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rthstewart ([personal profile] rthstewart) wrote2021-01-30 02:31 pm

Three Sentence Ficathon 2021

We have now opened a new post, for new prompts! Please leave all new prompts there. You may continue to fill existing prompts here. If you didn't get a prompt filled here, feel free to post it on the new post!





Welcome to the Three Sentence Ficathon!
2 Feb. 2021 See important edit below regarding where to find unfilled prompts.


What is the 3 Sentence Ficathon?
This is an open exchange where you answer a prompt with a fic consisting of only three sentences. It's open to all fandoms and you can post and fill as many prompts as you like, as many times as you want.

What do I do first?
You can start 3SF by posting prompts! When posting a prompt please format it this way:

fandom, character(s), prompt word/sentence.

Only one prompt per comment please. So, for example,

Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi, I don't like sand."

Open ended and anthropomorphic fills are popular too, such as:

Any, Any, "I don't like sand."

or

Earth geography, sand, "I don't like humans very much, either."

What happens after that?
You answer other posters' prompts in three sentences (or more if you can't stop yourself) and fill as many prompts as you want, as many times as you wish. If you see that a prompt you loved has already been filled, go ahead and fill it again! Multiple fills of the same prompt are allowed and even encouraged! (We get really fun stories going this way).

Can I still post if I need more than 3 sentences? Or should I just abuse grammar in ways the English language never contemplated?
Yes. Yes.

But I'm not a member of Dreamwidth
No problem. You can comment anonymously or through open ID

I'm really overwhelmed by all the prompts and how much there is and how fast it goes. I can't read 1,000 prompts and fills. It's too much. 
I hear this a lot and it keeps a lot of people from participating.  The 3SF is big and it moves fast, especially at first. 
I get overwhelmed, too, and I'm hosting the thing. With 2020 and 2021 sucking so badly you don't want something that's supposed to be fun cause you anxiety.  I have a couple of suggestions for managing the 3SF volume. 
  • First, really, you don't have to read every prompt and fill on every page.  You can start at the last page of this and just go forward, or back a page or two.  It's fine.
  • You can come and go as time and energy allow, you don't have to participate the whole time, and it drops off quite a bit by mid-February.
  • Even after the 3SF and new prompting end, people fill prompts all year long.
  • You can fill an already filled prompt and you can can leave a prompt that's already been prompted before.  People do it all the time. 
Always make sure you're looking at top-level comments only, not threaded. That helps a lot. Your screen should look like this.




But shouldn't I read everything to see if someone already prompted the same prompt I want to leave if someone already filled it? 

No.  Prompt as many times as you want, as much as you want.  It doesn't matter if someone prompted the exact same prompt.  Go ahead and prompt again!

I left a prompt and no one filled it.  Can I prompt it again?
Absolutely!

Can I spread the word?
Yes, please. I generally fail at creating banners and embed codes but if you create one and make it really idiot-proof, I might be able to post and share it.  Feel free to cross-post this entry. If you create your own banners or icons, let me know and I'll share!
Please share the 3SF with your followers, friends, and any channels and comms you are active on.  I'll post on fandom calendar, Tumblr, and Twitter, but I don't have many connections in other spaces such as Discord.


How long will it go?

The 3SF closes to new prompts on February 28, 2021. The entry stays open permanently and people post fills all year long.

Are there any rules about cross-posting?
Nope, you can post wherever you want, whenever you want. A lot of folks collected their responses together and posted them on AO3 under the 3 sentence fiction tag. 3SFs are a terrific prompt for remixes and could be helpful for Yuletide bears, too.

What about spoilers, content and archive warnings, triggers, pairings, ratings, tags, and squick?
I thought a lot about this. It boils down to reader beware.  In my experience, this typically gets too big, moves too fast, and the stories are too short for content warnings and ratings to even apply. It is too big for me to moderate in this way. You should assume spoilers are fair game and that the initial poster and the responder have opted to use no content warnings or tags. This means AO3 content warnings for dubcon, violence, canon character death, underage, etc. COULD be present. I've found personally that I can skim and scroll by stuff that, from the prompt, I can tell isn't my favorite flavor of delicious cake. Use your best judgment and be prepared to skip over things that aren't your thing. In this format, the obligation is on you, the reader, to protect yourself from triggering content.
Some posters do include warnings and spoiler tags in subject lines or include spoiler space, but they don't have to do so.

Why is 3SF split among several posts?  That seems confusing.
It is confusing and we always lose momentum once we have to move to a second post. The reason is because at 5,000 comments to a single post, DW installs a human test CAPTCHA, which is a pain for users.  So, once this entry gets to the upper 4,000 comments, I open a new post.  If you've been waiting until things slow down to participate, when we open a second post is often a good place to join.

If I have questions, what do I do?

I'm rthstewart everywhere, here, Twitter, Tumblr, gmail and AO3.

A special thank you to [personal profile] conuly  .
Last year, Conuly started logging all unfilled prompts.
This year's (2021) unfilled prompts are here.
Last year's (2020) unfilled prompts are here.
Conuly asks that you not reply, as they want to be able to edit and add more prompts to the list.
Conuly does this just because they are an awesome person but should you want to write them fic in thanks, you can find a birthday wish list here.

Here is the 3SF 2021 Friending Meme to show of your new DW account.

Here, have some icons and banners and let me know if you've created your own!

 






text box you can try to cut and paste

















silveradept: A kodama with a trombone. The trombone is playing music, even though it is held in a rest position (Default)

Seems Sus, Draco and a qualified mental health professional

[personal profile] silveradept 2021-02-09 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, we talk, about whatever you feel comfortable discussing."

"And this works?"

"For many people, it's magical."
silveradept: A kodama with a trombone. The trombone is playing music, even though it is held in a rest position (Default)

[personal profile] silveradept 2021-02-09 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
That's fun. Network security Draco.
edenfalling: stylized black-and-white line art of a sunset over water (Default)

Keeping Faith

[personal profile] edenfalling 2021-02-09 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
A kimoyo bead would be far too obvious -- vibranium is too rare and precious to go unnoticed -- but Nakia is used to the feel of her beads around her wrist, resting against her sternum, hanging from her ears.

Glasswork, pottery, and smithing are not her gifts, but all children learn some of the traditional arts and the awkward nature of her handiwork adds verisimilitude to many of her covers.

Eyes downcast, Nakia kneels before the latest would-be warlord whose camp she's infiltrated, and rubs the uneven glaze of her lumpy bracelet beneath her fingers -- clay from the creek behind her mother's house, glaze from her cousin's pottery, cotton string from her grandmother's farm -- a piece of home to remind her of all the riches of Wakanda, and urge her onward to help the outer world take one more shaky, faltering step toward peace and freedom.
silveradept: A kodama with a trombone. The trombone is playing music, even though it is held in a rest position (Default)

Food and Companionship

[personal profile] silveradept 2021-02-09 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"So, it's not that much different from having the house elves cook," Draco said, snagging another chip, "except we don't pay the house elves."

"We don't exactly pay the line cooks that well, either," Devin said, grabbing one of Draco's in revenge, "and should I be worried that someone's going to come and wipe my head clean of all the stuff you've been telling me?"

"Not if they keep wanting to know where all the best takeaway places are whenever they're assigned to keep an eye on others," Draco said smugly.
Edited 2021-02-09 19:33 (UTC)
undeadrobins: (Default)

[personal profile] undeadrobins 2021-02-09 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
They've won - of course they won, they always win - and Mike can't stop smiling, can't stop the feeling of lightness in his heart, can't stop touching Harvey.

Harvey touches him back; a soft brush against his arm, a hand clamped on his shoulder, fingers gripping around the back of his neck, and they're kissing before either makes the conscious decision.

Harvey concedes to Mike in a way he never concedes to anyone, allowing Mike to press him against the desk and push into his space, and Mike knows that this feeling - this moment right now - is even be better than winning.

[personal profile] runespoor 2021-02-09 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
oof. I did ask to be knifed with that one, and it was SO WORTH IT.

i want to hug him.
ceruleantactician: Yellow roses against a blue sky. (Default)

[personal profile] ceruleantactician 2021-02-09 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh this is so sad and so beautiful. Poor Luke!
undeadrobins: (Untamed: Jiang Yanli)

[personal profile] undeadrobins 2021-02-09 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it was sort of inevitable! I'm glad you liked it!
helsinkibaby: (fbi_jubalkristen_official)

Fill FBI Jubal/Kristen

[personal profile] helsinkibaby 2021-02-09 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
It’s the latest cold and snowy day in a long winter of them, but the FBI doesn’t care about the weather, criminals sure don’t, so Jubal finds himself yet again trudging through the snow on the way to 26 Fed.

When he hears a familiar voice, for a second he thinks he’s hallucinating from the cold - Kristen isn’t here, she’s in Dallas, that’s where her life is now and it doesn’t matter how much he misses her, how much he wishes things were different, there’s nothing he can do about it.

But then he looks up and he’s looking into Kristen’s face, her broad, beaming smile, and then she’s running, leaping into his arms, allowing him to swing her off her feet and around and around in circles; she’s laughing and suddenly he’s never warm for the first time in weeks.
silveradept: A kodama with a trombone. The trombone is playing music, even though it is held in a rest position (Default)

Dragonriders of Pern, Piemur and Menolly

[personal profile] silveradept 2021-02-09 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Now I know why he wants to have the party while he's still alive to enjoy it," Piemur said, sitting down next to Menolly.

"And why is that?" she asked, still putting some touches on the song they would sing to mark the passing of their Master, knowing that day would arrive soon.

"It's not nearly as fun to tell stories about someone when they're not around to be embarrassed by them or contest their truth," Piemur said, demonstrating to at least one other Harper that wisdom had finally arrived to the one who seemed immune to it.
edenfalling: stylized black-and-white line art of a sunset over water (Default)

Pinky Promise

[personal profile] edenfalling 2021-02-09 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
This wound up as an installment in my Summer Camp & Politics AU. I hope you don't mind!

-----

"One day I'm gonna be prime minister and then I'll make sure nothing like what happened to your family will ever happen again -- that's a promise!" Naruto says, looking back over his shoulder from the front of the canoe.

("Turn around, we're almost to the rapids," Sakura says.)

"The prime minister can't always control the army," Sasuke snaps, letting go of his paddle with one hand to flick at Naruto's face, "or get laws through the Assembly, so even if you do somehow get elected, what good do you think you can do on your own?"

("The rapids! We're coming to the rapids! If you don't turn around and start paddling again--")

"I won't be alone -- I'll have you and Sakura-chan with me," Naruto says, and raises his paddle like he's thinking of swinging it at Sasuke; "Tell him we'll fix Fire Country together, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura tips the canoe over.

Then she hauls herself back in and upright while her friends are still sputtering. From her newly commanding height, and with her own paddle jammed firmly between two rocks to keep from drifting uncontrolled into the rapids, she pronounces, "I'll fix Fire Country... but you two can come along, I guess. I'll need somebody to play figurehead while I get everything done."

Sasuke and Naruto exchange a long, speaking look, which would be very solemn and serious if they weren't sopping wet with hair plastered to their faces.

"Deal?" Naruto says, not turning to look at Sakura. She narrows her eyes suspiciously.

"Deal," Sasuke agrees, and the boys lunge forward in tandem to tip Sakura back into the river with them.

It's a good day.
silveradept: A kodama with a trombone. The trombone is playing music, even though it is held in a rest position (Default)

It's Not The Strong Case Lilo Thinks It Is

[personal profile] silveradept 2021-02-09 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"But I am responsible! I raised Stitch!" Lilo complained.

"And that is why we are not getting any other pets in this house," Nani replied firmly.
Edited 2021-02-09 19:52 (UTC)
edenfalling: stylized black-and-white line art of a sunset over water (Default)

Re: Keeping Faith

[personal profile] edenfalling 2021-02-09 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :)
siver: (Default)

Ghost Trick, Yomiel, spoilers

[personal profile] siver 2021-02-09 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Sometimes he thinks none of this can possibly be true--after all he's done how could this wonderful life be for him? Then he awakens in a dark place and she's no longer at his side, and the cold seeps in and he knows he was right; there's only death and vengeance and endless unchanging days.
Then he awakens again in warmth, and his heart sounds loud in his ears, his breaths are quick and present, and she lays by his side asleep and content, and for now he thinks maybe some good things can be true after all.

(Anonymous) 2021-02-09 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Separated from his guards by unexpected rock-fall after spending a long and grueling day trying to convince a Giant that no, this was not in fact Ettin territory he was residing in- and if he could please leave so the pair of Bearded vultures that lived there could stop worrying their meal of bones would be stolen from them, Peter stumbled to a halt at the entrance of a small cave.

He ducked his head to step inside - just a short rest, he thought to himself, then I’ll continue – and immediately pulled to a full stop. He stared at the sight before him:

The cave was filled with low-hanging mist with no apparent source, which swirled around the large rock that made up the center of the room. And on that rock sat one of the oddest looking creatures Peter had ever seen; and that was saying something.

At first glance they looked like a Rabbit, except something in their face wasn’t quite right- and were Rabbits proportioned that way? The Not-Rabbit had their paws held carefully in front of their body, and their eyes were closed. Their look was completed by long whiskers that looked especially like a very long mustache. They appeared to be in some sort of trance.

Peter cleared his throat and the not-rabbit opened their eyes – they stared at each other.

After a moment, Peter pulled himself together and put on his most polite and Royal smile: “Greetings Good Beast, I am Peter, High King of Narnia, well-met.”

The Not-Rabbit kept staring, their eyes at once fathomless and empty: “Is it.”

Peter blinked.

“Is what?” He asked when nothing else was forthcoming.

The Not-Rabbit tugged their long whiskers and paused dramatically. Finally, they said: “Is it well-met, Peter, Highest of Kings, or was it fate that brought us together.”

Peter stared, feeling like this was an interview and he was failing, and did the Not-Rabbit suddenly seem wise and all-knowing, or was that just his imagination?

“Both?” He said, more question than answer.

The Not-Rabbit blinked once, and seemed to come to a decision. They pulled themselves up to their full height (which wasn’t very high) and solemnly said: “Very well, Highest of Kings, I will take you on as my pupil.”

Re: Pinky Promise

[personal profile] runespoor 2021-02-09 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I never mind seeing more of this AU! :D :DDDD my smile kept getting bigger as I read (the rapids), and I was grinning by the end. Such a vivid scene.

The closing sentence feels as fond as I'm fond of them.

(Anonymous) 2021-02-09 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Amazing!!

Re: Star Wars, Luke & Vader

(Anonymous) 2021-02-09 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Nooooooo!!!

Re: [H2O: Just Add Water, s3 AU] What If the Water Tentacle Was Bad, Actually?

(Anonymous) 2021-02-09 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, creepy!

Re: Fill: A Little Princess, Lavinia + Sara

[personal profile] runespoor 2021-02-09 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I had a lot a fun writing it - I'm very fond of Lavinia, and I've always been interested in the way she's a foil to Sara, and tbh I too would love to read more of this AU! ("no writing, only reading" alas)
silveradept: A kodama with a trombone. The trombone is playing music, even though it is held in a rest position (Default)

Superstition

[personal profile] silveradept 2021-02-09 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"How many of these superstitions are really wisdom about how to deal with aliens, Kay?" Jay said as all of the black cats settled on him and began to purr loudly.

"Well, that depends on the aliens, Slick," Kay said, tapping the walls to see if there was an alternate exit to the adoption chamber, "but the ones about how making sure you show proper respect to anything you're not fully sure is human are usually pretty accurate."

"I just wanted to pet a black kitten, Kay, not stumble onto a plot to dethrone the king and queen of an exoplanet," Jay complained.