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# IndieWeb Fiction Carnival: May 2026
- URL: https://werd.io/indieweb-fiction-carnival-may-2026/
- Published: 2026-05-01T03:57:33.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-16T21:13:41.000Z
- Description: This month's prompt is "sticks and stones will break my bones".
- Author: Ben Werdmuller
- Tags: Fiction, Indieweb, Asides

*This is the* [*IndieWeb Fiction Carnival*](https://indieweb.org/IndieWeb%5FFiction%5FCarnival) *call for submissions for May, 2026\. Everybody is welcome to participate.*

I'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*](https://sarajaksa.eu/2026/03/indieweb-fiction-carnival-april-2026-call-for-submission-platonic-soulmates/) (for which I entered my story [*Sharing is Caring*](https://outmap.org/sharing-is-caring/)), [*silvered eyes*](https://www.dozenialdragons.me.uk/2026/04/03/iwfc%5Fmarch%5F26%5Fround-up/), and [*we've got to dream past it*](https://zacharykai.net/notes/ifcfeb26end).

This month, I've signed up to host.

### Prompt

This month's prompt is *sticks and stones will break my bones*.

The old rhyme [dates back to at least 1830](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticks%5Fand%5FStones):

> Sticks and stones may break my bones  
> But words will never hurt me.

Use 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.

I'm excited to read what you come up with.

### Submissions

The carnival is open to anybody.

To 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.

Once you've done that, either:

- Email me the link at [ben@werd.io](mailto:ben@werd.io).
- Send a webmention to this page.

Your deadline is midnight on May 31, in whatever your local timezone is.

I'll post a roundup during the first week of June.

Happy writing!