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"description": "This month's prompt is \"sticks and stones will break my bones\".",
"path": "/indieweb-fiction-carnival-may-2026/",
"publishedAt": "2026-05-01T03:57:33.000Z",
"site": "https://werd.io",
"tags": [
"IndieWeb Fiction Carnival",
"platonic soulmates",
"Sharing is Caring",
"silvered eyes",
"we've got to dream past it",
"dates back to at least 1830"
],
"textContent": "_This is the_ IndieWeb Fiction Carnival_call for submissions for May, 2026. Everybody is welcome to participate._\n\nI'm a long-term member of the indieweb community, and a speculative fiction writer, so I was _delighted_ to see the IndieWeb Fiction Carnival appear. Previous prompts include platonic soulmates (for which I entered my story Sharing is Caring), silvered eyes, and we've got to dream past it.\n\nThis month, I've signed up to host.\n\n### Prompt\n\nThis month's prompt is _sticks and stones will break my bones_.\n\nThe old rhyme dates back to at least 1830:\n\n> Sticks and stones may break my bones\n> But words will never hurt me.\n\nUse this prompt however you like. Perhaps your protagonist has to learn to be impervious to a bully. Maybe it's ironic and words are more powerful than they appear. Or something else entirely might be going on.\n\nI'm excited to read what you come up with.\n\n### Submissions\n\nThe carnival is open to anybody.\n\nTo submit a story, you first need to write or create any kind of fiction that responds to the prompt in a way that makes sense to you. Then, publish it openly on an independent website that you control.\n\nOnce you've done that, either:\n\n * Email me the link at ben@werd.io.\n * Send a webmention to this page.\n\n\n\nYour deadline is midnight on May 31, in whatever your local timezone is.\n\nI'll post a roundup during the first week of June.\n\nHappy writing!",
"title": "IndieWeb Fiction Carnival: May 2026",
"updatedAt": "2026-05-16T21:13:41.586Z"
}