Welcome to the fourth round of Hey, Sweetheart, the event where we challenge you to use the pet name “sweetheart” in fic or art!

Years ago, someone told me that I couldn’t write Jim Kirk calling Spock “sweetheart.” Instead of getting upset, I dedicated an event to it! Today, Hey Sweetheart is an all-fandoms fest.

<aside> 💕 EVENT UPDATES 1/3/25: Event info is updated for the year! Daily prompts are still in the works. Since our server is now open to 18+ members, we are eliminating sign-ups and official submissions. Less stress, more fun!

1/7/25: Optional daily prompts are here! They’re simplified this year, just one per day & Valentine themed, but you do not have to interpret them literally.

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🗓️ EVENT DATES February 10-14, 2025

<aside> <img src="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" alt="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" width="40px" /> Rules

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<aside> <img src="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" alt="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" width="40px" /> Daily prompts

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<aside> <img src="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" alt="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" width="40px" /> Posting Info

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<aside> <img src="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" alt="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" width="40px" /> FAQs

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<aside> <img src="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" alt="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" width="40px" /> Questions

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The pretty link for this info is https://tinyurl.com/heysweetheart2

The challenge

<aside> <img src="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" alt="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" width="40px" /> IN FIC Have a character call someone else “sweetheart” as a pet name!

No sarcasm, please! It can be an accident or in anger, but they should mean it.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" alt="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" width="40px" /> IN ART Use the word “sweetheart” in a piece of art!

You can stylize it as a design element, or it can appear as a pet name in a speech bubble.

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Daily prompts

optional!

The daily prompts are suggestions to give you ideas. Use them along with the “sweetheart” prompt or skip! It’s fine to mix & match too. You don’t have to interpret these literally; they’re just places to start.

<aside> <img src="/icons/asterisk_pink.svg" alt="/icons/asterisk_pink.svg" width="40px" />

You do not have to post any prompt on a specific date.

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February 10

chocolate

February 11

strawberries

February 12

flowers

February 13

jewelry

February 14

candy hearts

Rules

• The pet name “sweetheart” must be included in the work!
  • For fic, a character must call another character “sweetheart.” No sarcasm, please.
  • For art, the word may be stylized as a design element or used in speech. If a character is speaking, as with fic “sweetheart” must be used as a pet name.
• No sign ups necessary
• The daily prompts are optional and can be used along with the “sweetheart” prompt however you like (or not at all).
• Works should be posted in their entirety during the event’s timeframe. Posting in pieces is fine as long as the last part goes up by the last day of the event.
• Everything you post for the event should be new OR unpublished WIPs.
• As this event is held out on social media, anyone 14 years or older is welcome to join. If you will be under 18 at posting, please keep your rating from G to Teen!
• All fandoms and all ships are welcome. Gen too!
• Original works are also welcome.
• Works can be in any language.
• Create one thing or 30.
• There are no penalties if you can’t finish. You don’t even have to tell us. Or save it for next year!
• Cross-posting with other events is fine as long as your submission meets our event rules.
• Use of generative AI is prohibited in all of our events. Don’t do it! Human-made creations only.
• We have no content restrictions, minimums, or maximums! All genres, tropes, AUs, etc. are welcome. Do whatever you want! Write MCD. We don’t care.

<aside> <img src="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" alt="/icons/heart-outline_pink.svg" width="40px" /> Every year, I get questions about this, but I mean it: we don’t tell you what you’re allowed to write. If you ask me whether you’re permitted to do something, I’m going to screencap this little box and send it to you with a hug.

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Posting

We’re no longer able to invite works into AO3 collections, so be sure to add yours! If it doesn’t appear in the drop-down, paste the collection name into the field and hit enter.

Post any time during the event!

Share your work(s) on the site(s) of your choice: bluesky, tumblr, ao3, etc. Be sure to tag NSFW posts so people can filter.

If you’re using daily prompts, it doesn’t matter what day(s) you share your fills.

On AO3: collection sweetheart2025

On Squidge: collection sweetheart2025

Bsky: tag #heysweetheart and @ficwip.bsky.social

Tumblr: tag #hey sweetheart and @ficwip

Get our promo graphic template on Canva

Totally optional to use. Maybe it’ll save you some time! You can also copy/paste our logos out of it.