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

“... 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 a...

155 comments 155 WINNER 🏆

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

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 ...

25 comments 25

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“Return to Sender” by Zack Powell

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...

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“Black and White” by Mister X

“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.” ...

3 comments 3

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“How dare he!” by Ed Hinojos

"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 da...

13 comments 13

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“Fool” by Graham Kinross

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 tha...

8 comments 8

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“The Number One Fear” by Craig Westmore

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 ...

6 comments 6

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

***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 yourse...

19 comments 19

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“Petr and the Monsters” by Andrew Sweet

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. ...

4 comments 4

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“The Sonata” by Andrea Mariana

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 ...

2 comments 2

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“The King's Council” by William He

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. ...

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

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 ...

5 comments 5

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“Like Clockwork” by Louisa Cleary

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...

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“AirBnBats” by Jared Lenover

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 d...

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

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 <...

6 comments 6

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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

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

“Return to Sender” by Zack Powell

“Black and White” by Mister X

“How dare he!” by Ed Hinojos

“Fool” by Graham Kinross

“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

182

Contest entries

113

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Tired of MS Word?

Explore more writing prompt ideas: