Write a story about a person experiencing pre-performance jitters.

Posted in High School on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 162 stories

“A Shattering Premiere” by Philip Baker

Submitted to Contest #50

The corridor seemed long and dark at its end. The fat red carpets with the windowless walls would make it seem suffocating and stifling, more like the entrance to a big underground cave than anything else. If it wasn't for the occasional candle lamps appearing every ten steps or so, it would be a rather bleak and dismal place. Yet, besides the simplicity of it, everything seemed rather carefully chosen, from the yellow warm light diffusing through the room like little suns to the iron props in the walls supporting the lamps, with the curling...

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“Breathe” by Amy Veltman

Submitted to Contest #50

Breathe in. It is almost time for the show to start. The house lights shine the way as ushers guide the final audience members into their seats. The thick, velvet curtain is down, shielding the spectators and performers from each other, making it difficult to guess how many listeners are in attendance. The air is filled with the rise and fall of murmured conversations charged with eager excitement. There are over fifty musicians, including yourself, involved in the show so hopefully there are at least that many spectators attending tonight; ...

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“I'm Sorry, Water?” by Saul Peeters

Submitted to Contest #50

“I’m sorry,” Jessica Truelove said, to the girl who shot by without stopping. “I’m sorry,” she tried again, but the man didn’t break stride. “Hello,” Jessica said, changing tactic, to no avail. “Could I please have a glass of water?” she whispered to no one in particular. Maybe if the air knew she desperately wanted some water it would appear. Like all these people it would jump forth from nooks and crannies, from behind curtains and closed doors. The people kept appearing, but not a glass of water came. The producer, as the girl had introd...

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“Respect the Gong Sound Effects” by Raymond Bouchard

Submitted to Contest #50

Peri crouched with her head between her knees like a crazy person, like it wasn't Seth who was actually going to deliver the presentation on the Indus Valley civilization and she only swiping through the slides."You're crazy," Seth stated matter-of-factly.Peri unleashed a prolonged and guttural whine as she was wont to do, and blabbered, "You're going to screw up, screw up badly. Oh, it was my fault, I shouldn't have encouraged you, oh God, oh Lord-"Seth interrupted, lips pressed tightly together, "Right. Because you're the only one out of u...

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“Public Debut” by Bruce Charles

Submitted to Contest #50

It was a busy day. Men and women kept going in and out of the building, all in a rush to get to somewhere quickly. James sweated as he saw the crowds of people moving in and out. With every person that left the building, it felt to James like three more would walk in. No matter how long he waited, there would be an audience waiting for him. His mom paid no attention to the waves of people surging in, and was completely focused on applying her stage makeup. It was James’s public debut, but to his mother, it was just another one of her many ...

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“Her Legacy, Her Fame” by Ky'm Young

Submitted to Contest #50

She'd waited her whole life for this moment. It was all leading up to this. She'd prepared for months that felt like years. And as she slipped into her gown, one leg after another, a wave of panic showered over her. Outside her dressing room door, she heard a knock. "Renee? 10 minutes to showtime."The actress nodded, although she knew he couldn't see her. "Okay, thank you."Her fingers twitched as her brain raced. She should be doing something. But what? Singing? No, she had to rest her voice. No, no. She would go over her lines. She walked h...

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“The Power of Joined Opinons” by Amogha Patwari

Submitted to Contest #50

I had thought that this was what I wanted, a moment to finally prove myself to all who didn't believe in me, but now I see the consequences of what happens if I go that stage and mess it all up. "Hello, earth to Emily", my friend Chloe said, "Do you ever listen to me". "Huh?", I hastily reply as we walk through the hallways to our last class of the day. Chloe and I have been friends since I can remember, though our friendship differs from others. Most people don't really know why we're friends, frankly, I don't either. You see, I'm the s...

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“Firebird” by Erika Flores

Submitted to Contest #50

FADE IN INT. COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC HALLWAY – DAY Various close-up shots of musicians in practice rooms: wooden mallets banging on a vibraphone, an embouchure wrapping around an oboe mouthpiece, the horse hairs of a bow striking downward over a faded violin. College girl REI shyly walks down the lively hall, carrying a modest folder. She enters an empty room. A single upright Clavinova piano rests in the corner. She sits and places her right foot on a pedal. Perfect reach. She places sheet music on the music stand and sits tall, inh...

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“Siblings-a special bond by A.W.” by A W

Submitted to Contest #50

Pre -performance jitters being quite common is not given much of a thought. But you wish to have someone motivate, encourage and support you during those times. This is a story about two sisters-Their special bonding motivates me to be a better humanbeing. Like every other siblings Megha and Jessy have disagreements on almost all topics. They are quite opposite in nature. Megha started her hobby of dance at very young age and now at the age of 18 , she seems to be confident. But for Jessy , this was her first stage performance. A Day Be...

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“Destruction of the Desert Table” by ALICE NGUYEN

Submitted to Contest #50

“Up next is Kevin Park with Meditation by Jules Massenet ”. Mother Trucker. Holly Fudge Sticks. Why do I always do this to myself? Alice,you wanted to do something out of the box, but this is like out of the box.This is way out of the box. Silently having a major meltdown, I paced left and right of the waiting room and absent mindedly knocked into the desert table,which knocked down the pyramid of small cups. Shaking myself out of my trance, I watched in horror as the glass flew into the punch bowl, splashing punch ev...

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“A Bird of My Tongue is Better Than a Beast of Yours” by Essy Dean

Submitted to Contest #50

Kelly felt the panic rising in her chest. She leaned again the wall and tried to push it down, push it out of her head. She was not going to have a panic attack where everyone would be able to see it and make fun of her. She refused to let it happen or have it be a consideration. She refused that she was going to have something like this defeat her. She thought about the fear Beatrice felt for Benedick in the first scene, that she hid behind jabs and casual talk. She tried to force all her fear into that spot. She felt her breath quicken and...

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“Strength of Mind” by Ramore991 Amore

Submitted to Contest #50

He looked at his phone. Eighteen minutes. “You’ll be fine. You were fantastic at the rehearsal.” he flashed a nervous smile, “Thanks, Joe”. He’s an idiot, you know that. He’s been around forever and says that to everyone before showtime. Look at yourself, you know you’re not ready. You’re a total stiff. The crowd will see right through you. You’re almost drowning in your own sweat right now. Pathetic. Enough. There’s a reason I’m here. He started to pace around the little dressing room. At the far side of the table, a small lamp. He ...

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“Why do you cry?” by LaTisha Brown

Submitted to Contest #50

Sitting on the plush, lavender duvet, her hands trembled as tears streamed down her face, staining the flyer that read... The 39th Annual Debutante Cotillion Talent Showcase participation is required by each young woman on the Cotillion court. The performances will take place at the art museum’s concert hall in front of family, friends & community leaders. The top three best performances will receive a trophy, scholarship and be featured on the front page of the local newspaper. If a young woman decides not to participate in the compet...

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“Stage Fright” by Valerie Kaufman

Submitted to Contest #50

I look good for my age, which is 50. The same age as my stand-up comedy teacher, Peter. But Peter, who I’m crazy about—says his 30-ish student Clarissa, who he’s crazy about—looks like she’ll never be my age. Peter texted me that he thought Clarissa was “pretty” in the beginning, but then she became “hugely, fantastically pretty!” Which is men’s language for really liking a woman. So I joke, “Your high forehead suggests intelligence, but first impressions can be wrong.” Peter and I have not outgrown the childish practice of making f...

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“Ciggy and a coke” by Humza Karim

Submitted to Contest #50

The burning sensation moves its way down my throat and proceeds to settle in my stomach, I gingerly place the glass back down onto the coaster. “AJ I really don’t think we should be here, this is going to end horribly, someone is gonna record it and we won’t be able show our faces here ever again”. AJ takes a break from trying to chat up the clearly uninterested pixie cut bartender about his art and lets out a shallow breath. “I thought we talked about this Khalil, you told me you were going to be fine.” I can see his unibrow furrowing in di...

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Write a story about a person experiencing pre-performance jitters.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 162 stories

“A Shattering Premiere” by Philip Baker

“Breathe” by Amy Veltman

“I'm Sorry, Water?” by Saul Peeters

“Respect the Gong Sound Effects” by Raymond Bouchard

“Public Debut” by Bruce Charles

“Her Legacy, Her Fame” by Ky'm Young

“The Power of Joined Opinons” by Amogha Patwari

“Firebird” by Erika Flores

“Siblings-a special bond by A.W.” by A W

“Destruction of the Desert Table” by ALICE NGUYEN

“A Bird of My Tongue is Better Than a Beast of Yours” by Essy Dean

“Strength of Mind” by Ramore991 Amore

“Why do you cry?” by LaTisha Brown

“Stage Fright” by Valerie Kaufman

“Ciggy and a coke” by Humza Karim

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a proposal.

Write a story about an argument that seems to be about one thing, but is actually about another.

Write a story told entirely through one chase scene.

Write a story about a summer afternoon spent in a treehouse.

Contest #50

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

940

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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