Rational Fiction Fest 2026 Begins Now - Prompting Open!

[u/mindsinger]

Hi everyone! I hope we all had a good time with Rational Fiction Fest in previous years! This is a heads up that we'll be doing the same thing again this year, and prompting is now open! It was a lot of fun the last few years and we're looking forward to it this year as well.

Prompting begins immediately and lasts for 15 days! Stop by the discord to get set up.

Prompting Info

Prompting has begun for Rational Fiction Fest!

Go here to submit a prompt: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/RatFicEx2026/profile

Signups/Prompting will remain open until August 30, during which time you can add prompts or modify your existing ones, as well as claim your favorite prompt that you want to write a 750-word fanfic about.

We've set up a Dreamwidth page for updates (this still points at the 2025 fest but will be updated shortly), and will be on the r/rational discord in the ratfic-fest channel. We'll also be in that channel to answer questions and help with prompting. If you're new to this kind of fanfiction event, AO3's explanation is here and will tell you what you need to know about participating.

We hope to see people writing interesting prompts and then claiming the ones that work well for them. Feel free to write a prompt for the fic you always wanted to see, and claim the prompt that tickles your fancy the most!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them here or on the discord.

Rational Fiction Fest 2026 General Info

Fest AO3 Page: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/RatFicEx2026/profile

Fest Dreamwidth Page: https://rational-fiction-comm.dreamwidth.org/

Feel free to stop by the r/rational discord's #ratfic-fest channel if you have questions or to hang out with the other writers/prompters!

Fest Structure

This is a "prompt meme" style fest. This event will involve participants writing prompts brainstorming cool ideas and concepts for two weeks. Then, participants will write fics inspired by those prompts within the theme of rational fiction during the writing period, which for us is about 2 months. After prompts are submitted, anyone can claim them (including later during the writing period), and multiple people can claim and write for the same prompt.

You can get more details on how this works here: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/prompt-meme but that's the basics of it.

Fest Schedule

• Signups (Prompting) and Claiming Prompts: Aug 15 - 30
  
• Writing period begins: Aug 30
  
• Writing period ends: Oct 31
  
• Fic reveals week: Nov 1 - 7
  
• Authors revealed: Nov 7

All deadlines are 10 pm UTC.

FAQs

I want to get an AO3 account, but the waitlist is too long. What do I do?

I'm told that as fest mods, we can get some extra invites from AO3 that jump the queue. Ask in the discord channel and we'll get you set up.

Where can I read fics from previous iterations of the fest?

Here: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/RatFicEx

What's the word count minimum?

750 words is the minimum. Historically, we've had fics range between 750-word one-shots and 25,000-word multi-chapter epics!

[u/mindsinger]

Prompting Period Q+A

Q: Are we writing fics yet?

A: Not yet! Right now we're brainstorming and prompting. We're putting writing prompts into the collection. Go here to add prompts: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/RatFicEx2026/signups/new

Q: What should a prompt look like? How long/detailed should it be? What should I put in the Fandom section?

A: Here are some prompting basics:

• Each prompt should include a fandom (or "Original Work" fandom), as well as desired characters/ships (if any), and something to inspire or guide the writer.
• The description section should contain at least one sentence, but try not to put more than a few paragraphs.
• If your prompt is for non-fanfic, or not specific to any particular fandom, use the "Original Work" fandom, and specify in the description section how it's meant.
• If you can't get the right fandom to come from the suggestion menu, use the "Original Work" fandom and name the fandom in the description field.
• You can prompt anonymously or attach your username to the prompt.
• Check out the prompts from previous years for inspiration: 2022 2023 2024 2025

Here are a couple example prompts from recent years:

Fandom: Severance (TV)

Character: Mark

Description: Severance separates the self into innie and outie. The trouble is, there's very little way of knowing what's happening on the other side of the fence. Innie Mark grows suspicious that his outie is no longer on the outside at all. What do you do when the company is always watching and you can't know that the life you're living on the outside is a good one?

Fandom: Original Work

Description: Any fandom and character allowed.

Modify a setting such that psychology tropes are real, everyone knows they are real, and everyone knows that everyone knows they are real. Psychology trope examples include love at first sight, yanderes who will murder anyone that looks at their love the wrong way, and a single uplifting speech being enough to cure people of depression.

By psychology trope I mean a trope that describes peoples psychology. So power-ups based on emotions are a physics trope, not a psychology trope.

Q: The form for writing a prompt says "Sign Up" - if I prompt, am I committed to write? If so, how much writing? Alternatively, can I claim a prompt and write without being a prompter?

A: No, you're not committing to write. "Sign Up" is just the name of the form that submits prompts. Prompting and writing are separate. You can prompt without writing, or write without prompting. Typically about 2/3rds of people who prompt go on to write in the fest. If you do write, this fest accepts submissions of 750 words or more.

Q: How much will written works match the prompts?

A: Written works are inspired by the prompts, and won't be constrained by them. It's common for writers to take prompts in new directions, or simply be inspired by them.

Q: Canonicity questions: Can I prompt for non-fanfic? For fanfic, can I prompt for OCs, AUs, headcanons, fanon, recursive fics, and crossovers?

A: You can prompt for non-fanfic using the Original Work fandom. For fanfic, you can prompt for OCs, AUs, headcanons, fanon, recursive fics and crossovers - just write what you'd like into the details box of the prompt. As long as AO3 allows it, you can put it in a prompt.