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

Posted in High School on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 162 stories

“The Play” by I C

Submitted to Contest #50

"You want me to what?" I frowned and leaned closer, not believing what I’d just heard. "You've wanted to do it before." Mr Johnson gave me an encouraging look, and I tried to remember when I had ever wanted to do what he wanted me to do. "Now is your chance! Kelly called in sick. She’s completely lost her voice. You're the only one who knows ALL the lines. There's no one else." "I can't. I know I probably wanted to do it before, but I've changed my mind. Please don't make me do this. I think Sarah is a much better choice. She has an angelic ...

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“The comedian” by Bianca Hails

Submitted to Contest #50

The carpet lightly crunched when she nervously paced up and down the room in her heels. She had done this so many times, had been on that stage every week for years, but tonight - tonight was different! It was the first time ever that someone she really cared about was in the audience. Up until tonight, her comedy had only been for strangers. Occasionally she would try some of her jokes out on her students, but they only laughed because they had to. Most of her material wasn’t suitable for teenagers anyway. They didn’t need to know about her...

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“War of words” by Ipshita Majumdar

Submitted to Contest #50

1200 A.D. , Near the Ural mountains: Princess Emzadokht paced up and down, inside a pristine white tent, clenching her fist and crumpling a piece of paper. It was her first ever attempt at poetry. The opening of the tent, embroidered with dragons and djinns, fluttered slightly. She was relieved that they had finally left the treacherous desert behind and had camped near a turquoise blue lake, nestled between the grey-green undulating hills. “How is my Lady feeling today?” Rubina, her chambermaid, stooped in a low curtsey and stood at...

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“The Talent Show” by Jessica Mills

Submitted to Contest #50

The lights from the theater are so intense that I can feel the heat coming through the heavy curtain as I walk across the stage to the waiting area. On the other side of the curtain I know there is a young girl, with beautiful curly brown hair tied tight behind her neck in a long ponytail, captivating the crowd with the lost art of baton twirling. As I hear the crowd verbalize “ooh” and “aah”, I imagine the baton leaving her small hands and flying straight up into the air, returning silently to her hands a moment later. I am sure that she di...

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“Who Would want to Meet Them?” by Sarah Phillips

Submitted to Contest #50

"I'm just nervous Terry, is that OK for you? Everything fine and dandy?" "Well yeah, but there's no need to be a dick about... jesus." "I have to be a dick though, cos' otherwise nothing gets through to you Terry, that's the fucking problem, you can be so anal about shit." "Sorry John, you know I only do it to try and help you out, I don't mean anything by it, I just know you can do better, you were made for this Tel." "Ok, well yeah, but sometimes you just need to chill out a bit." "So going forward, I just...shut up or...?" "No, well, you ...

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“The Show Must Go On” by Trisha Chapman

Submitted to Contest #50

Shuffling through loose papers that are strewn about the room. Can you even read your own writing? Barely. Should really type this stuff out, but where’s the romance in that? Again, looking for that paper, THE paper, the one, the one you need for open mic. Your hands are sweaty, mustn’t soil the paper, that would be…undesired, unprofessional at best. You find the paper; of course, it was the last one you came across…so much wasted time. You really should be more organized. Into the envelope it goes and under your arm. You...

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“NOW PRAISE WE WEAK TALE-BEARERS” by Scott Smock

Submitted to Contest #50

The crowd was there, as had been promised by the Entertainment Council, and this was both exciting, and nerve wracking, to Harry Prescott. He was a Tale-Bearer and had found his way to Shiloh to read his books to these entertainment starved people in exchange for room and board. He was joined by Andre Johnson, who was the Historian of the pair. Earlier that day he'd gone through Shiloh, talking with the elders and watching with amazement as their eyes lit up while speaking of their past. Now it was Harry's turn to help the people forget abou...

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“The Voyagers” by Jane Syphert

Submitted to Contest #50

Princess Christina scrunched her brow in concentration. On one hand, she was holding a report and the other was skimming over the silky fabric of her dress. She wasn't required to wear a dress, but she enjoyed the whimsical feeling of wearing one. The report in her hand was from her father, King Conch. It said something about the Holiday and she was a little worried that he was canceling it. Her eyes widened, and she dropped it. She would be hosting the Holiday this year. A shriek of happiness escaped her, and she saw Officer Nauta...

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“Nervous Eyelash Curling” by Phoebe :)

Submitted to Contest #50

The waistband of the itchy costume feels a bit too tight around your waist. You try to adjust it, but to no avail, so you collapse down on one of the tall stools. You are surrounded by the fifteen other girls in the dressing room, chattering obnoxiously away to each other, but you can barely hear them. You keep getting in your own head about the upcoming performance. You know you should be going over your lines or practicing your steps, but instead you are paralized in fear.One of the stage hands walks down to the dressing room, dressed in a...

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“When Baby Sings ” by Miracle Alford

Submitted to Contest #50

It was on the pulse of Sunday morning and the birds were humming their sweet songs. The sky was still gray as I little six year old Dream arose from the smell of my grandmother's Sunday dinner which she started to prepare on Saturday night. "Good morning grandma!" I greeted in my sleepy voice, still rubbing my eyes. "Good morning baby!" Grandma greeted, she bends down to give me a hug and a kiss. "Go on sit down-" she instructed "I've made your favorite for the pulse of this Sunday morn. Pancakes-" "Sausage, grites, and eggs!" I cut my...

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“Six O'clock ” by Stella Nygren

Submitted to Contest #50

I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself. Then turned on the water to wash off my makeup. I started to reapply it, hoping it would look better. Tonight had to be… well, perfect. If anything went wrong, I could lose my job, and my house. Then I'd have to move back in with my aunt, and have to listen to her tell me, "I told you so, Alora!" My hand slipped as I put more weight on it. The old dried soap on the sink was made slick and cause me to make a large jagged line of mascara going up my forehead and into my hai...

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“Cliff Dive” by Rose Buckingham

Submitted to Contest #50

The mornings of competitions, I always wake with a jolt as if I’ve been dropped back into my body from a great height. Shockwaves radiate through me from my pounding heart, deadening and prickling my extremities with a kind of pins and needles numbness. It doesn’t seem to matter how many events I take part in or how well prepared I feel the night before, every time it’s the same. Through breakfast, my legs bounce uncontrollably under the table. As my coach gives me her last minute chat I have to force my mind back into the present, to focus ...

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“All in Your Head” by Manu B <3

Submitted to Contest #50

Bring! Brrring! bRInGGG! The alarm clock jolts me awake. I stare at the framed calendar hanging above the footboard of my bed. Today's date is circled in red. I sigh. Guess today’s the day. Slowly, I roll out of bed and push back the covers. I make my way to the bathroom and give myself a long, hard look in the mirror. I take a deep breath. Ok Beth. Today’s the day. You can do this, ok? Like Mom always says, it’s all in your head. It’s all in your head- It’s all in your- It’s all in- ...

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“𝓦𝓲𝓼𝓱 𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭?” by 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖. 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘

Submitted to Contest #50

Standing in the centre of the stage, I could hear the crowd snickering as soon as they heard I was one of the participants. If it had not been our principal, I doubt if they would have stopped.Is it my fault that I have a speech impediment? Then why am I the one who keeps being bullied and outcasted? What the old woman said, is it true?I met her on a spring afternoon around a week or so ago. I was sitting on the banks of the river Thames, my trembling hands covering my eyes as big heavy tears rolled down my pale, sweat-soaked face. " What is...

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“The hallmarks of a great speaker” by Vincent Stevenson

Submitted to Contest #50

The altercation at 8.03 pm was as unexpected as it was disturbing. Nobody was prepared for the marital flare-up that evening. Had the janitor not taken his Easter holiday, we could easily have lost the venue for good. The speakers’ session began at 8 pm on the dot. The jovial and expectant audience assembled in the art centre’s drawing-room where still life works of fruit bowls, urns and coffee pots adorned the spotlit walls, and outside the French windows, the trains of wisteria signalled another glorious late spring evening. As ...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 162 stories

“The Play” by I C

“The comedian” by Bianca Hails

“War of words” by Ipshita Majumdar

“The Talent Show” by Jessica Mills

“Who Would want to Meet Them?” by Sarah Phillips

“The Show Must Go On” by Trisha Chapman

“NOW PRAISE WE WEAK TALE-BEARERS” by Scott Smock

“The Voyagers” by Jane Syphert

“Nervous Eyelash Curling” by Phoebe :)

“When Baby Sings ” by Miracle Alford

“Six O'clock ” by Stella Nygren

“Cliff Dive” by Rose Buckingham

“All in Your Head” by Manu B <3

“𝓦𝓲𝓼𝓱 𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭?” by 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖. 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘

“The hallmarks of a great speaker” by Vincent Stevenson

🌟 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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