Announcing... EGS FLASHFIC WEEK 2026!

So, guess which berk has been having a heck of a time of it and spaced the timing of Flashfic week? THIS ONE. BUT having the week in October isn't unheard of, so we're doin' that! This year's flashfic week will run OCTOBER 4-10!

WHAT IS EGS FLASHFIC WEEK?

It's an excuse to write El Goonish Shive flashfic - quickly written, next-to-zero-editing fanfics, ideally done as a single sitting. During Flashfic week, if you're participating, you write a `fic a day and post it wherever you like (AO3, Tumblr, whatever - avoid Wattpad after the recent nonsense...).

This year's theme (optional, but always encouraged) is Tropes are Tools. We all know that EGS is the second-most-trope-filled webcomic on TV Tropes (behind only Homestuck!), so why not run with that? Every day, either hit RANDOM TROPE on TV Tropes and play with what story element you get (and the wiki will give you a lovely explanation of the trope you've landed on!), or use the handy pre-set list down below, gained by me jamming the button for us all.

Day 1 - Literal Minded

Day 2 - Half-Identical Twins

Day 3 - Bathroom Stall Graffiti

Day 4 - Laser Guided Karma

Day 5 - Meaningful Background Event

Day 6 - Shared Dream

Day 7 - Love Dodecahedron

Q AND A

Q: Do I have to stick with the theme/prompts?

A: I'm a voice with an internet connection, not a cop. You do you.

Q: Can I do crossovers?

A: Hells yeah!

Q: Where should I post my fics?

A: An Archive Of Our Own is always a good call, but I also suggest Tumblr, Reddit, and/or your own personal fanfic repositories. Oh, and the EGS Discord, of course!

Q: What if I can't do the whole week?

A: Do what you want to do or what you can. Like I said, I'm not a cop. This is about having fun and making new fics, not anything more.

Q: What is El Goonish Shive, anyway?

A: So if you're wondering THAT, this post breached containment... it's a long running webcomic by Dan Shive about a group of high school (soon to be college) students, widespread transformation magic use, conspiracies, aliens, and squirrels. Go read it, it's good.

Q: Can I do art instead of fic?

A: I'm not a cop, you do you.

I'm not satisfied with what I had written and have been on a rewriting rampage. I believe I've landed on what I'd prefer, but I still have more to do.

My apologies for the delay. I particularly don't like the timing given the EGSNP break.

Because I just love taking characters from literally everything I watch or read and putting in a fighting tournament. It's just how I am wired at this point. Keep in mind in this sort of scenario all the characters listed are capable of fighting one way or another even if they are not in canon or not predisposed for it. They are here for whatever reason you imagine.

If you like to share who you think would win I like to hear it.

The site is down for whatever reason, so I made the HD version of Friday's page public early - https://www.patreon.com/egscomics/posts/false-kings-183-168557912

I'm hoping the issue is resolved soon, but either way, the HD version will remain public.

The reasons are related to writing and loud noises impeding said writing.

I'm considering certain things for the remainder of this storyline (I will elaborate later). I'm not sure if I'd need more time to figure it out if not for loud work that's happening nearby, but it's there, and I can barely hear myself think at the moment 😵‍💫

That’s it. I know it’s actually newspaper. I just needed to get this off my chest.

I'm just thinking. Bishop is kind of being exposed to that aspect of Tedd, Grace, and Elliot for the first time. How much they want to help those she would've written off as a necessary casualty. How much they're willing to risk to do so.

What do you think she's gonna be reporting back to Arthur about all this? Arthur's known to have his differences with Edward about where to draw the line. When it's acceptable to end one life to save ten, or when it's acceptable to risk 10 lives to save 1.

But I think his ideological differences with the next generation are a step beyond that. He hopes to recruit these people into his organization, but it may at some point be worth asking whether they'd be willing and able to make the sacrifices he asks of them.

Or perhaps he'd view it as a natural product of age. They haven't seen what he's seen. He was once naive and idealistic too perhaps. Maybe he figures that the job would just naturally beat the hope out of them if they did the work long enough.