LadiesBingo: Funerals and Wakes
Dec. 9th, 2025 06:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
senmutAO3 Link | Useful Gathering (300 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Partners in Crime [TV - 1984]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sydney Kovack & Carole Stanwyck [Partners in Crime]
Characters: Sydney Kovack [Partners in Crime], Carole Stanwyck [Partners in Crime]
Additional Tags: Triple Drabble, Event - Funeral, Community: ladiesbingo
Summary:
Sydney carefully adjusted her skirt as she stood up, hand not holding the handkerchief going out to catch Carole's.
"Why did we agree to hold a wake for him?"
Carole gave a reserved smile to one of the businessmen here to pay respects.
"To help us keep the business running," Carole answered after she was certain no one else would be listening. "Besides, were you ever any good at saying 'no' to Jeanine?"
Sydney made an indelicate sound at that, and covered by bringing the handkerchief up to dab at her nose. "Were you?"
Carole had to bite back the unseemly laughter that came with it. "We need his contacts, to get the agency in the black, and start paying off that mortgage."
"Can't just ask some of your old polo pals to lend a hand, oh wait, you just take their pictures now."
That lit Carole's temper, but she gathered it back in check, and squeezed Sydney's hand. "One way or another, Sydney, we can make this work for us. Neither one of us is the woman he married any longer, but I think we can find a place for ourselves anyway."
Sydney took a deep breath, then smiled sadly at another pair of suits walking past them. "You're right, and I'm sorry for the dig. We'll get through the speeches, cut to the meat of promising to help them for standard fees going forward, and make the agency solvent.
"Just, don't leave me alone with any of them? I'll point out the fanny-patters and lewd ones as we mingle."
"And if they're the older ones, I'll tell you how Raymond got his hooks into them," Carole promised in turn, steeling her spine for the possibility of dealing with 'old friends' from the failed marriage.
"We have each other."
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Partners in Crime [TV - 1984]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sydney Kovack & Carole Stanwyck [Partners in Crime]
Characters: Sydney Kovack [Partners in Crime], Carole Stanwyck [Partners in Crime]
Additional Tags: Triple Drabble, Event - Funeral, Community: ladiesbingo
Summary:
Sydney and Carole are holding a second funeral for their mutual ex, mostly to preserve their business.
Useful Gathering
Sydney carefully adjusted her skirt as she stood up, hand not holding the handkerchief going out to catch Carole's.
"Why did we agree to hold a wake for him?"
Carole gave a reserved smile to one of the businessmen here to pay respects.
"To help us keep the business running," Carole answered after she was certain no one else would be listening. "Besides, were you ever any good at saying 'no' to Jeanine?"
Sydney made an indelicate sound at that, and covered by bringing the handkerchief up to dab at her nose. "Were you?"
Carole had to bite back the unseemly laughter that came with it. "We need his contacts, to get the agency in the black, and start paying off that mortgage."
"Can't just ask some of your old polo pals to lend a hand, oh wait, you just take their pictures now."
That lit Carole's temper, but she gathered it back in check, and squeezed Sydney's hand. "One way or another, Sydney, we can make this work for us. Neither one of us is the woman he married any longer, but I think we can find a place for ourselves anyway."
Sydney took a deep breath, then smiled sadly at another pair of suits walking past them. "You're right, and I'm sorry for the dig. We'll get through the speeches, cut to the meat of promising to help them for standard fees going forward, and make the agency solvent.
"Just, don't leave me alone with any of them? I'll point out the fanny-patters and lewd ones as we mingle."
"And if they're the older ones, I'll tell you how Raymond got his hooks into them," Carole promised in turn, steeling her spine for the possibility of dealing with 'old friends' from the failed marriage.
"We have each other."
Tips for Getting Unstuck
Dec. 9th, 2025 02:36 pmtheemdash posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
getyourwordsoutWelcome again to everyone joining us for the Year-End Marathon and to everyone looking for a peek behind the curtain at GYWO. Each month volunteers post discussions about writing craft, life, and publishing. This rare public post is to give a taste of the full GYWO experience. We welcome you to interact, comment, and share your own experiences on the topic.
Tips for Getting Unstuck
No matter how much planning you do, there is always an opportunity for a writer to get stuck. Maybe your characters don’t agree with your plan, or you realize the plot twist is too obvious, or for whatever reason today this scene just doesn’t want to be written. Regardless of what’s actually going on, the bottom line is that you’re stuck in your writing and you need to not be stuck.
Let’s talk about some ways to apply a little grease and get your draft moving again.
( Tips for Getting Unstuck )
How do you go about getting unstuck while you’re drafting? Have you tried any of these strategies? And if you’re stuck right now and want to throw spaghetti at a wall, some of us will be around in the comments.
Tips for Getting Unstuck
No matter how much planning you do, there is always an opportunity for a writer to get stuck. Maybe your characters don’t agree with your plan, or you realize the plot twist is too obvious, or for whatever reason today this scene just doesn’t want to be written. Regardless of what’s actually going on, the bottom line is that you’re stuck in your writing and you need to not be stuck.
Let’s talk about some ways to apply a little grease and get your draft moving again.
( Tips for Getting Unstuck )
How do you go about getting unstuck while you’re drafting? Have you tried any of these strategies? And if you’re stuck right now and want to throw spaghetti at a wall, some of us will be around in the comments.
The Fantastic Journey: Responsibility [Challenge 479: To The End]
Dec. 8th, 2025 04:58 pmbadly_knitted posting in drabble_zoneTitle: Responsibility
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Varian, Dr Jordan, the travellers.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 479: To The End.
Setting: During the series.
Summary: Varian had never expected to find himself leading the group of travellers, but he’ll do the best he can.
Disclaimer: I don’t own The Fantastic Journey, or the characters. They belong to their creators.
A/N: Triple drabble.
Responsibility
LadiesBingo: Teenagers
Dec. 7th, 2025 12:36 pmsenmutAO3 Link | Cat and Bird (300 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: DC Comics (General)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Selina Kyle & Dinah Lance
Characters: Selina Kyle, Dinah Lance
Additional Tags: Triple Drabble, Post-Crisis, +Modern Age (1986-Present)
Summary:
"Hey there, little birdie," came a voice from above Dinah, and she looked up to see her friend Selina on the roof. That made Dinah's mood much better, and she hastily made use of the fire-escapes — and walls — to get up there.
"Hey yourself, tabby cat," she said with a grin, barely breathing hard for that exercise. "A bit out of your territory, aren't you?" She plopped herself down on the roof-edge next to the other girl.
"Hmm, came to check on one of the ones that got adopted out, make sure it was on the up and up."
"This neighborhood? It better be, or word will get around. Bunch of nosy people around. And Dad hears all the rumors like that."
"Nice older couple, and the kid was from their faith. How he wound up in a Catholic orphanage is anyone's guess," Selina said, giving Dinah the clues to keep her own ears out for the kid.
"Glad you decided to stick around when you got done," Dinah admitted, leaning over against Selina.
"Knew you'd be out sooner rather than later. Make any money today?"
"No; this tutoring is a trade. I help the blockhead learn, Mom gets her bad cooler fixed for free."
"You seem to be the one giving up time and effort a lot for these trades," Selina said, disapproving.
"Family business, Selina. Have to support mom somehow, and Dad uses it as an excuse to keep her off my back when I go out in the evenings." She slung her arm around Selina's shoulders and squeezed. "I get what I need."
"If you say so." Selina shrugged. "C'mon. I know who's working the door at the Regal. We can catch a movie and be irresponsible teenagers for once."
Dinah considered, then grinned broadly. "Sounds fun!"
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: DC Comics (General)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Selina Kyle & Dinah Lance
Characters: Selina Kyle, Dinah Lance
Additional Tags: Triple Drabble, Post-Crisis, +Modern Age (1986-Present)
Summary:
Selina's in the neighborhood
Cat and Bird
"Hey there, little birdie," came a voice from above Dinah, and she looked up to see her friend Selina on the roof. That made Dinah's mood much better, and she hastily made use of the fire-escapes — and walls — to get up there.
"Hey yourself, tabby cat," she said with a grin, barely breathing hard for that exercise. "A bit out of your territory, aren't you?" She plopped herself down on the roof-edge next to the other girl.
"Hmm, came to check on one of the ones that got adopted out, make sure it was on the up and up."
"This neighborhood? It better be, or word will get around. Bunch of nosy people around. And Dad hears all the rumors like that."
"Nice older couple, and the kid was from their faith. How he wound up in a Catholic orphanage is anyone's guess," Selina said, giving Dinah the clues to keep her own ears out for the kid.
"Glad you decided to stick around when you got done," Dinah admitted, leaning over against Selina.
"Knew you'd be out sooner rather than later. Make any money today?"
"No; this tutoring is a trade. I help the blockhead learn, Mom gets her bad cooler fixed for free."
"You seem to be the one giving up time and effort a lot for these trades," Selina said, disapproving.
"Family business, Selina. Have to support mom somehow, and Dad uses it as an excuse to keep her off my back when I go out in the evenings." She slung her arm around Selina's shoulders and squeezed. "I get what I need."
"If you say so." Selina shrugged. "C'mon. I know who's working the door at the Regal. We can catch a movie and be irresponsible teenagers for once."
Dinah considered, then grinned broadly. "Sounds fun!"
FAKE: All For Nothing [Challenge 479: To The End]
Dec. 7th, 2025 04:53 pmbadly_knitted posting in drabble_zoneTitle: All For Nothing
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: JJ, Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 479: To The End.
Setting: Vol 2, Act 5.
Summary: JJ proves that he would follow Dee anywhere.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
A/N: Double drabble.
All For Nothing
Various Links 11/30 - 12/6
Dec. 6th, 2025 11:52 pmsenmutMore Joy Day announced
Jane Siberry has a new song free to download - Very Political, called "bailout" and it hit hard
Scarpetta, the Patricia Cornwell series, is getting a TV Show.
Latest Doctor Who BluRay release short film
Sheriden/Delenn gif set with Tolkien words
A "Punny" photo
SarahSeeAndersen cartoon about cats and hot pads
Kermit the Assassin and further commentary
Sissy Spacek Photo set
The Restorer and the Butler - haunted house story
The Kents and the Pediatrician - DC Comics fanfic
Human and Alien - a story of Uncanny Valley
Iron Bull/Dorian Pavus in their later years - Fic and art
Good Wicked! meta
Mood board for the original Thrawn Trilogy
Jane Siberry has a new song free to download - Very Political, called "bailout" and it hit hard
Scarpetta, the Patricia Cornwell series, is getting a TV Show.
Latest Doctor Who BluRay release short film
Sheriden/Delenn gif set with Tolkien words
A "Punny" photo
SarahSeeAndersen cartoon about cats and hot pads
Kermit the Assassin and further commentary
Sissy Spacek Photo set
The Restorer and the Butler - haunted house story
The Kents and the Pediatrician - DC Comics fanfic
Human and Alien - a story of Uncanny Valley
Iron Bull/Dorian Pavus in their later years - Fic and art
Good Wicked! meta
Mood board for the original Thrawn Trilogy
Challenge # 479: To The End
Dec. 6th, 2025 05:09 pmbadly_knitted posting in drabble_zoneThis week's challenge is:
To The End
Reminder of Rules
Entries should be 100, 200, or 300 words exactly, excluding titles and headers.
Please place the body of your entry behind a cut.
Tag with the appropriate Challenge, Fandom, Type, and Ratings tags. If a tag for your fandom doesn't exist, leave a request on the Tag Request post and I'll create the tags you need. You can request as many fandom tags as you want.
You don't need to use the challenge word or phrase in your drabble, though you can if you like.
Each challenge ends when the new challenge is posted, but if you're a few days late that's still fine.
NEW RULE: DOUBLE AND TRIPLE DRABBLES ARE ALSO ACCEPTED ;)
Have fun!
Fandom Fifty: #41
Dec. 5th, 2025 11:05 pmsenmut2015 - A decade ago! Oh right, I was dirt poor by the end of the year because I remember thinking I wasn't going to get to see the new Star Wars film in theater.
Furious 7 - So my late partner and I had fallen in love with this crew in the first movie. She LOVED Brian. And... well. Paul Walker died before completing this one. And then they released it on her anniversary with me. So Yeah. Saw it twice in theater.
Jurassic World - This looked interesting, was okay, but wife and I both had Issues with it. And then, of course, Pratt lived up to his name, and I let the franchise go away. Still kinda want to see the one with the original trio.
Carol - I don't do arthouse style films, I protest mightily. AND YET. I decided to see what the fuss was about, and FELL IN LOVE. Cate and Rooney sold the story. (and having read up about the author, wow it's toned down from the inspirations / she was a helluva bitch it looked like)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - such characters! such potential! Shame they never made more after it to explore Finn and Rey and Poe in a way that highlighted EVERYTHING THAT MADE THEM INTERESTING! (It did however set me on the SW track of writing, so I can't complain too much)
Furious 7 - So my late partner and I had fallen in love with this crew in the first movie. She LOVED Brian. And... well. Paul Walker died before completing this one. And then they released it on her anniversary with me. So Yeah. Saw it twice in theater.
Jurassic World - This looked interesting, was okay, but wife and I both had Issues with it. And then, of course, Pratt lived up to his name, and I let the franchise go away. Still kinda want to see the one with the original trio.
Carol - I don't do arthouse style films, I protest mightily. AND YET. I decided to see what the fuss was about, and FELL IN LOVE. Cate and Rooney sold the story. (and having read up about the author, wow it's toned down from the inspirations / she was a helluva bitch it looked like)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - such characters! such potential! Shame they never made more after it to explore Finn and Rey and Poe in a way that highlighted EVERYTHING THAT MADE THEM INTERESTING! (It did however set me on the SW track of writing, so I can't complain too much)
LadiesBingo: Sacrifice / Letting Go
Dec. 5th, 2025 06:05 pmsenmutAO3 link | Her Turn (300 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer [TV]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Willow Rosenberg & Buffy Summers
Characters: Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers, Dawn Summers [Buffy & Angel Universe]
Additional Tags: Triple Drabble, Post-Canon
Summary:
This one, it's not for you. You get that, right? This time, it's about me. It has to be me. You can't… you can't keep reaching. I know you love me. I know you would want to step up, to take my place. You've always been the one making the sacrifice. That's who you are, the One. You changed the game to begin with, and then when that wasn't enough, you changed the whole playing field.
Okay, maybe I had something to do with changing the gameboard up. But I was only able to do it because of you, because you had so much faith in me. I need you to have that faith in me now. I need you to be the stronger one, the one who has to live, to keep facing the evil.
Hopefully it won't be as bad, not once I do this.
All my love.
Dawn wasn't used to seeing her sister frail, not even after all the losses they had faced. She'd guessed, though, that this one might be the breaking point, and hurried to get to Buffy's side. She saw the paper crumpled in a fist, but ignored it, just turning her sister to hold her.
At first, Buffy was stiff. The grief broke to Dawn's coaxing, a howl of pain and denial. Dawn just held on, petting her hair, tears streaming on her own face.
"Maybe… maybe it didn't end her?" Dawn suggested once the crying gave way to the heavy silence.
Buffy pushed the crumpled paper to her sister, letting Dawn read Willow's own words. It made Dawn swallow hard, as the pain and finality gripped her all over again.
She couldn't give into it, though. Buffy needed her. Buffy had lost Willow, and Dawn needed to step up even more.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer [TV]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Willow Rosenberg & Buffy Summers
Characters: Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers, Dawn Summers [Buffy & Angel Universe]
Additional Tags: Triple Drabble, Post-Canon
Summary:
Willow left a letter...
Her Turn
This one, it's not for you. You get that, right? This time, it's about me. It has to be me. You can't… you can't keep reaching. I know you love me. I know you would want to step up, to take my place. You've always been the one making the sacrifice. That's who you are, the One. You changed the game to begin with, and then when that wasn't enough, you changed the whole playing field.
Okay, maybe I had something to do with changing the gameboard up. But I was only able to do it because of you, because you had so much faith in me. I need you to have that faith in me now. I need you to be the stronger one, the one who has to live, to keep facing the evil.
Hopefully it won't be as bad, not once I do this.
All my love.
Dawn wasn't used to seeing her sister frail, not even after all the losses they had faced. She'd guessed, though, that this one might be the breaking point, and hurried to get to Buffy's side. She saw the paper crumpled in a fist, but ignored it, just turning her sister to hold her.
At first, Buffy was stiff. The grief broke to Dawn's coaxing, a howl of pain and denial. Dawn just held on, petting her hair, tears streaming on her own face.
"Maybe… maybe it didn't end her?" Dawn suggested once the crying gave way to the heavy silence.
Buffy pushed the crumpled paper to her sister, letting Dawn read Willow's own words. It made Dawn swallow hard, as the pain and finality gripped her all over again.
She couldn't give into it, though. Buffy needed her. Buffy had lost Willow, and Dawn needed to step up even more.
Bad Driver | Challenge #478 Smoke
Dec. 4th, 2025 01:51 pmprecibyss posting in drabble_zoneFandom: Looney Tunes
Alternate Universe: Destiny 2 AU
Characters/Pairings: Marvin the Martian/Wile E. Coyote
Rating: T
Summary: Coyote's Sparrow sustained damage from Vex firearms so he takes it in to the only Martian he knows will help him
Note: I might be cracked in the head for writing a Looney Tunes Destiny AU, but I'm very pleased with myself for making this 300w by some osmosis
Challenge: #478 - Smoke by drabble_zone
Crosspost: my journal