next to her din...

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“Lock” by Katarzyna Skręt

Submitted to Contest #201

[This story contains themes or references to stalking] “Who’s the top?” “I, as usual. But seriously, I can do anything for him. He is so precious.” They laughed, but I have a feeling they weren't sincere. They always want to get on my good side for selfish reasons. I bottomed up a glass and waved my hand for another bottle. Putting annoying assholes aside, today was a good day. Soju tasted sweet. “How come you never invited us? You live alone and yet no one ever set foot in your apartment,” they sulked. “Isn’t it enough that I pay f...

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“Winning Tickets: Willow's Dream” by Christine Bialczak

Submitted to Contest #201

Write a story from the point of view of a “sasaeng” (an obsessive fan). Willow pushed the pencil along the paper, drawing over the line, over and over, not realizing that the paper was ripping and she was actually drawing a line on the table. She couldn’t think straight or see what was in front of her. All she knew was that she needed to see Vibe play this weekend or she would just die. She had been waiting for the radio announcement, had been sitting here for three hours refusing to even go to the bathroom for fear of missing the DJ say...

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“ Death in Life and Life in Death” by Anaya Omori

Submitted to Contest #201

My name is Lucy. A boring name. An unnoticeable name. I’m quiet, I’m shy, I’m forgotten by most who meet me. I have no friends, and my sister’s hardly company as she leaves to go smoke with her friends in the alley nearby nearly every night. Truthfully, the only thing you’ll ever need to know about me is that I am Alina’s #1 fan. You know who I’m talking about. The one, the only, Alina Orisir. Even if you don’t recognize the name, you have heard her songs. Her music, ever sweet, finds its way to you one way another and captures your he...

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“I'm Not a Sasaeng ” by Corrie McCue

Submitted to Contest #201

Kimchi jiggae is my comfort food. I'm a really good cook. I had to teach myself with YouTube videos. They're really handy for learning things like cooking an octopus when you were born into the wrong family. I still don't quite have the knack of that. But I'm a kimchi jiggae expert. I'm sure Taemin will agree. Everyone thinks he's serving his military time right now. It was just perfect timing, really.I turn off the flame under the pot, then return to my room. It's such a mess right now. I just couldn't decide earlier which dress to wear. Bu...

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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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$250

Prize money

170

Contest entries

94

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 09, 2023 EST

Won by Chris Miller 🏆

Title: The Bequest

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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