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 cub scout star is born” by Walt Landers

Submitted to Contest #50

Mrs. Conley was a clever lady. She even seemed to enjoy the noisy little boys who showed up after school for their den meeting. She always looked happy. She wore those plastic rimmed glasses, and and her light colored hair was curly with a maroon scarf tied to keep it neat looking. Mikey liked going to school in his uniform. He had a special hanger for it in his closet, and draped the yellow bandana over the neck. It was a nice dark blue, long sleeved shirt with 'cub scouts' embroidered in yellow thread. on one pocket...

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“Carla's Pre-performance Jitters” by Sree Pavithra Tadigotla

Submitted to Contest #50

‘Hey!” the man with the pink shirt called me. “Ya wanna interview girls about performance glitters-” “Jitters, actually.” I corrected. “Bah! Whatever! Go there and ask for Carla.” he said, pointing to the backstage. I thought he was being helpful but his smirk told me otherwise. I headed to the backstage in search of that girl. I asked a few people if they knew where she was. Everybody seemed to know who she was but none knew where she was. I walked to almost every room in that area hoping to find her but with no success. In the last r...

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“A ritual backstage ” by A Z

Submitted to Contest #50

30 June 2018, 17:21 A stubborn muscle in his cheek spasmed, and his mouth, apart, expelled one short breath after another like a guppy’s would. As he rolled his fingers back and forth on his temples, he felt his underarms lubricated by perspiration. He felt like he was under water. Julian Lee sat in one of the plastic foldable chairs set backstage of a piano concert hall in Berlin, Germany. To his right and left were other contestants- younger and older, decked out in the usual formal dress or bow tie suit. In the rare few seconds he coul...

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“One More Breath” by Rayana Bhojanapalli

Submitted to Contest #50

It was during the wedding that I was starting to feel a tiny bit nervous about my performance at the reception, but I told myself that it’ll be okay. While I sat through what felt like the longest wedding in the history of weddings, I silently went over the dance steps that my aunt, the bride, and I choreographed. It’s not like I’ve never danced before in front of people, because I have. In fact, I danced the night before the wedding at the formal introduction of the bride and groom’s families that always takes place before an Indian wedding...

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“If Only They Knew” by David Hobson

Submitted to Contest #50

“Me and Jenny are going to the theatre on Saturday night Grandpa. We’re going to see a Beatles tribute band called The Penny Lanes.” My Granddaughter Vicky was so excited to tell me of her first trip to the local theatre without her parents during her weekly visit. “Did you ever see the real Beatles?” “As a matter of fact, yes I did. Once.” “Wow, that must have been great. When? Where? What were they like?” “Well now, I don’t know if I have ever told you before, but did you know I used to work in a th...

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“When Stars Shine through” by Refat J

Submitted to Contest #50

You swing and you swirl with eyes on the charm You swing and you swirl with eyes on the pole Swing out and play hard Duck and… Duck and… ‘Damn it!’ I cussed out in a whisper but Charlie’s irritated look told me it was still too loud. I apologized with my eyes and went back to my chanting. All five of us were huddled in the left wing of the stage, waiting to be let out. Literally. ‘They will fly out like swans!’ The choreographer had exclaimed and all five of us background dancers knew it was going to be a bad idea. Nobody wanted to cling o...

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“The Band” by Jennifer Garcia

Submitted to Contest #50

The room is filled with the banging of drums and the chatter of the excited orchestra group, but it’s nothing compared to the loud staccato beat of her heart that echoes in her head. The discomfort of it makes her skin crawl, and if you add in the churning of her stomach, it’s borderline painful. It’s pretty ironic and funny, although not really, how she refers to this as the song of her body, considering she’s a musician herself; the bass and melody of both composing a unique yet almost symbolic rhythm. The girl takes a slow and deep breath...

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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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“For Me” by Caitlyn Howard

Submitted to Contest #50

“My name is Matilda Collins, and this is For Me.” I take a breath, set my stance, and say it again. “My name is Matilda Collins, and this is For Me.” My voice is too high. Reedy, like a little kid’s. I picture myself in stilettos and a ballgown, strutting on stage as the audience cheers, and try to speak more deeply, the way the boys do. All the women are jealous of me and all the girls want to grow up to be me. In my future, I’m receiving a Grammy, and Mom’s sitting in the front row, laugh-crying as I’m handed the golden gramo...

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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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“A HURDLE RACE” by Maitreyee Joshi

Submitted to Contest #50

You are very focused on your job ahead and you start from the house. You feel very positive. You have to be always positive because you are training to be a Psychologist. The rental contract for your flat is going to end this month, and also the money that your father lent you is on the brink of getting over. You just wish to finish the exam and go back for a while and find some temporary job in your hometown to keep you afloat until the result of your masters in Psychology. You take a deep breath and climb down the stairs and hop into your ...

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“By The Safety of The Wings” by Chloe Chai

Submitted to Contest #50

Humans have coined the term “wings” for the sides of the stage. I've always questioned why. Why use a word that already has so many other definitions, to represent something completely different. But is it all that different? With what seemed like a million butterflies in my stomach, fluttering around aimlessly, I might just about understand why they were called “wings”. 'I've done this an uncountable amount of times.' This sentence was playing itself endlessly over and over again in my head. But something about this time just feels diff...

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“Born a star” by Zuko Sanders

Submitted to Contest #50

Bruce sat petrified as his mother Amaya typed in his name under the words talent show auditions. He was in second grade and about to do a Freddie Mercury impression in front of his whole entire grade! Would they think he was crazy? Would he loose all his friends? He was so nervous! He got up from the couch where he was sitting. His mom looked strait up into his big brown eyes and said “Is everything all right Bruce”? Bruce looked down at his mom’s caring eyes. “Uh, yeah mama everything is fine, can I just go outside to practice my act, after...

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“NONYE'S PARANOIA” by Candida Emmanuel

Submitted to Contest #50

NONYE’S PARANOIA Nonye turned and woke up with a start, shivering and soaked in sweat. She was panting and looked around wildly. There was nothing different. She was all alone in her room. Everywhere else was quiet except for the ticking of the clock and the barking of some dogs in the distant night. She fell back on the bed and wiped her brow, then heaved a sigh of relief. So it was all a dream. Sixteen-year old Nonye had been having nightmares since she was chosen to represent her school in the regional singing contest. Nonye was...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 162 stories

“a cub scout star is born” by Walt Landers

“Carla's Pre-performance Jitters” by Sree Pavithra Tadigotla

“A ritual backstage ” by A Z

“One More Breath” by Rayana Bhojanapalli

“If Only They Knew” by David Hobson

“When Stars Shine through” by Refat J

“The Band” by Jennifer Garcia

“Breathe” by Amy Veltman

“For Me” by Caitlyn Howard

“I'm Sorry, Water?” by Saul Peeters

“A HURDLE RACE” by Maitreyee Joshi

“By The Safety of The Wings” by Chloe Chai

“Born a star” by Zuko Sanders

“NONYE'S PARANOIA” by Candida Emmanuel

“Respect the Gong Sound Effects” by Raymond Bouchard

🌟 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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