Write a story about someone struggling to swallow some harsh (but fair) constructive criticism.

Posted in Middle School on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 26 stories

“The Lonely Color” by Hannah P. Simmons

🏆 Winner of Contest #141

“... I want to paint you.”She was surprised, sure enough. But she was also curious. Her face concealed nothing, and that was what fascinated me. As she walked through the gallery, each piece evoked something unique from inside her, and she did not bother to mask it. Anyone could read the critique in her face, if they took the time. It is an artist's dream – to clearly see the emotions we inspire with our work.Many had passed by my work since the showing began, pausing for a moment, offering a quick word of praise. I didn't approach them. But...

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“Return to Sender” by Zack Powell

Submitted to Contest #141

Content warning: Some swearing Dear Ms. Huxley, Listen carefully. Well, I guess you can't very well listen to a missive, can you? Read carefully. This is a ransom note. I have your son. Don't believe me? Then how would I know he's five years old, skinny as a Twizzler, his name is Timmy, and he never shuts the hell up? Oh, sorry. Five and a half. As for how I got ahold of him, let me say this: Maybe you should consider choosing a better preschool. I mean, I didn't have to show my ID or anything. Just pointed to the kid...

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“The Name Of The Fame Game 🎤🎶😡” by PJ Aitken

Submitted to Contest #141

Cassie stood frozen to the spot trying to slow her breathing as she felt the embers of her fury start to drift upwards from her toes towards the top of her head. From an early age she’d had a temper but had done all of the necessary and recommended therapy and training to master and contain it for the most part. However, on this occasion she could feel the emotional lava creep further up her legs.It’s not like she’d not done an audition before but she had not expected such harsh criticism for this kind of job. Her brain was trying to fully c...

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“Black and White” by Mister X

Submitted to Contest #141

“Jamaal? Jamaal Black?” the Hispanic receptionist called out, looking over her glasses at a clipboard at the sea of people waiting for court-ordered therapy sessions. A tall white man in his 40’s stood up, dressed in a white polo shirt and light brown khaki pants. His canvas deck shoes squeaked as he cautiously approached her, so as not to alarm her. “Yo miss,” he said. “I’m Jamaal.” “You making fun of me?” The receptionist looked at the white middle-aged man, straight out of central casting. He couldn’t have been any whiter. ...

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“Fool” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #141

Sir Danielle Longbow looked Minister Qian Jo in the eyes as her blade cut the life from him. The old man whispered something as her blade sank into his carotid artery. Gulping with guilt she pulled the blade away. He clung to the wound. Red poured over his fingers as he tried to hold the cut closed. “What did he say?” Danielle asked, looking at Barra Mohani, the only one among them that knew Quingo and...

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“How dare he!” by Ed Hinojos

Submitted to Contest #141

"Mom, how could he?!?" Missy blubbered into the phone. Missy called home every week to talk to her family. Usually, she was in a bubbly mood and full of joy, but today a storm hit her life. On her final day at work, everything had started like any other day at work. She woke up at 5:30 in the morning. She grabbed a nice warm shower in the sunlight that poured through her bathroom window. After her shower, she poured herself a cup of coffee and ate some toast and fruit. She knew this was her final day of work where she h...

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“The Number One Fear” by Craig Westmore

Submitted to Contest #141

Does the thought of speaking in front of a large group make you nauseous? Do you stay awake the night before a speech? Do your hands shake? Does your mind go blank? To achieve success in the world today, people need to present their ideas with force and impact. Don’t let life pass you by! Speaking worries are a treatable problem. In this class you will learn to overcome your discomfort. With the help of a licensed expert and a proven method, you can begin living free of fear! Change is just around the corner, but you must sign up! Saturdays...

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“Yours truly, Adelaide St. Claire” by Gabriela D. Martin

Submitted to Contest #141

***The story contains occasional coarse language.***"Dear Miss Adelaide, "The confidence and perseverance you've displayed over the years is quite remarkable, yet your short stories keep failing to impress us. In all honesty, our editors would rather eat the paper your story is typed on, including the envelope and the stamp, than read and critique it.We do appreciate your weekly support, but we humbly suggest you save the $5 submission fee and buy yourself a nice pair of shoes, or a dress instead. Your complexion surely could benefit fr...

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“Petr and the Monsters” by Andrew Sweet

Submitted to Contest #141

This story is about the war in Ukraine, though sanitized somewhat. Many violent things are implied here because the nature of what is happening right now is violent and graphic and disturbing. To tell the story without this would be to tell a lie. I hope that you can forgive me for any mistakes and understand that this story comes from a place of compassion and an effort not to look away, whatever the cost. “It’s in your head, Petr. You always let your mind run away with you. They’re not monsters, not really. They’re just men.” Maybe Ver...

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“The Sonata” by Andrea Mariana

Submitted to Contest #141

Gisella di Vallepietra sat, as gracefully as she could, on the embroidered padding of the stool before her instrument. She brushed off her silky skirts, and threw (yet another) anxious glance around the two dozen guests now ambling to their seats in her father’s gilded sitting room. Signore di Vallepietra rarely threw such ornate dinner parties – he could barely afford their ornate Venetian villa as it was – but Gisella had spent months begging her father to host a fine affair which might showcase her hard-won musical gifts. He had finally a...

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“The King's Council” by William He

Submitted to Contest #141

The autumn chill and the scratching of quills stirred around Emery as he worked in the library of the Abbey. In his hand was a quill of his own, fashioned of goose feather and darkened by iron-gall ink. Before him lay a parchment, blank save for a faint sketch of the Sun that he now traced. His was not a naturally steady hand, but he was patient, for he had illustrated many manuscripts before. A faint sienna had seeped into the afternoon sky by the time Emery took leave of his work. He walked the cloister grounds, soaking in the Sun’s lig...

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“"It's Only Words"” by Jeannie Labelle -Potvin

Submitted to Contest #141

Ginny's face blanched, her stomach knotted into a tight fist. The social worker standing in front of her said very few words. The look on her face however, spoke volumes. Ginny, through an ingrained default process, interpreted that unspoken language. Unfortunately, her abilities to accurately assess were somewhat out of kilter. She immediately turned it against herself and came up beaten by both the short end and the long one. She cringed with shame as she mentally tallied the litany of mistakes she had made; as a mother, as a...

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“Like Clockwork” by Louisa Cleary

Submitted to Contest #141

The pitiful chimes of a fifty-two year old grandfather clock rang out in a small studio flat. Two large windows allowed spotlights to stream in from the sleepy town outside, bouncing off of various mirrors and glasses scattered around the dusty space. If you were to follow these paths of light, you would find yourself privy to the few signs of a sole occupant. A pair of trousers were strewn over the back of a chair, which has been placed next to the sink for some unknown purpose. Perhaps it had something to do with the wet pieces of paper...

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“AirBnBats” by Jared Lenover

Submitted to Contest #141

Review for Thornwood Estate Reviewer: Jane W. (verified guest) Posted: September 5 at 10:14 a.m. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars My husband and I just returned from our lovely weekend stay at this historic manor on the coast. We wanted somewhere special to stay over the last long weekend of the summer, and Thornwood Estate did not disappoint. Situated on a large property a few miles from a wonderfully quaint little village, the house was spacious and conveniently furnished. We enjoyed long walks through the woods and along the seaside cliffs, the...

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“To Manage Inner Fire…With Fire” by K.J Stars

Submitted to Contest #141

It’s quite interesting how fast someone can get in trouble in less than 20 or so minutes. In the steps going by getting called out on, speaking back to the arrogant as frick teacher for correcting there grammar (I mean, aren’t teachers suppose to know some English to be an English Teacher?) then…detention.Sorry. I said that like that was the last step.Not only did I find myself in my lovely spot in detention….I trashed it. I mean, it’s not entirely my fault. Some girl and guy teased me in my frustrated state, an...

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Ended on 23:59 - Apr 15, 2022 EST

Won by Hannah P. Simmons 🏆

Title: The Lonely Color

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Write a story about someone struggling to swallow some harsh (but fair) constructive criticism.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 26 stories

“The Lonely Color” by Hannah P. Simmons

“Return to Sender” by Zack Powell

“The Name Of The Fame Game 🎤🎶😡” by PJ Aitken

“Black and White” by Mister X

“Fool” by Graham Kinross

“How dare he!” by Ed Hinojos

“The Number One Fear” by Craig Westmore

“Yours truly, Adelaide St. Claire” by Gabriela D. Martin

“Petr and the Monsters” by Andrew Sweet

“The Sonata” by Andrea Mariana

“The King's Council” by William He

“"It's Only Words"” by Jeannie Labelle -Potvin

“Like Clockwork” by Louisa Cleary

“AirBnBats” by Jared Lenover

“To Manage Inner Fire…With Fire” by K.J Stars

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who critiques things for a living, or acts like they do.

Start your story with someone receiving a one-star review.

Set your story in the lowest rated restaurant in town.

Write about a character named after one of our contest’s judges.

Contest #141

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

177

Contest entries

111

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: