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Looking for a steady supply of asian american short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

340+ Asian american Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. What happens when two different sides of the earth are brought together in a community, a family, or even a single person? Our collection of Asian American short stories can give you some ideas.

Asian american Short Stories – Page 6 of 23

Shameless

Winner of Contest #206 🏆

We stopped leaving the garage door open when we were cooking because I told my mom the police were saying criminals had been stealing equipment from garages. My dad was away on an engineering work contract in Dubai like half the Uncles I knew, so we kids were left to help our moms with everything from house maintenance to legal compliance. Back then there was no internet and overseas phone calls to Dubai were expensive, so there were a great many things left unreported to the dads. To compensate for this lack of communication, my mom and all...

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FEAR-NO FEAR

Submitted to Contest #206

FEAR-NO FEAR “The life that I have Is all that I have And the life that I have is yours The love that I have Of the life that I have Is yours and yours and yours…” The above formed part of a an encrypted call signal, known as a fist. It was used to identify the wireless operator, calling England from Occupied France during World War Two. Previously, phrases from well known poems had been utilised but the Germans were easily able to copy them so new phrases were created instead. This particular phrase was provided to a woma...

18 likes 2 comments 2
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The Rabbit in the Moon

Submitted to Contest #205

           “Mei?”            2 hours left.            “Mei!”            Would it happen again?            “Mei!” The black-haired girl jolted back to the table in front of her. “Can you please pass the rice? It’s gonna get cold.”       &n...

9 likes 1 comment 1
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Sasaeng Security

Submitted to Contest #201

Why the incessantly monologging voice inside my head is in English despite me being a nineteen year old South Korean who has never learned English isn’t something answers are readily available for tonight backstage at the Blackpink show, where so far not only have I seen Park Shin-hye flash a peace sign across the room to Park Seo-joon, I’ve also seen G-Dragon in full military getup smoke an entire cigarette in one drag from a filter glittering so brightly I had to put on my Kun - 0004 01 Gentile Monster’s to witness it all the way to the en...

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Changed My Life Forever

Submitted to Contest #201

 Blackpink in your area! We all sang in an uproar. I was with my dance team at my local dance studio. We are a group of mostly East Asians. I've been dancing and singing with them for a few years now. I've always been a fan of K-pop as I've grown up in South Korea with my family. I soon came to California because my parents wanted a better life for me and my younger siblings, Esme and Elaine. I have always had a passion for singing and dancing. My dream was to become an idol. Of course, that's just a silly dream. I can't help but wonder...

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Idol Blues

Submitted to Contest #201

Emmy forgets her purse, of all things. The performance that had happened that evening had been so long ago. Only the sound of reverb, of her own voice in her in-ear, remains. She cannot sleep. She closes her eyes and sees neon lights in hues of pink and white flash across her eyelids. She rolls over. “Minju,” Emmy shakes Minju awake, “Let’s go.” “Hmm,” mumbles Minju, and she pulls Emmy in close, wrapping Emmy in sticky arms and legs, “I’m tired.” “I left my purse.” “Your purse?” “In the green room.” “Emmy,” Minju says, and sighs, and t...

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First

Submitted to Contest #201

Sam Harris remembered when she had first talked to YuMi Jeong. They both were the awkward looking ones, Sam with her bluntly cut shoulder length hair, her hazel eyes hidden behind thick glasses, and her lanky limbs that felt too long  for a 15 year old, while YuMi’s long black hair was constantly tied into a signature ballet bun. Sam recalled how YuMi’s mother had been over the moon when she had gotten her growth spurt, explaining how now she could start ballet at any time, something that YuMi had always been hesitant about.  The...

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Sending a Message

Submitted to Contest #201

"What? I can't hear you!" Mika's voice sounded muted, underwater, lost in the seascape of screaming fans. She gestured a circular motion with her hand and pointed to the stage. After this. Already smiling, our grins both widened. I gave her a thumbs up. Ring ding dong. It’s ringing in my head.. Fitting. And even as SHINEE, the kpop artist currently onstage, sang their famous song, I still couldn’t get It out of my head. I jumped and swayed with the crowd, as if I could dance away the incessant haunting song that’s been stuck in my head...

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Slowly Dying Night

Submitted to Contest #201

“Mom, I just- just need a ride, ok? ….No. No, it’s not like that, Mom, please can you just take me h-”The phone beeps twice and goes silent. Holy fucking shit. This cannot“-be happening.” You hear your mom yell at your dad, muffled by the door to your room. It’s seven in the evening. “She cannot go on thinking this is normal-” Lying sideways on your messy bed, you clutch your phone like a lifeline, scrolling through K-pop Instagram until your mind goes blissfully numb. You’re trying not to cry. Something small hits your window, clinking...

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The Secrets We Covet

Submitted to Contest #201

Chapter 1: The Awakening I have always been captivated by the glimmering lights of the stage, the euphoria that permeates through the air when the music begins, and the sheer brilliance of those who grace it. They call me a "sasaeng," a label draped in judgment and disdain. But do they truly understand me? Do they see the passion that burns within me or the yearning for connection that drives my every move? My name is Minji, a name that has faded into obscurity as my obsession consumed me. It started innocently enough, a deep admiration fo...

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Arumi

Submitted to Contest #199

Hana could feel the sweat dripping down her back. She was suffocating in her small car, the humid night clinging to her skin like a damp blanket. She had always hated the summertime. For most, it meant going to the beach and seeing friends. For Hana, it meant torturous heat on top of 12-hour work days. A blaring ring suddenly shook Hana from her stupor. Begrudgingly, she glanced down at her phone. “Siri,” she commanded, “accept the call.”  Her father’s raspy voice rang throughout the car. “Arumi! Where have you been?” He half-shouted,...

8 likes 1 comment 1
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The Wheel

Submitted to Contest #197

I stared in the mirror, wearing my long, lacey, wedding gown at the last fitting. I asked the dressmaker for a few last-minute changes. I wanted a bigger bustle, something more dramatic and theatrical. I needed a veil that was at least 20 feet long, maybe something with feathers. I wanted more lace and ruffles.  At that time, the look of my dress was the only thing I had control over. My parents were spending a lot of money to throw me their dream wedding to impress their friends. A month before everyone’s big day ...

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Abortion Liberty

Submitted to Contest #197

I believe in Eternal God, the Eternal Father almighty who created heaven and earth. He sent He’s mediator who is His Eternal Son, our Lord, Brother, Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He grew up and became a Roman Catholic’s High Priest. In Catholic priests they are commonly called “Father” representing Jesus Christ or Father Christ. Some people know that Jesus or Father Christ for reverence or respect acknowledging that He is indeed the High Priest. He had His twelve apostles who are also priests like Him. They went out to different nations...

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Have You Found What You’re Looking For? Is It Everything You Wanted? (Alternatively: Happy Endings Are For Losers)

Submitted to Contest #196

Yang finds that life is not so different after time begins again, at least compared to his original timeline. He mostly wanders around counting his steps and trying to remember. He’s always trying to remember. One thing they don’t tell you about time travel is how hard it is on the human body and psyche. Yang remembers reading about a man who held the universal record for time jumps. By the time he retired, his body was riddled with all sorts of cancers, some common and treatable, others yet undiscovered by science, the cancerous cells havin...

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Life Beyond Life

Submitted to Contest #196

Life Beyond Life By Sunil Varshneya This is the story of my friend Peter. We met in the college. Peter was not attractive. He had a face only a mother could love. During lunch, he would sit alone in the corner of the cafeteria as it was said that if you want to lose your appetite, you sit with him. I could see him beyond his physical body and liked him. He was a well-aware human being and knew more about this world and human beings than anybody else in the college. I had a special connection with him and tried to be with him as much as possi...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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