Welcome to 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 6/30/25: We’ve capped the number of cross-posted events to one or two.

1/2/26: Documentation is updated for 2026!

1/4/26: Added FAQs about gifts (go for it), derivative works, and genre requirements (there are none)

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🗓️ EVENT DATES February 13-15, 2026

<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" /> Bonus 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> IN FIC

Have a character call someone else “sweetheart” as a pet name!

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

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<aside> 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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Bonus Prompts

Bonus prompts are suggestions to give you ideas. Use them along with the “sweetheart” prompt or skip them! It’s fine to mix & match. They are optional and entirely up to your interpretation. They can be used on any day of the event.

bonus #1

The character least likely to use a pet name is the one who says it

bonus #2

A bouquet of something

bonus #3

Note hidden in a coat pocket

bonus #4

Revealed Jan 5!

bonus #5

Revealed Jan 6!

bonus #6

Revealed Jan 7!

Rules

This event has run for a few years, so your question is probably answered in here somewhere!

If you don’t see it in the rules, check the FAQs below.

• The pet name “sweetheart” must appear in the work!
  • In fic, a character must call another character the pet name “sweetheart.” It can be said on accident or in anger, but the character must ultimately mean it. No sarcasm. (The only exception would be that it is initially said in sarcasm but later repeated sincerely. Might make a good 5+1.)
  • In art, the word may be stylized as a design element or used in speech. If a character is speaking, such as in a speech bubble, as with fic “sweetheart” must be used sincerely and as a pet name.
• The bonus prompts are optional and can be used along with the “sweetheart” prompt. They are open to your interpretation.
• Works can be made in any language.
• You can create as many things as you’d like for this event.
• You can get started any time, but don’t post anything until the event starts! Teasers/snippets are fine to share on your personal social media accounts.
• We have no content restrictions, minimums, or maximums! All fandoms, ships & gen fic, genres, tropes, AUs, crossovers, fusions, etc. are welcome. Original fiction is welcome too. Do whatever you want. Kill your favorites. We don’t care.
• What you create must be standalone and complete by the end of the event. It can be part of an existing series OR a prequel/sequel as long as it can be understood independently.
• Everything you post for the event should be new OR unpublished WIPs. That means you can’t submit chapter 5 from your 30-chapter WIP for this event, and you can’t post the final chapter of a longfic for this event if the fic is already published.
• Works should be posted in their entirety while the event is running. Posting in pieces is fine as long as ALL parts are posted during the event, and the final part goes up before the event ends.
• No sign ups necessary, but Discord members have an optional notification role. Head to Channels & Roles to grab it.
• 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!
• Cross-posting with 1-2 other simultaneous events is fine as long as your submission satisfies our event rules and the other events are explicitly okay with this. We’ve added this limit beginning with our 2026 round.
• Use of generative AI is prohibited in all of our events. Don’t do it! Human-made creations only.
• There are no penalties if you can’t finish. You don’t even have to tell us. Feel free to save it for next year!
• We do not offer a way to informally participate in this or any of our events.
  • If you use our time & resources (things like pinging muse to ask clarifying questions or asking how to use the Canva template), you’re considered an event participant and are subject to the rules.
  • If you post your work to AO3, it’s expected to be added to the collection for the life of the work.

<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.

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