Avalanche: Sherlock Holmes (ACD): Fanfic: A Landlady's Lament
May. 15th, 2026 06:55 pmTitle: A Landlady's Lament
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 357 words
Summary: Mrs Hudson is not happy!
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 357 words
Summary: Mrs Hudson is not happy!
( Dear Mr Holmes, )
Friday Word: Inanition
May. 15th, 2026 09:18 amInanition - noun.
Today's word comes from the handwritten scrawl on a death certificate for my great-grandaunt, who, sadly, passed away five days after being born. I couldn't make out the doctor's scrawl and asked the Internet for help.
Inanition is a state of profound physical exhaustion and weakness caused by a severe lack of nourishment, food, water, or the body's inability to absorb them. Today we would call it "failure to thrive", but it can also apply to elderly people as well as babies.
Today's word comes from the handwritten scrawl on a death certificate for my great-grandaunt, who, sadly, passed away five days after being born. I couldn't make out the doctor's scrawl and asked the Internet for help.
Inanition is a state of profound physical exhaustion and weakness caused by a severe lack of nourishment, food, water, or the body's inability to absorb them. Today we would call it "failure to thrive", but it can also apply to elderly people as well as babies.
Torchwood: Fanfic: You’ve Got Mail
May. 15th, 2026 01:18 pmTitle: You’ve Got Mail
Fandom: Torchwood
Author:
Characters: Ianto, Jack, OCs.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1784
Summary: The Tourist Office receives an unprecedented amount of mail, and it’s all addressed to Ianto.
Spoilers: Nada.
Warnings: None needed.
Written For: Challenge 515: Avalanche.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood or any of the characters.
Criminal Minds: Fanfiction: The Weight of a Whisper
May. 14th, 2026 08:00 pmTitle: The Weight of a Whisper
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairings: Jennifer "JJ" Jareau/Emily Prentiss
Characters: Jennifer "JJ" Jareau
Rating: G
Length: 45 words
Summary: 3 sentence fic. After almost losing Emily, JJ resolves to tell Emily her feelings.
( Read more... )
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairings: Jennifer "JJ" Jareau/Emily Prentiss
Characters: Jennifer "JJ" Jareau
Rating: G
Length: 45 words
Summary: 3 sentence fic. After almost losing Emily, JJ resolves to tell Emily her feelings.
( Read more... )
✨ Daily Count Reminder! ✨
May. 14th, 2026 05:06 pmHey writing friends! 📝💫
How’s everyone’s writing going? Are the words flowing like magic, or are you slowly coaxing them onto the page one sentence at a time? Either way, you’re making progress! 🌟
If you’ve had trouble remembering your accountability days, don’t worry—this is your friendly reminder! And if you need a little encouragement, brainstorming help, or a virtual cheer squad, we’re right here for you! 🤗💬
Let’s send some extra motivation and good writing vibes to the next 7 writers as they take on their accountability days! 🎉
📅 Upcoming Daily Accountability Line-Up
💫 May 15 –
simplyn2deep
🌸 May 16 –
flipflop_diva
🌿 May 17 –
agdhani
🌼 May 18 –
backrose_17
🔥 May 19 –
skargasm
💫 May 20 –
simplyn2deep
🌸 May 21 –
flipflop_diva
Remember: whether you write a few sentences or a few thousand words, every bit counts! ✍️💖
💬 Drop in to cheer someone on, share your progress, or tell us what you’re working on today.
Open that document, let the creativity flow, and let’s make this a fantastic week of writing! 🚀📚
Keep writing happily! ✨🖊️
How’s everyone’s writing going? Are the words flowing like magic, or are you slowly coaxing them onto the page one sentence at a time? Either way, you’re making progress! 🌟
If you’ve had trouble remembering your accountability days, don’t worry—this is your friendly reminder! And if you need a little encouragement, brainstorming help, or a virtual cheer squad, we’re right here for you! 🤗💬
Let’s send some extra motivation and good writing vibes to the next 7 writers as they take on their accountability days! 🎉
📅 Upcoming Daily Accountability Line-Up
💫 May 15 –
🌸 May 16 –
🌿 May 17 –
🌼 May 18 –
🔥 May 19 –
💫 May 20 –
🌸 May 21 –
Remember: whether you write a few sentences or a few thousand words, every bit counts! ✍️💖
💬 Drop in to cheer someone on, share your progress, or tell us what you’re working on today.
Open that document, let the creativity flow, and let’s make this a fantastic week of writing! 🚀📚
Keep writing happily! ✨🖊️
Catch Simplyn2deep!
May. 14th, 2026 03:05 pmThis is very early for me, but today I have two fics to beta and an Arc to read so I won't be writing any words. I did make a couple of banners for stories that I read on AO3 - apparently, my muse is on vacation so I'm playing with pictures of pretty hockey boys until she returns!
Tossing the torch to
simplyn2deep and wishing you well for Friday!!
P.S. Has anyone watched Off Campus yet? I want to know if I should try to grab a couple of episodes as my reward for betaing?!
Tossing the torch to
P.S. Has anyone watched Off Campus yet? I want to know if I should try to grab a couple of episodes as my reward for betaing?!
Word of the Day 05/14/26 Bibliophile
May. 14th, 2026 10:35 amBibliophile (noun)
bibliophile Also bibliophilist [bib-lee-uh-fahyl, -fil]
noun
1. a person who loves or collects books, especially as examples of fine or unusual printing, binding, or the like.
Other Word Forms
bibliophilic, adjective
bibliophilism, noun
bibliophilistic, adjective
bibliophily, noun
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
Origin: First recorded in 1815–25; biblio- + -phile
Example Sentences
Bibliophile Diverse Spines: Provide great ideas for her next read with this illustrated list of talented but underrepresented authors across genres, from contemporary fiction to horror to cookbooks to essays.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 12, 2021
Bibliophile William O’Brien amassed the books in the 1880s and 1890s.
From The Guardian • Jun. 3, 2017
Among other achievements, Bibliophile Ransom has made the university one of the country's richest repositories of rare manuscripts.
From Time Magazine Archive
Churchill bet �100 against Minneapolis Bibliophile James C. Young's assertion that "within ten years from this date the British Empire will . . . lose one quarter of India or of Canada or of Australia."
From Time Magazine Archive
My attempt to induce the American owner of the largest number of new letters to allow me to copy them from the Boston Bibliophile edition has proved fruitless.
From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820 by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)
Now YOU come up with a sentence (or fic? or graphic?) that best illustrates the word.
bibliophile Also bibliophilist [bib-lee-uh-fahyl, -fil]
noun
1. a person who loves or collects books, especially as examples of fine or unusual printing, binding, or the like.
Other Word Forms
bibliophilic, adjective
bibliophilism, noun
bibliophilistic, adjective
bibliophily, noun
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
Origin: First recorded in 1815–25; biblio- + -phile
Example Sentences
Bibliophile Diverse Spines: Provide great ideas for her next read with this illustrated list of talented but underrepresented authors across genres, from contemporary fiction to horror to cookbooks to essays.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 12, 2021
Bibliophile William O’Brien amassed the books in the 1880s and 1890s.
From The Guardian • Jun. 3, 2017
Among other achievements, Bibliophile Ransom has made the university one of the country's richest repositories of rare manuscripts.
From Time Magazine Archive
Churchill bet �100 against Minneapolis Bibliophile James C. Young's assertion that "within ten years from this date the British Empire will . . . lose one quarter of India or of Canada or of Australia."
From Time Magazine Archive
My attempt to induce the American owner of the largest number of new letters to allow me to copy them from the Boston Bibliophile edition has proved fruitless.
From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820 by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)
Now YOU come up with a sentence (or fic? or graphic?) that best illustrates the word.
✨ Three-Sentence Fic Challenge .:. Day 4 ✨
May. 13th, 2026 11:23 pm
Hello and welcome to our mid-May through June long challenge: Three-Sentence Fics!
Running from May 11th to June 28th, this challenge is all about embracing brevity while still telling a complete story. The goal is simple: respond to each daily prompt with a fic made up of only three sentences. Simple…in theory. The fun (and challenge) comes in how much you can fit into those three lines.
Your sentences can be as long or as short as you like, and all fandoms are welcome—so feel free to wander wherever your imagination takes you.
We’re also keeping alive a concept Three-beat fic structure shared by Dreamy a few years back: your story can follow three “beats” instead of strict sentences—this happened, that happened, and then look what that caused. So whether you write exactly three sentences or shape your fic around three distinct moments, you’re good to go.
Each day, I’ll post a new prompt. This year’s inspiration comes from the growing stack of novels I’ve collected—thanks in no small part to the Book Club I somehow (and happily) fell into with my sorority. Take the prompts in any direction you like; interpretation is half the fun.
You can reply directly to the daily prompt, post a new entry here, or link out to your journal—whatever works best for you and your writing flow.
If anything’s unclear, don’t hesitate to ask. Otherwise, settle in, get creative, and enjoy the ride.
Most importantly—have fun with it.
Prompt 4: “A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well — or ill?” — John Steinbeck, East of Eden
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
Passing the Torch to skargasm
May. 13th, 2026 10:53 pmI broke out a few wip and got some writing done on a few of them that I have neglected for too long, I hope to have new chapters for them actually fully written but this was a great start. I finished a bingo story and got some work done on my novel. I got 4k done today which is great. A strong wind storm is set to move in tomorrow so I am off to bed as once the winds start howling my cat will be seeking comfort.
Off to you
skargasm I hope you have a great day.
Off to you
Wednesday Word: Stan
May. 13th, 2026 03:31 pmToday's word is brought to you by
amaebi
~~
Stan (n.)
slang, often disparaging
: an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan
Examples from the Web:
… an abbreviated season that even the most die-hard Westeros stans seemed lukewarm about.— Alan Sepinwall
In a 2007 interview, J. K. Rowling opened up about Albus Dumbledore's sexuality and confirmed that the Hogwarts patriarch is, in fact, gay. The revelation has been a subject of fodder among Potter stans for years.— Christopher Rosa
Etymology:
from Stan, name of such a fan in the song "Stan" (2000) by the American rap artist Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers III)
~~
Stan (n.)
slang, often disparaging
: an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan
Examples from the Web:
… an abbreviated season that even the most die-hard Westeros stans seemed lukewarm about.— Alan Sepinwall
In a 2007 interview, J. K. Rowling opened up about Albus Dumbledore's sexuality and confirmed that the Hogwarts patriarch is, in fact, gay. The revelation has been a subject of fodder among Potter stans for years.— Christopher Rosa
Etymology:
from Stan, name of such a fan in the song "Stan" (2000) by the American rap artist Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers III)
Word of the Day 05/13/26 Soliloquy
May. 13th, 2026 07:38 amSoliloquy (noun)
soliloquy [suh-lil-uh-kwee]
noun, plural soliloquies
1. an utterance or discourse spoken to oneself, without regard for whether any other hearers are present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts): Hamlet's soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be.”
2. the act of talking while or as if alone.
Usage
What does soliloquy mean? A soliloquy is a speech spoken to no one but oneself, even if other people are around. The word is most often used to describe such a speech in a play. In a play, a soliloquy is performed alone, regardless of whether there are other actors present on the stage. Soliloquies are typically used to let the audience hear a character’s inner thoughts. In terms of theater, a soliloquy is different from a monologue, which is also a long speech, but is part of a conversation with someone else. Example: The most famous soliloquy in theater is perhaps the one from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which begins “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”
Related Words
discourse, monologue
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
Origin: First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin sōliloquium “a talking to oneself, soliloquy,” equivalent to sōli- soli- + loqu(ī) “to speak” + -ium -ium; see -y
Example Sentences
The composer then worked with award-winning Irish film director Jason Figgis, who put the scores - 70 Years a Queen and The Queen's Soliloquy - to video.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2022
That show is entirely pastiche, and you can see the germ for that in ‘Peter Pan,’ particularly in ‘Captain Hook’s Soliloquy.’
From New York Times • Jun. 26, 2018
Holocaust survivor Peter Fischl shares his story with today's young people in Peter Musurlian's new documentary "Holocaust Soliloquy."
From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2018
Ours was, as Wallace Stevens wrote in his “Final Soliloquy of the Interior Paramour,” the intensest rendezvous.
From The New Yorker • Feb. 4, 2017
But I hadn't played from my sleeve yet, so I recited HAMLET'S Soliloquy.
From Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 26, September 24, 1870 by Various
Now YOU come up with a sentence (or fic? or graphic?) that best illustrates the word.
soliloquy [suh-lil-uh-kwee]
noun, plural soliloquies
1. an utterance or discourse spoken to oneself, without regard for whether any other hearers are present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts): Hamlet's soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be.”
2. the act of talking while or as if alone.
Usage
What does soliloquy mean? A soliloquy is a speech spoken to no one but oneself, even if other people are around. The word is most often used to describe such a speech in a play. In a play, a soliloquy is performed alone, regardless of whether there are other actors present on the stage. Soliloquies are typically used to let the audience hear a character’s inner thoughts. In terms of theater, a soliloquy is different from a monologue, which is also a long speech, but is part of a conversation with someone else. Example: The most famous soliloquy in theater is perhaps the one from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which begins “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”
Related Words
discourse, monologue
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
Origin: First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin sōliloquium “a talking to oneself, soliloquy,” equivalent to sōli- soli- + loqu(ī) “to speak” + -ium -ium; see -y
Example Sentences
The composer then worked with award-winning Irish film director Jason Figgis, who put the scores - 70 Years a Queen and The Queen's Soliloquy - to video.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2022
That show is entirely pastiche, and you can see the germ for that in ‘Peter Pan,’ particularly in ‘Captain Hook’s Soliloquy.’
From New York Times • Jun. 26, 2018
Holocaust survivor Peter Fischl shares his story with today's young people in Peter Musurlian's new documentary "Holocaust Soliloquy."
From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2018
Ours was, as Wallace Stevens wrote in his “Final Soliloquy of the Interior Paramour,” the intensest rendezvous.
From The New Yorker • Feb. 4, 2017
But I hadn't played from my sleeve yet, so I recited HAMLET'S Soliloquy.
From Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 26, September 24, 1870 by Various
Now YOU come up with a sentence (or fic? or graphic?) that best illustrates the word.
✨ Three-Sentence Fic Challenge .:. Day 3 ✨
May. 12th, 2026 10:22 pm
Hello and welcome to our mid-May through June long challenge: Three-Sentence Fics!
Running from May 11th to June 28th, this challenge is all about embracing brevity while still telling a complete story. The goal is simple: respond to each daily prompt with a fic made up of only three sentences. Simple…in theory. The fun (and challenge) comes in how much you can fit into those three lines.
Your sentences can be as long or as short as you like, and all fandoms are welcome—so feel free to wander wherever your imagination takes you.
We’re also keeping alive a concept Three-beat fic structure shared by Dreamy a few years back: your story can follow three “beats” instead of strict sentences—this happened, that happened, and then look what that caused. So whether you write exactly three sentences or shape your fic around three distinct moments, you’re good to go.
Each day, I’ll post a new prompt. This year’s inspiration comes from the growing stack of novels I’ve collected—thanks in no small part to the Book Club I somehow (and happily) fell into with my sorority. Take the prompts in any direction you like; interpretation is half the fun.
You can reply directly to the daily prompt, post a new entry here, or link out to your journal—whatever works best for you and your writing flow.
If anything’s unclear, don’t hesitate to ask. Otherwise, settle in, get creative, and enjoy the ride.
Most importantly—have fun with it.
Prompt 3: “Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.” — Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Day 1 | Day 2 |
Tuesday word: Puny
May. 12th, 2026 10:22 amTuesday, May 12, 2026
Puny (adjective)
puny [pyoo-nee]
adjective, punier, puniest
1. of less than normal size and strength; weak.
2. unimportant; insignificant; petty or minor: a puny excuse.
3. Obsolete. puisne.
Other Word Forms
punily, adverb
puniness, noun
Related Words
feeble, frail, inconsequential, measly, paltry, tiny, trivial
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
Origin: First recorded in 1540–50; spelling variant of puisne
Example Sentences
Puny mountains would have slowed erosion of the planet’s rocks, limiting the supply of life-giving nutrients for creatures in the oceans.
From National Geographic • Feb. 11, 2021
“Nobody moves away from Winnipeg, especially to Toronto, and escapes condemnation,” she wrote, in “All My Puny Sorrows,” her novel about her sister’s illness and death.
From The New Yorker • Mar. 18, 2019
Not to mention the shabby way he treated the loyal Bob Hobbitt, whose ailing little son, Puny Pete, longed to leave life as a cabin boy for a career as a seamstress.
From New York Times • Dec. 25, 2014
The greatness in "All My Puny Sorrows" comes from Toews' ability to make the reader want to think about that too.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2014
Hallblithe stood speechless a moment, looking past the Puny Fox, rather than at him.
From The Story of the Glittering Plain; or, the land of Living Men by Morris, William
Puny (adjective)
puny [pyoo-nee]
adjective, punier, puniest
1. of less than normal size and strength; weak.
2. unimportant; insignificant; petty or minor: a puny excuse.
3. Obsolete. puisne.
Other Word Forms
punily, adverb
puniness, noun
Related Words
feeble, frail, inconsequential, measly, paltry, tiny, trivial
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
Origin: First recorded in 1540–50; spelling variant of puisne
Example Sentences
Puny mountains would have slowed erosion of the planet’s rocks, limiting the supply of life-giving nutrients for creatures in the oceans.
From National Geographic • Feb. 11, 2021
“Nobody moves away from Winnipeg, especially to Toronto, and escapes condemnation,” she wrote, in “All My Puny Sorrows,” her novel about her sister’s illness and death.
From The New Yorker • Mar. 18, 2019
Not to mention the shabby way he treated the loyal Bob Hobbitt, whose ailing little son, Puny Pete, longed to leave life as a cabin boy for a career as a seamstress.
From New York Times • Dec. 25, 2014
The greatness in "All My Puny Sorrows" comes from Toews' ability to make the reader want to think about that too.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2014
Hallblithe stood speechless a moment, looking past the Puny Fox, rather than at him.
From The Story of the Glittering Plain; or, the land of Living Men by Morris, William
almost 2500 words
May. 12th, 2026 04:52 pmI'm still about 2k behind, but I'm hoping for a bit more tomorrow so that I don't get anymore behind.
These day off writing on the weekends to get stuff done in the yard and garage are taking their toll on productivity, but the garage should need only 1 more day, and then some odds and ends in the house should take another, so I should be free and clear for the rest of the summer...plus a 3day weekend coming up should help.
Not sure whose up next, but good luck!
These day off writing on the weekends to get stuff done in the yard and garage are taking their toll on productivity, but the garage should need only 1 more day, and then some odds and ends in the house should take another, so I should be free and clear for the rest of the summer...plus a 3day weekend coming up should help.
Not sure whose up next, but good luck!
TV Tuesday: Is That Who They're Supposed to Be?
May. 12th, 2026 11:15 am
TV has always glamorized characters, even those who weren’t supposed to be while denying jobs to people who look like what they are.
What does "normal people" mean to you when it comes to television? Which shows and/or characters succeed at portraying "the normal life"? And what are clichés that you dislike seeing about supposed normalcy?
Thursday: ❓ What If... ❓
May. 14th, 2026 05:56 amToday’s theme is ❓ What If... ❓
A “What If...?” fic is a type of AU built around one single canon change — one moment shifting like a stone dropped into water, the ripples changing everything afterward. 🌊⏳
What if the Hale fire never happened?
What if Kelly, Jill, and Sabrina found out Charles Townsend’s identity?
What if someone lived?
What if someone never came home?
What if one tiny moment changed the entire story?
Think of the Doctor Who episode “Turn Left” — one altered event creating a completely different timeline. Your challenge is to explore how canon changes when one thing goes differently. Sometimes the change is massive. Sometimes it’s heartbreakingly small. 🕰️🫶
📌 Just a few rules:
✏️ No more than five prompts in a row.
🎭 No more than three prompts in the same fandom.
📝 Use the character's full name and fandom's full name for ease in adding to the Lonely Prompts spreadsheet.
⚠️ No spoilers in prompts for a month after airing, or use the spoiler cut option.
📚 If your fill contains spoilers, warn and leave plenty of space, or use the spoiler cut option.
Prompts should be formatted as follows:
[Use the character's full names and fandom's full name]
📖 Fandom, Character +/ Character, Prompt
✨ Some examples to get the ball rolling… ✨
🐺 Teen Wolf, Stiles Stilinski/Derek Hale, What if the Hale fire never happened, and Stiles grows up knowing the Hales as Beacon Hills royalty?
🌊 Hawaii Five-0, Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams, What if Danny never transferred to Hawaii and Steve had to build Five-0 without him?
🚓 9-1-1, Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, What if Eddie had joined the 118 years before Buck did?
We are now using AO3 to bookmark filled prompts 📚✨. If you fill a prompt and post it to AO3 please add it to the Bite Sized Bits of Fic from 2026 collection. See further notes on this new option here.
Not feeling any of today’s prompts? 🤔 You can use LJ’s advanced search options to limit keyword results to only comments in this community. Fret not, DW members 💙; we are working on a way to search through old entries for prompts for you! As of right now, the best way to search for a lonely prompt on DW is to search the community’s archive, which can be found [[HERE]].
While the use of LJ's advanced search and DW’s archive are options, bookmarking the links of prompts you like 🔖 might work better for searching in the future.
As a friendly reminder about our schedule ⏰, Lonely Prompts and sharing completed fills are encouraged on Sundays 🌿, while new themes and prompts are posted on Tuesdays and Thursdays 📅. Saturdays are a Free for All day 🎉. We'll share our posts on DW and LJ for everyone's convenience. Keep an eye out for notifications! 👀
If you have a Dreamwidth account and would feel more comfortable participating there, please feel free to do so…and spread the word! 📣
🏷️ tag=what if