Happy October, everyone! Just wanted to say another big thank you for all the Missing Pieces you all filled in for us.

First up, we have the author who wrote the most stories for Missing Pieces. Kenijo is our Author of the Month:

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I don’t want to age myself here, but truthfully, what does it matter at this point? I got into Buffy when it was airing live on TV. The show debuted when I was a teenager, so I was basically the perfect target audience, and I was instantly hooked.

I’d seen the Buffy movie — it was campy fun, and of course I loved Luke Perry (because who didn’t?) — but it didn’t quite scratch the itch for me. I’d watched things like Bram Stoker’s Dracula with Gary Oldman and Keanu Reeves, so when I saw the previews for the series, I was beyond stoked. I thought: “Yes! This is more like what I want.” Luckily, Joss clearly felt the same way, and we got the show we did.

As for fanfic, I wasn’t active in fandom circles for a long time, but I was always hypothesizing with my sisters and friends — daydreaming “what if” scenarios, especially about Spike and Buffy’s reunion. I didn’t dive into fanfic seriously until after my daughter was born. Suddenly, I had all this downtime as a nursing mom, and that’s when I discovered the fanfic archives. Being a bit technologically challenged, I mostly stuck to the two big sites, but once I fell in, I was hooked all over again.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

Honestly, from all kinds of places. Song lyrics have sparked ideas. Sometimes I’ll have a vivid dream and jot it down as soon as I wake up. And often it’s just a throwaway line in canon that makes my brain say, “Interrogate that. Where did that line come from? Where could it lead?”

Ironically, I never took creative writing classes. My background is in science — I majored in biological sciences with a concentration in cellular and molecular biology. I was also really into math and physics, while steering toward biochem whenever chemistry came up. So in a sense, I’m used to zooming way in on details and then zooming back out to see the bigger picture. That mindset carries over into my writing. A single psychologically tense moment can ripple forward into whole new events if you pull the thread.

I also love challenge prompts. The “Missing Pieces” event was a favorite because it had to stay canon-compliant. I like using those boundaries to dig deeper — to expand a scene or explain future events that didn’t quite make sense to me in canon. I love exploring the psychology of the characters, and human psychology applies to the humans and the demons of Buffy. To my mind, vampires are really just humans with the brakes taken off, so it’s fascinating to push at that line.

Who is your favorite character to write and why?

It’s probably no surprise that I adore Spike. Honestly, I love all the characters, but I feel a special connection to him. Maybe it’s because he gets to say the things we’re all secretly thinking. He’s pure id — massively flawed, yet somehow relatable. His voice is so distinctive, and the amount of character development he gets over the course of the show makes him endlessly fascinating to dive into. There are just so many iterations of Spike, and exploring those layers is incredibly fun.

That said, I also have a real affinity for Buffy, Dawn and Faith. As I get more comfortable in my writing, I look forward to plumbing the depths of even more characters. I really do love them all — even the ones I love to hate. And honestly, there’s just as much joy in “love-hating” a character as there is in outright adoring one.

Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

That’s like asking a mom which of her kids she loves most — every story has its own reason for existing. And since I’m still a fairly new writer, I’ve got plenty in the works that aren’t even published yet.

That said, I have a special pride in This Is Me Trying. It was the first creative writing I’d done since middle school assignments, and posting it felt terrifying — especially on a site filled with such amazing writers. But I pushed past the embarrassment and put it up for the Short and Spuffy challenge, and I’m so glad I did. I like to joke that Short and Spuffy was my gateway drug. The community was so welcoming, and all the encouraging comments gave me the push to keep writing. Even though that drabble series is probably riddled with errors and could be improved a hundred different ways, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Without it, I don’t think I would have written everything that came after.

As for the hardest, that’s definitely my WIP Faith Around and Find Out. It’s my first true multi-chapter fic, and I’m juggling three main character voices plus two original characters, all while trying to fulfill a challenge prompt and stay true to my own artistic vision. It’s been tricky but also rewarding — especially since I’ve had a fantastic beta and supportive feedback along the way.

I’d also add that some of my original fiction projects are tough in a different way. I’ve been exploring themes I never thought I’d write about — things I usually avoid reading or watching because they’re a personal squick. And yet the ideas keep coming, so I feel compelled to write them. Between that and Faith Around and Find Out, I’m definitely being stretched as a writer — but in the best way.

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

I like to joke that Season 6 was Marty and Joss’s “torture p*rn” season — not just for the viewers, but for the characters too. At the beginning of that season, they were building something truly beautiful, and then it started to unravel into plot-device territory. The biggest example for me is Seeing Red.

Everyone knows how traumatizing that episode was — for the actors, the characters, and the fans. And it’s still used as a cudgel to demonize the Spuffy fandom. Do I think it was necessary for Spike’s character development? Absolutely not. Nor was it necessary for Buffy’s.

To me, it felt like a kind of fridging of Buffy — not in the literal “killed to motivate” sense, but in the way her suffering was used to push a male character into growth. That’s a huge cop-out in writing, and damaging to the franchise. It was especially disappointing because they had already explored that theme earlier in Dead Things with Warren, Katrina, and the Trio (negative character growth is still growth). Repeating it with Buffy herself felt gratuitous and unnecessary.

What frustrates me most is that Season 6 is actually tied as one of my favorite seasons. It has incredible highs and some of the best character development in the series. I would absolutely keep the raw, messy journeys and the darkness of that season — but I would not fridge the main female character in order to force growth onto a male character. That was a choice that disappointed me deeply as both a fan and a writer.

That being said, Buffy as a whole is — and always will be — my favorite television show of all time. There isn’t a single “skip” episode for me. Even the campier episodes of Season 1 and 2 always have something new to discover and enjoy — and those seasons also gave us deeply powerful episodes like Welcome to the Hellmouth (Parts 1 & 2)(yes, that’s how old I am, still remember “The Harvest” listed as WttH Part 2), Prophecy Girl, and The Pack. And don’t even get me started on Season 2 — with episodes like When She Was Bad, School Hard, Halloween, What’s My Line (Parts 1 & 2), Surprise, Innocence, Passions, Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered, I Only Have Eyes for You, and of course, Becoming (Parts 1 & 2). That season is proof of how layered, emotional, and impactful this show could be.

In fact, I consider myself a bit of a Buffy evangelist. When I introduce people to the series, I encourage them to watch Welcome to the Hellmouth (Parts 1 & 2) and Prophecy Girl, then jump straight into Season 2. Once they’re hooked, they can circle back for the rest of Season 1. Season 2 is so killer, and of course, it’s where we meet and fall in love with, Spike, that it converts even the biggest skeptics.

That’s the beauty of Buffy: it’s endlessly rewatchable, always layered with something new to find, and it continues to inspire me as both a fan and a writer.

That is the beauty of Buffy, Kenijo. And we're all so blessed that you're here writing fanfic and creating for the fandom. We're glad it's the gift that keeps on giving you ideas because we get to benefit from your awesome tales. Thanks for being here! :)

_______

Next up, we have the awesomely named splendidchapette as our Commenter of the Month:

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I'd never seen BtVS until a few years ago. I was visiting a friend, and their housemate was doing a rewatch and was up to 'The puppet show' and it blew me away with how good it was. So, I went away binged the whole series along with AtS. I didn't realise I was a die hard Spuffy fan until I got to Chosen and desperately wanted more. I'd never delved into fanfic before, but once I saw how amazingly talented and committed the writers were, I was hooked. The quality of writing was amazing.

What motivates you to leave comments?

I want to show my appreciation for everyone that dedicates their time and energy to writing and shares it with the world.

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

I just started writing a year ago, the community (and the characters) was just so inspiring. It's been so much fun, I love it.

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments or did you comment right away?

Yes, I was a lurker, I was so shy 😳 But I read everyone else's comments and saw how supportive the community was so I psyched myself up. I've started rereading old favourites so I can leave comments and likes this time.

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment?

Getting an author's reply is such a fun little surprise. I like it when they take a while to reply and I forget what I said, then I get to go back and remind myself why I liked the chapter or the story so much.

splendidchapette, your name is fitting because you are incredibly splendid. We're endlessly happy that you found SAD and came out of your shell to comment and write. Thanks for being here! <3

And that's a wrap on October. Y'all have a safe and Happy Halloween. Be careful where you buy/rent your costume, though. We've heard rumors that Ethan's out of captivity and back in the chaos business.

All the best,
Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and GriefCounseling

Happy September! We're so happy to bring you our Scoobies of the Month! But ... is anyone else wondering how on earth it's this close to Christmas again so soon? Seriously! 

First up, we have our Author of the Month: CheekyKitten

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I can't even remember how I started watching Buffy, but I do remember it was on its initial run, and I was just a kid. I watched most of the show when it came on TV, along with the week-long waits between episodes. But I know I missed things then. Loved it then and have loved it ever since. Rewatching reruns and then my own copies over and over. 

I don't think I got into fanfic until the series ended, and I was SO incredibly disappointed with Spike dying. The first fic I read (and also the first fic I've ever written on college-ruled paper that will never see the light of day) had to do with Spike coming back. 

And then at some point in the last few years, I had rewatched it for some umpteenth time and on a whim started looking for fanfic communities and found my way back into it all. 

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

That's a bit of a doozy of a question. Not sure I have a good answer. Sometimes a song. Sometimes, a crossover with something else I love. Sometimes, a conversation with a friend. Or a weird dream. Or just a random what if thought. I wish I could pinpoint it, but in reality, it just hits when it hits, and sometimes I'm excited enough to follow through and actually write it. 

Who is your favorite character to write and why?

Favorite is definitely Spike. His general attitude and cadence are just fun. Plus, I think I just kind of get him. Ultimately, I think he's my favorite because I spend enough time trying to get into his head that he's the one character I feel like I can plop into virtually any situation and still know what he'd do. His arc is very heavily rooted in self-reliance, and this attitude of making himself the best version of himself (whatever that means in the moment) and it appeals to me. Of everyone on the show, he gets the least help or support, and he still manages the unimaginable. I love putting him in situations where he gets just a bit more love to see what he can really blossom into. 

That being said, I generally like to treat them all kindly, so I spend a great deal of time trying to get in their heads and make the characters are fully human as I can. I want to write them all with some degree of empathy, even when it all hits the fan. 

Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

The Zeppo in Time is my favorite. Getting to help Xander live up to his potential in a way he wasn't able to on the show just felt good. Plus, Spike and Xander have this amazing buddy-cop potential, and I had a blast writing them as good friends. They just have such a fun energy together. I think it turned out better than I ever expected it would and is just overall a fun world to put together. 

Morning Stretches, I think, was the hardest to write. It's not quite, but almost all smut. And while I think it actually turned out great, I struggled quite a bit with keeping the tone where I wanted. As much fun as smut is to write, I actually find it fairly difficult and worry the most about how it's turning out. So that fic (with 6 of 8 chapters) being built up and smut) was absolutely the most challenging to date. 

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

Oh God! So much. Haha. That's why we write fic, isn't it? If everything had been exactly as I wanted, there would be no reason to write anything. I'd just keep watching it and write in other verses. What makes this world so fun to explore is all the potential for other avenues that things could have gone. I write a lot of fix-its and season re-writes, so, clearly I can see a lot options for how it could have gone. 

If I had to pick only one thing? It would be a Spike + Buffy real relationship earlier in the series and giving them some together, them vs. the world time. A change to the middle/end of season 6 and then Season 7 with them taking on the world really together with a lot of their mess sorted out would be my jam. 

Yes! YES! We wanted to see a real relationship happen on the show, too. Even if it was only a few episodes! Write that next, please! :) Thank you for being here! We're so thrilled to have you!!

__________


Next up is our Commenter of the Month: Jen

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I was like 13 when the movie came out, and as I have said since ’92: “If a budding feminist in the target age range doesn’t like it, then that tells you something.”  I knew the show had good reviews, and since I live in this world, I knew major plot points, but I still thought, “Pfft, I’m not watching that.” And for the first three seasons, I didn’t.  Before Season 4 premiered, my friend told me that Cibo Matto had played The Bronze, and as a big Cibo fan, I decided to give the show a real chance.  By “Hush”, I was majorly hooked.  By the Season 5 premiere, I was having watch parties in my dorm (I remember the absolute screams of everyone at the end of “Out of My Mind” and my boyfriend went as Spike for Halloween that year).

I had bought The Watcher Guide to bring me up to speed, and my boyfriend and I scoured the internet to try to figure out how to watch “The Wish” (there wasn’t—we had to make do with transcripts and screen grabs), and that’s when I found fanfic.  I wasn’t a shipper per se (and honestly, I’m still not) so I would read Bangel and Spuffy indiscriminately. As long as it was well-written, doesn’t dunk on Buffy, stays true to character if the fic is not AU, I’d give it a whirl. 

I got back into the fandom after I wanted to see if Buffy held up for me after I read Evan Ross Katz’s book.  It did, and honestly, I think I get more out of the show now, and I love the character of Buffy so much. It was also interesting to start from the beginning because Spike’s arc is really profound.  I started wracking my brain to remember the fics that I had read so long ago.  I found SAD on Instagram since I had liked other Buffy stuff and that’s what brought me to this site (thank you!!).

What motivates you to leave comments?

Guilt isn’t the right word, but I feel like I need to make amends to the authors from 20+ years ago that I hungrily waited for updates from and didn’t say anything. If a busy person is writing something that I really enjoyed and is giving the world such a gift for free, then dang it, I should say something.

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

Reader.  I enjoy writing, and I can write a mean essay or personal narrative, but I have never been good at fiction. 

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments or did you comment right away? 

Lurker all the way, and then I would inbox people.  I just looked at when I started leaving feedback last year, and I think what shook me out of being a lurker was the fact that I read stories that made me cry. If you are writing fiction about a show that ended over two decades ago, and it brought me to tears—you deserve some public feedback.

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment?

It’s not necessary, but I’m not gonna lie—it feels really nice!

I want to add that I love this community!  I know that all fandoms have their toxic components, so I really enjoy the positive vibe that the folks on this site have (and that nothing seems to be taken too seriously).

Jen, this is where I tell you that you are SO WELCOME to write some essays for the site using the META tag! We would love that! And we love that you found us and are enjoying SAD! We really want people to walk away from here at the end of the day feeling like it was a positive experience! So, thank you for that! Essay essay essay! :) 

And that's a big ol' wrap on SOTM for September! Y'all have fun with Missing Pieces! 
<3
Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and GriefCounseling

I think you all know what time it is, if you look in your hearts.

It’s time to get ready for another Sunnydale After Dark writing event this September: Missing Pieces 2025!

“That sounds amazing! Wait, what is that?” you might have screamed. Well, we’ll tell you!

This event focuses on the missing scenes from our beloved shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and even Angel: The Series if you so choose. What happened between the scenes–or between the sheets if you’re naughty–when the cameras weren’t rolling? What happened when someone left a room? What happened before they arrived somewhere? 

We are asking you to fill in the missing pieces with a story, or perhaps a piece of artwork!

Written entries must be canon compliant. That means whatever missing piece you write cannot alter the existing universe of the show, or change the timeline in any way. You can use parts of the episodes to help set up your missing pieces, or to help tie them up in the end. (And what a nice time to use the amazing Transcript Library we have here at SAD!) It might seem daunting until you realize just how many missing pieces there are.

What happened between seasons 5 and 6? Yeah, we’ll never be tired of this one!

What was happening inside The Bronze while Spike and Buffy shared their first kiss?

When Thanksgiving dinner was over, did Spike have to wash dishes with arrows still in his chest?

The possibilities are endless, but the challenge is keeping the show intact while telling an interesting Spuffy side-plot that we never knew existed! Not until your beautiful brain created it!

• Your story must be a minimum of 1000 words to qualify. You can write a one shot or a multi-chapter fic if you want, and it does not have to be completed to earn an award. 

• There is no limit with artwork, as long as it doesn’t change the universe as we know it.

If you are an author, artist, beta reader, or commenter for this event, you will earn an award. Comments follow the standard 15/15 rule: 15 words or more in a single comment, and a minimum of 15 comments to earn it! Easy, peasy!

We can already hear the DVDs cracking open, the VCRs warming up, and the Hulu Streams getting a workout as we all rewatch our favorite show to find the perfect missing scene!

It kicks off on September 1, so get your butts ready for some fun!

We’re excited to see what you come up with!

-SADmins

Hello, everyone! We hope you all enjoyed Wanderlust! We certainly did! You guys did an amazing job! And we're still trying to figure out where the heck three whole years went! The time has flown by because you ALL make our jobs so fun here. It's an honor and privilege to work behind the scenes for you. We adore you ALL!

And we are thrilled to bring you the new SOTM interviews to celebrate. First up, we have our Author of the Month: gwennie

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I was lucky enough to watch as a teenager when it first aired, but I didn’t start reading fanfic until years later when I got re-obsessed with the show. I rewatched incessantly, and then began gobbling up fanfic in an attempt to sate the clamouring need for MORE.

Maternity leave prompted me to jump from reading to writing. A month into my leave, I could feel my brain atrophying. So, between baby-feedings, I started writing in an attempt to exercise a brain cell or two. Initially, I had no intention of posting anything; I just wanted to play with the characters, to smoosh them together like Barbie and Ken dolls. And then change a few elements and smoosh them together again.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

For me, it usually starts with the show and with my desire for either more or different.

What don’t we see? What happens before and after scenes? Where can I shoehorn in Spuffy smut, conversation, and intimacy? 

What aspects of characters are not given time or attention? What topics are broached and then abandoned? 

What’s annoying or unsatisfying in canon? What do I want to tweak or gloss over or recontextualize or scrub from the record entirely?

Who is your favorite character to write and why?

I find the English characters much easier to write than the Americans, and Giles is by far the easiest for me. The fact that my stories aren’t all lazily written entirely from his POV is a miracle.

Which story of yours are you most proud of, and which was the hardest to write?

I’m horribly British and riddled with diffidence, so the idea that I could ever be proud of something I’ve written is genuinely unfathomable to me.

As to which of my stories was the hardest to write, that’s a sixteen-way tie between the sixteen stories in my WIP folder. They sit there, unfinished and festering. Occasionally, I poke at one of them, removing an adjective or shifting a speech tag. Occasionally, I write a new scene that does absolutely nothing to advance the plot.

Most of the time, though, I simply glare at them, refusing to abandon them entirely but never willing to put in the work to actually finish ’em.

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

I’m not being hyperbolic when I say I could very easily list a hundred changes. And that’s not to disparage the show; the more I love a story, the more likely I am to want to prise it open and rearrange its innards.

But rather than bore anyone with a bloated list, I’m going to mention just one teeny change I would’ve liked:

I wish Sunnydale hadn’t been destroyed in the finale. 

After appearing in all 144 episodes, poor Sunnydale is blithely dismissed as collateral damage in a shonky CG sequence (a sequence that inexplicably moves Sunnydale inland).

Looking beyond the subpar CG, I’m just not convinced that imploding Sunnydale serves any narrative or thematic purpose. Destroying the Hellmouth? Yep, sure, absolutely. That’s a perfect way to untether Buffy from the burden of constant slaying. But I don’t see what’s gained narratively or thematically by destroying the town as well.

That said, if I’m being honest, the overriding reason I’d love Sunnydale to survive the finale is pure selfishness. The destruction of the town means that fanfic authors can’t easily set their post-series fics in Sunnydale. And I think losing the show’s setting is a big honking loss for post-series BtVS fanfic. 

Or maybe we just need a new AU: Sunnydale (Lives) After Dark? Everything else in Chosen can stay the same, but the town survives.

Thank you, gwennie! And consider this massive encouragement to write a whole fanfic about Spuffy from Giles' POV. We want it! Badly! We wanna know all his thoughts and feelings and see them through his eyes. :)

__________

Next up, we have our Commenter of the Month: Stephaniem191

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic. 

So, I initially watched Buffy when it aired.  I am basically the same age as Buffy, so I was watching in high school, and I distinctly remember gathering together with my floor mates in someone's room to watch in college.  I own all of the DVD box sets for Buffy (and Angel), but didn't watch them for a while.  Then COVID hit, and we were stuck at home.  I think Hulu (or Netflix) was airing the seasons again (along with Dawson's Creek), so I decided to watch the whole series again in order.  I was searching the internet for the proper viewing order between episodes of Buffy and Angel, and stumbled upon fan fiction.  I know I must have been living under an actual rock, but I had never really read fanfic, let alone heard of it.  My eyes were opened that day, and I never turned back!

What motivates you to leave comments?

I feel like it's the least I can do to show my appreciation for those of you that take the time to write AND share your stories with the world.  I haven't been reading as much lately because real life has been hectic, but I do appreciate all that you authors share with us!! Sometimes I get so into a story I forget to leave a comment on the chapter because I can't wait to click "Next"!

Do you also write, or are you strictly a reader?  

hahahaha I am strictly a reader!  No one would want to read a story I would write.  This is why I teach Math instead of English!

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments, or did you comment right away?

I was definitely a lurker at first.  I honestly thought no one would care about my opinion of a story haha.  I eventually saw how much the writers appreciated the comments, so I decided that I needed to show how much I appreciated their work by commenting!

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment?

I think it's nice for them to reply, but it's not necessary for me!  They already do so much work in writing and editing the story that they do not need to worry about replying to little old me! 

I just wanted to add that I absolutely love this site, and I wish I could read your stories all day long! You all amaze me with these ideas that you come up with and how you are able to coherently put those ideas together into these fantastic worlds! Thank you!!

We are thrilled to have you here, Stephanie! Your comments are incredible, and this site exists for you and all the fans. :)

<3<3<3

That's a big ol' wrap on July! See you next month! Get your nominations in now. :)

Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and GriefCounseling

It's crazy that it's already June! We're excited to honor these two members! 

First up, we have our Author of the Month: lilacsandorangeblossoms

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I can’t remember the first time I got into the show but I remember the second time I really got into the show it was in 2023. Our puppy Hazel and she would not stop barking. I was trying anything to get her to be quiet, she didn’t like Gilmore girls which is our other dog’s favorite show. I was flipping through the channels and saw Buffy was on. I clicked on it and Hazel was fascinated. She stopped barking and laid down. I got into Buffy the second time because it makes my dog stop barking. And now if we are watching Buffy and I’m not in the room when it comes back for commercial she barks to tell me it’s back on. 

I got into writing Buffy because as I was falling asleep one night I had a thought about Dawn and Connor and how they would make such a cute couple. And then I started thinking about my favorite couple Buffy and Spike and I couldn’t stop coming up with ideas for them.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

Everywhere,  Listening to the lyrics of a song I think of Spuffy. I want Spuffy to do something and I think of a story to go around that idea. Usually I’m watching the show and I go hmmm Spuffy should be together in this season or what if she was pregnant.

Who is your favorite character to write and why?

Spike, I love using his pet names for Buffy or for Dawn. How Spike can go from the sweetest I'm with my girl I love her so much to I just killed that guy or demon. There are so many sides to Spike. He is a poet, lover, demon and he is worldly. 

Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

The story I’m most proud of is Ready for it? I hadn’t read many stories where Buffy gets turned into a vampire before she moves to Sunnydale and she is on Spike’s side when they go to Sunnydale. Buffy’s new family is Spike, Dru and Darla. It was the first story I posted on SAD. It pushed me out of my comfort zone having a smut scene almost every chapter and the first time I wrote kink in this instance daddy kink. Buffy calls Spike daddy. 

The hardest to write is Cherish the day. There is a lot of lore in that story. And it spans from 1880 to now. Buffy was cursed to die on her 27th birthday and then she comes back but because she was with William when the curse was cast he was sucked into the curse too. He dies of a broken heart every time. I still need to figure out how Buffy comes back every time. 

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

I would have had Buffy tell Spike she loves him earlier so we could see Buffy and Spike mutually in love with each other and being happy. Buffy and Spike going on dates, patrolling together, coming home and cuddling in her bed or movie nights with Dawn with Spuffy cuddling on the couch. Holding hands and being so incredibly in love with each other. 

We absolutely agree with you on what you would have changed! How great would that have been? YOU ARE AMAZING! Also, your dog sounds like perfection!

____________

Next up is our Commenter of the Month: Slaymesoftly

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

Oh wow, well I got into the show immediately, but for the first two years had to catch it in bits and pieces when I was somewhere with cable. Then we got better TV, and I could watch in real time while I caught up on what I'd missed in reruns. I got into fanfic because I fell in love with Spike shortly after he stepped out of the car. (Perhaps a teeny exaggeration, but not much) LOL And I went searching the internet for information about both Spike and James. Which somehow, let me to websites I'd never know existed.... and to fanfic. About Spike. And that was that....

What motivates you to leave comments?

As a writer myself, I know how good it feels that someone has taken the time to tell you they enjoyed your efforts (and what it was they enjoyed about it - which I don't do often enough, but am trying to get better). So, if/when I get into a story, I try to remember to leave something for each chapter. I also try not to get myself into trouble by raving about a first chapter or so, only to find myself losing interest and then feeling like shit if I stop commenting. So, sometimes I wait until I'm sure. But, if I'm reading it, then I obviously like it, so I say so. 

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

I do. Although not as prolifically as I did over 20 years ago when I first started. And I've been reading fanfic set in the Buffyverse (including Angel) since sometime before that. Probably shortly after I found it existed.

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments or did you comment right away?

Oh, definitely a lurker. I had no idea you could or should comment. The first time I commented on a fic was on "Journeys" by Mary on All About Spike. I was just blown away by it, and sent a babbling, gushing, apologetic for bothering her, incoherent message to her. Had/have no idea if she ever saw it or not. I met her in person many years later at a Writer Con, and told her about it. She just laughed. Anyway, eventually I learned about reviews and comments and began to leave more coherent ones where archives made that possible. But for those first couple of years, probably not.

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment?

As I writer, I think a simple "thank you" shouldn't be beyond anyone's reach; however, I'm not overly bothered by it if/when it doesn't happen. If I'm really into a story with lots of plot lines, I may comment on those, and if I asked a question, I do appreciate an answer. But I try to limit my questions and trust the writer to sort things out. I've had some fun back and forth with a few writers, but I don't expect that all the time.

PS This whole site is made of awesome sauce!

PPS  If a fic is posted more than one place that I read at, I will make an effort to read and comment on SAD. The more the merrier, right?

We think YOU are made of awesome sauce, Slaymesoftly! And we're so happy to have you! You're incredible!

_____

That's a wrap! We hope you guys are enjoying Wanderlust!
Chelle, Dusty, GriefCounseling, and GetItDone

Pack your bags and board that ship!

Check your car’s fluids and hit the road!

Hop on a plane and fly to places unknown!

Travel back in time to the past, or leap into the future!

We don’t care how you get there, as long as you get there! Why?

Sunnydale After Dark is giving you 30 vacation days to take a trip!

This June, event fics and art entries will revolve around traveling. All forms of travel are permitted. Road trips! Airplanes! Cruise ships! 1980s DeLoreans with flux capacitors! Portals to another dimension! Who doesn’t love a good travel story? Art is also welcome. Maybe it’s a postcard from our favorite couple hand-crafted by you! The only limit is your imagination! Look at all these exclamation points!

• Your story must be a one-shot of at least 1000 words to qualify. Multi-chapter fics are also allowed, and they can continue post-event if you don’t complete them during your Wanderlust vacation. Drabbles do not count–your chapters must be at least 1000 words. 
• Artwork can include banners for other fics, and/or standalone piece submissions. 
• All entries must be posted by June 30th at midnight site time to receive an award. 

Speaking of awards… let’s talk more about them!

• All authors will receive the Travel Agent award!
• All artists will receive the Concierge award!
• All betas will receive the TripAdvisor award!
• And if you leave 15 comments of 15+ words, you will receive the Sightseer award!

But wait, there’s more!

In addition to these awards, we’ve put together a fun challenge with extra Wanderlust vacation days. If you decide to take the challenge, we will give you a passport to travel to different locations* and collect stamps. 

*A location is a story or an art submission posted only for this event, and you earn your stamp by leaving a comment with no less than 15 words. You only receive one stamp per story, so get your comfy walking shoes on and go sightseeing! 

Participants who traveled everywhere will earn the Mile-High Club Award! That means you left at least one comment on every single submission and stamped your passport to win this award–no exceptions. It’s the most illustrious of awards, so you gotta earn it! 

We SADmins understand how difficult this might be with last-minute submissions, so we’ve extended your “vacation days” to catch up on all the locales you missed along the way.

You have until July 7th at midnight site time to turn in your passport to the SADmin team to earn the award. Delivery instructions are in the Passport.

Get your passport now! Please save it as a Google Sheets File so you can fill it out as the event rolls on. Downloading it or saving it as another file type will not carry over the correct formatting, and you won't be able to "stamp" your location!

I hope you’re excited, because we sure are! Start brainstorming travel stories & artwork now, because Wanderlust 2025 begins on the first of June! 

Let’s get the heck outta here!

-SADmin Team

Short & Spuffy Drabblemania has come to a close, and we could not be more proud of our community! At the time of this post, all awards have been distributed. If you have not received your awards, please contact the SADmin team so we can help get you squared away.

Before we get to the pretty, pretty awards, we have some stats to share. Who doesn’t love stats?

26 authors wrote a total of 32 Short & Spuffy stories, consisting of 857 drabbles.

3 authors submitted their very first story to Sunnydale After Dark for this event. Welcome!!

71 new members joined the archive during this event. Welcome to you, too!!

132 members left comments on the Short and Spuffy stories for a grand total of 15,042 comments and 14,785 likes. Wow! That’s a lot of love!

One wheel ruled them all on Discord. Thank you, wheel. We all love wheel.

Now let’s take a long, heavy-breathed gander at these gorgeous awards made by our very own scratchmeout!

Aren’t these so beautiful? The talent on this site continues to amaze us. Every author, artist, beta reader, reader-reader, and commenter deserves a huge pat on the back. And probably a long, much-needed nap! 

Thank you for making this another awesome event!

Until next time… 

The Short & Spuffy drabble event has officially begun! 

We will be updating this list daily by 12 a.m. site-time with the randomly-selected prompts for the day.

If you would like to join the fun on Discord and be there for the prompt selection ritual, errrr I mean the random prompt selection and discussion! then go here!

Remember that the prompts do not need to be used in the order they are revealed! All event rules and reminders can be found here. Please always feel free to reach out to an admin with any questions you have. 

MASTER PROMPT LIST:

1. Harmony

2. Surprise Phone Call

3. The Heart Line

4. Lies and Lullabies

5. Butterflies

6. Something You Forgot

7. Not My Fault!

8. "You've done it now!"

9. Wildflowers

10. "You need a spanking!"

11. Frogs

12. Pillow Talk

13. Confusing Tears

14. Hole in my Soul

15. Drunk Confession

16. "She's a hero, you see."

17. I like you.

18. Scavenger Hunt

19. The stars rearrange

20. Don't say it

21. Resistance

22. Not afraid

23. Easy-peasy

24. Playing hard to get

25. Don't Move

26. Stay with me

27. A turn for the worse

28. Metamorphosis

29. Someone's jealous

30. Buffy or Spike gets a love bite

31. *FREE DAY* (This is an optional, promptless drabble day if you need a buffer to wrap up your story)

Happy Drabbling!

Hello hello! We are super happy to bring you the new interviews! Settle in and enjoy! 

First up is our Author of the Month: acekoomboom

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

Reruns! I was born in ‘99, so I didn't see any of the show while it was airing. But I was a tv kid for sure, and I strongly remember season two always being on one of the rerun channels I liked when I was in elementary school.

Get ready to throw tomatoes, okay? I started reading Spuffy fic in middle school, and I started on Nauti Bitz’s website. Yes! The hardcore smut. I look back sometimes and I'm like… I can't believe 13/14 year old me was watching BtVS season six and reading Don't Stop. But I was also watching, like, The Tutors and Sex In The City, so I was seeing things I should not have been from all sides.

After that I found the Bloodshedverse, then Elysian Fields, then eventually AO3. I don't read Spike and Buffy on archive of our own anymore because I enjoy the community aspect of Spuffy so much, how this fandom has endured and revitalized itself, how alive it truly is so long after the show came out. Then I found SAD and started posting here too :) Which, side note, I really enjoy how unique this website feels in how image-centric it is. When you post a fic, it's the banner that pops up on the homepage. There are so many image and animation options when you're writing something in the shoutbox, chapter notes, comments. The banners that go along with the transcript library, the Scoobies of the month, the event announcements, all so freaking gorgeous. I have been loving that about interacting with this website. That part of it feels so very its own.

I haven't transferred all of my back catalog to SAD yet, mostly because I was writing as a cringy teenager and don't want to have to look at those stories. But cringe is dead and every stone placed is a piece of the journey, so I think I'll get around to it eventually. If you're curious to see any of it in advance I thinnnk it's all on Archive already.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

Mostly other art. Watching a movie that the Buffy characters would work well in or in an interesting way if they were in that setting, watching a show that's plot would be cool to plug into Sunnydale, hearing a song that strikes a chord with how the characters did/would feel. I have been writing a Spuffy time travel fic that uses Doctors Who (Matt Smith era) plots for over five years. It's my baby and I love it and it takes me sooooo long to add to it because I lose motivation and switch hyperfixations so often. It's only at about 60k words after all these years, but I'm going to finish it one day and it's going to be cool! You'll see XD

Who is your favorite character to write and why?

I think Spike, because oh how deeply and obviously he feels emotions, and how those emotions are wrapped up in over a century of conflicting emotions and traumas and defense mechanics. He such a strange dude, and it's really fun to get in his head.

Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

As this answer section might show, I'm very verbose. Ya girl can talk and talk and talk. For some reason, though, that does not translate very well to fanfiction. I have a really hard time making anything more than a couple thousand words. I'm a one shot author most naturally, that's just what I am likely to actually finish. I'm trying to commit to and actually cross the finish line on more long-form Spuffy, so we'll see what the future holds.

That being said, I feel like I need to break my answer for this up into categories. Multi-chapter, I’d say Pillar of Strength. I wrote the prequel and first chapter for it in 2016 and posted them, then lost the rest of the story when I lost my old ipod (I just so happened to lose it at the same convention where I saw James Masters live in concert with Ghost of the Robot when I was a preteen! It was such a small and intimate set, they did so good, it was amazing. Good Night Sweet Girl is still my favorite song by them) and abandoned the fic because it was so upsetting to have chapters of work disappear before I could post them. But I reworked and changed what that story ended up being altogether in 2023, and didn't finish the very last chapter until this year which should be up on here soon <3 

For drabbles I am feeling Holy Ground, because it shows so much of their history and their dynamic and puts a few fun headcanons in there that my mind can't stop thinking about.

For one-shots, my answer is Five Times Buffy Fell Asleep on Spike's Watch, Plus One Time They Look Forward To It. A classic 5+1 story that is actually an inverse of that trope, where the original five are short glimpses and the main chunk of word count is spent on the +1. Also, it was a Secret Santa gift for violettathepiratequeen and started an entire friendship between us, so it will have bonus points forever in my eyes :P 

As for the hardest fic I have written, it's absolutely the Doctor Who one I talked about in my first question. It has been five years, and the plot is all sorts of crazy complicated, and it's a very big bite to chew that I have created for myself. But I genuinely love it and am really hoping I'm able to make it into the fic I know it can be. I've had it titled as A Song From The River the whole time, so I think that's the name it will still have when it does get shared with the world 🫣

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

So, I feel like there were a bunch of different things I could have said for this answer, but I decided to go for one of the more silly ones to which turned out to be something I actually feel serious about now that I'm writing it out haha. I vaguely remember the writers talking about how they had planned from the beginning to make one of Buffy's friends gay and so they were planting seeds in both Willow and Xander in the early seasons before they decided which one to have that storyline with. I one-thousand-million percent think it should have been Xander.

Of all of the side ships on the show, Willow and Oz are my favorite. I don't wish he stayed around, I like that he left in the fourth season and the things that breakup did to Willow's character, but with the show coming out when it did the bi erasure is so real. Willow truly loved Oz and enjoyed her physical relationship with him, and so I always headcanon her as bi and not lesbian. Irl queer people sometimes take a while to find their true orientations too, so it isn't odd to think that Willow was still discovering herself and hadn't found the right label yet or even known that she needed to.

You know who would have fit much better in the gay not bi category? Xander! The insecurities his character has, which has been attributed in most of the show to him not having any powers unlike nearly everybody else? Yeah it's that, but also his internalized homophobia. Xander cheats on the most popular girl in school? He's not actually attracted to her. With his childhood best friend that he could have had this whole time because she's always had a crush on him? He's not actually attracted to her either. The way he trips over himself to have a crush on the superhero new student, bubbly blond valley girl? Nope, not a real attraction there. It's always the girl he's “supposed,” to like that he does. It's performative masculinity and gender conditioning, and him realizing that he's not actually into women and having to deconstruct that—get a little bit more into his childhood drama and broken home then we did in canon—I'm telling you I have thought about it so many times lol. Maybe I'll make it a B plot in a fic one day. But considering my track record with being able to commit to long form… I highly doubt it haha.

It feels almost painful to think of depriving the world of the wlw representation of Willow and Tara, the first lesbian couple to ever kiss on tv. And the so-clear answer of which one of Buffy's show besties should be gay is Xander. So I propose bi Willow and gay Xander both existing. It's not all that odd to have a disproportionately ratio-d friend group when it comes to any kind of minority, considering people with similar life experiences or values tend to find each other. So yeah. That's my official answer.

Thanks you guys :)

Thank you, acekoomboom! We're so happy to have you here!

______________

Next up is our Commenter of the Month: harmony99

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.
I’m thinking I watched the movie in the theater because, hello, vampires and Rob Halford from Judas Priest had a song on the soundtrack 😂 I enjoyed the movie, so when the show came out I watched seasons one through six as they were broadcast (with periodic re-watches of the season one DVD that I was gifted by my sisters for a birthday). A cross-country job move and the bad taste of season six meant I didn’t watch season seven until I did a re-watch in 2012. 

I was feeling sentimental late 2022, did another rewatch and somehow stumbled on Passion4Spike’s author site that December and found more fanfic sites through her links. I discovered SAD when Dusty posted that her new works would be found here. 

I love how fanfic fixes some things and in other instances creates completely divergent worlds with the characters we know and love (and sometimes we also are treated to OCs).

What motivates you to leave comments?
I have such respect for our authors and the gifts they give us. These fabulous, amazing people give us such wonderful stories and I get so much enjoyment from this community. Also, when I see a new writer posts something or an author asks for comments, I want to let them know how their work touched me or made me laugh (or cry, as the case may be). Through chatting with people on Discord and reading authors’ notes, I have come to understand how nervous some people are about putting themselves out there and I try to honor and support them by taking the time to let them know they’re appreciated with a comment.

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?
I have some “artwork” stories but I am primarily a reader.

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments or did you comment right away?
I typically read while I walk on the treadmill and I have a bad habit of intending to leave a comment or thinking I’ve left one and I never get around to actually doing it, which I feel terrible about (Bruskiboo, I know you are one of the SADvent participants that I highlighted different parts of your “Santa Con Comes to Town” while I was on the treadmill and I don’t think I ever managed to comment--SORRY!).

So, to answer that question, I left comments right away but sometimes I am so engrossed that I don’t stop to comment on a chapter that I am really enjoying, resulting in commenting gaps. If I’m on the computer instead of my e-reader I am much more likely to comment.

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment?
I know how crazy it can get to reply to comments, so I don’t mind if I don’t get a reply, but I do enjoy the dialogue that sometimes results.

Thank you, Harmony99. You are so amazing! You rock!

___

And that's a wrap! Thanks for being here, everyone!
Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and GriefCounseling

Warmest wishes for a very happy new year, everyone!

Though our SADvent Calendar event has come to a close, the story and art gifts that were exchanged shall remain evermore! If in your busy holiday season you didn’t get a chance to enjoy them all, we highly recommend checking them out here.

Participants, all awards have been distributed at this time. Please contact one of your friendly neighborhood SADmins if you haven’t received an award you feel you should have received.

And now that it is January 1, 2025, we just want to pause and acknowledge the joy of this past year. This community is always evolving. No two years feel the same. As admins we’re always trying to facilitate the fun but then step back and let everyone else take over. We can step back and let you peeps lead and share because everyone is so kind and generous and supportive to one another. So thank you for making 2024 so fantastic, and here is to another year of creating, reading, and general Spuffying with all our fic friends!

PS, definitely check out D'Hoffryn's new custom Recommendation Generator if you haven't already! The Bookshelf menu got a revamp so that you can easily find it and all your favorites. The generator is also located in your Account Info menu.

PPS, January Top's Commenters will again get to submit prompts for our annual Short and Spuffy event in March. It's a good month to show our creators some love and get rewarded for it.

Happy December, everyone! We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! And we can't wait to see all your SADvent contributions! We're off to a great start already!

Our December SOTM interviews are great! Enjoy.

First up, we have our Author of the Month: Maxine Eden

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

Well, you might’ve heard me talking about it on discord, but to keep things light, Buffy as a show was there for me at a very hard time in my life. The show really became an escape for me but also showed me how much of a strong person I could be and how I really had to go on through all of it. I had to keep showing up every day for myself. I had originally watched the show in entirety (along with Angel) probably 3-4 times at other periods in my life so I feel like it definitely came back around when I needed it the most. As for fanfic, well, I knew as I was watching early on reruns of Buffy how much I loved her and Spike. And while I searched other sites, I couldn’t quite find the niche I was wanting until I posted on Reddit and got directed to the Spuffy sites and here I am with no sign of leaving ever. 

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

Everywhere? My gatekeeper Sammi listens to me talk about how this inspired me or that inspired me and how I could turn this idea into Spuffy. Most of my fics are inspired by music though. I love to hear a great song and attribute it to Spike and Buffy in whatever scenario the idea fountain in my brain seems to want to churn out. 

Who is your favorite character to write and why?

I would have to say Buffy. I really feel a lot of similar parallels to how the character was written within my own life and I’ve always loved a badass female lead with a girly side.

Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

I think the fic I am most proud of is Cherry On Top which is my first piece of Spuffy fanfic that I wrote. If I hadn’t written that one, I never would’ve written all the other fics I’ve published. The hardest one would probably be a tie between The Boyfriend Swap and Unravelling. One features Buffy/Other which was hard to write even with Spuffy being endgame and Unravelling was hard to write too because of how the characters progressed and what happens to Buffy in that fic. I really had to get into a certain mindset to be able to convey the emotions I wanted to in the latter. 

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

More Spuffy time? A happy ending for them? No Spike dying on the Hellmouth? They are all great for rewrites but my biggest issue is Buffy always listening to her friends and being scared of their judgement towards her especially when she saves their butts all the time!

We are right there with you on the happy ending for Spuffy, Maxine Eden! Thank goodness we have fanfic! Thank you for your answers! You are outstanding! We are so happy to have you here with us.

________

Next up, we have Passion4Spike as our Commenter of the Month: 

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I came to be a BtVS fan after the series had ended in a kind of backwards way: I enjoyed DB in Bones and Christian Kane in Leverage, found them both on ANGEL and I actually watched the entire Angel series before I ever watched any BtVS.  Needless to say, I was on team Angel when I did finally watch Buffy, but that all changed when Spike showed up; he's clearly the OTP for Buffy!

What motivates you to leave comments?

As a writer, I appreciate comments soooo much, so I always try to leave comments for other writers to let them know all the blood, sweat, and tears they put into their writing is worth it!

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

I also write. After reading for a long time, I tried my hand at it and fell in love with creating worlds for Spuffy to be happy (and sad and then happy again) in.

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments or did you comment right away?

I started leaving comments pretty early on because I was so thrilled with the happy endings I was finding, which was clearly missing from the show! It touched my soul so hard, I had to let the writers know that they healed my broken Spuffy heart.

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment?

I really like having interaction with the writers, but I also understand that writers can get overwhelmed with comments and can't always reply. I do like getting replies, though, because I've made some incredibly great friends that started from comments/replies and evolved into chats and in person meetings. I treasure these life-long connections! 

Personal note:

Thank you so much for the Commentor of the Month honor! I can't tell you how much it means to me. I also want to say, if anyone doesn't know, the reason my story 'Love Lives Here' has stalled is that I lost my home to flooding from Hurricane Helene and have been in survival/recovery mode the last couple of months. I do plan to get back to it and finish it as soon as I have some brain space and emotional bandwidth to spare. 

Passion4Spike, I think I can safely speak for all of us when I say that we absolutely miss your updates, but completely understand. And we all wish you the very best as you rebuild your life. We're here if you need us. We adore you! You're incredible. <3

And that's a wrap, SAD. Have a wonderful December! Stay safe, stay hydrated, and make good choices. ;) 

Happiest of Holidays to you all,
Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and Grief Counseling

ETA: We have a banner! Huge thanks to VeroNyxK84 for her work on this! SAD is so lucky to have you!!

It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays… 

Have you ever wished upon a star for the Spuffy fic of your dreams? (Have any of us not done that?) Do you have an idea banging around in your head that you would love to see but have no idea how to do it yourself? Would you just like to enjoy more of the thing you adore because you adore it forever and you just need more more more?

Then you might like to participate in our upcoming SADvent Calendar event! (Forgive us. We live for wordplay.)

This event will be something new for SAD. In the past we’ve done prompt exchanges. We’ve done free for all gift exchanges. But this year we are doing a full on custom fic/art exchange.

Here’s how it works!

You will sign up here, describing the gift you’d like to receive. You’ll be able to share your maximum rating tolerance, genre preferences, and a custom prompt describing your ideal gift. You can be as vague or as specific as you like here. You’ll also describe any type of fic/art that you are unwilling to make for others in exchange for your gift (so that we don’t accidentally pair you with a prompt or rating you’re uncomfortable with!).

After everyone has signed up by October 31, the SADmins will go about pairing your prompt with the perfect creator for what you’ve requested.

By November 7, you will receive an email with the name of your giftee and their story requests and preferences. At this time, you’ll also sign up for the specific day you would like to post your story in December. Days will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. 

Our goal is to have a daily posting throughout the entire month (you know, like the advent calendar). That way everyone reading along has something to look forward to every day.

Some rules and deets because sometimes you need them rules and deets:

• Fics should be a one shot completed story with a minimum of 1000 words.
• Posts should be made on the day you sign up for— no earlier, no later (please see the site time below the Scooby Chat if you’re unsure of timing). If a conflict arises where you know you’ll be unable to post on your day, please reach out to the SADmins ASAP so that we can work with you to rearrange the schedule.
• Keep your giftee and the date of your posting SECRET. Why? Because it’s FUN. That’s why.
• Please avoid particularly triggering topics in your fic request (i.e. character deaths, sexual assault, etc.)
• Try to keep your prompt realistic for the length of the event and allow for your gifter to interpret the prompt as they will.
• The prompt you receive should be followed as best as you can manage. Please do not willfully disregard the wishes of the person you’re gifting to. It’s Christmas for crying out loud. If there is an issue with the prompt you receive please inform the SADmins immediately so that we can help you find a solution.
• If you have a question about the prompt you’ve received and would like to ask your giftee something, please reach out to the SADmins who will communicate with them on your behalf.
• Please refrain from publicly complaining about your prompt or the stress of writing it. We don’t want anyone to feel discouraged or embarrassed.
• When posting your gift, make sure you check the event box and also include your giftee’s name in the Gift To section of your story info so they receive an email alert that their gift has been posted!
• Promptly thank your gifter! Even if you feel the prompt was interpreted "incorrectly" or you didn't receive what you expected, someone still worked hard to custom-create a story or piece of art just for you. They will be waiting on pins and needles to hear from you! So, like, don’t leave them hanging. It’s just not cool. 

We will be giving out standard writer, artist, beta, and commenter awards for this event. As always, to win an artist (for banners) or beta award the writer must credit you in their story info. To earn the commenting award, make 15 comments of 15 words or more!

If you have further questions, feel free to comment, reach out privately, or join the community conversation on our Discord server.

Well, friends, you’ve done it again! It’s been, dare we say it— oh, of course we’re gonna say it!— a legendary event this September here at Sunnydale After Dark.

Thanks to you, our Spuffy fic world is all the richer with fairies, dragons, princesses, even a Bigfoot or two! You can enjoy all the event entries here. (Pssst! Don't forget that all our past event collections are always located in the Browse dropdown menu!)

34 new pieces of fic and art were added to the site for this event! Our Top Commenters left over 1000 comments throughout the month.  5 members received their very first event award. And 3 members earned every single event award! A big special shout out to the most legendary ClowniestLivEver, Rea, and Harlow Turner for this awesome achievement.

Our gorgeous awards were created by the incomparable Grief Counseling. Let's all pause to ooh and ahh over those: 

All the awards have been distributed. Please contact us if you feel you earned an award that isn't located in your profile!

You all rock and are the reason these events happen. Thank you as always for the positivity and support you spread every day. Much love!

It is crazy that it's already August but with the new month ... comes brand new Scoobies to celebrate. Who are we kidding? We celebrate all of you and thank you ALL for your contributions here. 

First up, we have our Author of the Month: myrabeth

*~*~*

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I'll begin with a hearty thank you for the nomination and award. It was very kind of you to think of me. 

Like many fans of an age with Buffy, I missed the show when it would have been most timely for me, because my teens and early 20s years were busy and chaotic. A few years down the line, a musical-loving friend watched the show, became obsessed with OMwF, and started showing me clips from that episode. She eventually talked me into watching the whole series.

That must have been around early 2008, as my first bit of toe-dipping into fanfic was that year. I didn't stay long. Another short visit into this world happened in 2010. I read a lot. Wrote a little. Never finished a story.

In the fall of 2014, I started digging through some of my digital clutter and found my collection of fanfic drafts. One of them caught my attention. It was novel length by spring, fully posted to an archive by summer and my belief that I would "get this out of my system and move on" was quickly shattered.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

Sometimes what kicks off a project is a conversation with my beta/brainstorming partner about a canon arc or characterization choice that veers into "What if" territory. Sometimes, it's a scene that appears in my head I have to study and contemplate to figure out the story around it. And sometimes, I'm staring at a blank doc, feeling like I have something to type, but not knowing what, until a story starts appearing on the page.

But I wouldn't use the word inspiration. That sounds like I'm looking for story ideas. I'm not. I've spent my entire time in fanfic wishing I had fewer of them, actually. I'm constantly overwhelmed.

Who is your favorite character to write and why?

Most of my stories center heavily on Buffy. Specifically, what happens if she's given the breathing room (or impetus) to mature in varying circumstances. When I started writing, I thought my goal was to give Spike what he wanted, but I quickly came to understand that a maturing Buffy was the best vector for doing so, so she became my star.

But I still don't know that I'd call her my favorite. When Dru pops in for a cameo or a post-season 3 Faith rolls into town, I always have a good time. They're fun and interesting, and pairing them with my altered-by-the-circumstances Buffy is guaranteed to be a great scene.

Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

Of my completed multi-chapter stories, A Touch of Her Style may be my best writing, as far as quality and consistency. Pieces is by far my best completed drabble story, and among my best one shots. Both were projects where once I got rolling with them, they snapped together like puzzle pieces, with very little effort. My best work is always the stories that tell themselves, the ones where I get out of the muse's way and let it flow.

"Hardest to write" is a toss up among a few long standing WIPs. One because Spike's logical, in-character reaction to the scenario I built wrecked my vision of the story, and I've never figured out how to reconcile the situation. Another is a highly technical, tightly formatted piece (season long drabble story) that is difficult to write for those reasons, but at least the characters are behaving as expected, so it's not a miserable experience. Another is a rich, complex story with a big cast (12 narrators, 5 of them OCs) that I absolutely love, but it's an emotional, often depressing journey that thus lends itself to being put on the shelf for long mental health breaks.

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

So, so much. But that's what makes BtVS so fic-able. It's full of interesting characters and great stories, but it left mountains of potential on the table, in very easy reach. It's just as full of "what ifs," gaps, inconsistencies, and loopholes. BtVS really is a fanfic writer's candy land.

My top three changes would be:

1. To not ruin Buffy's growth and maturation arc just to keep Angel on screen in season 3. The production team sacrificed the characterization of their star for the sake of prepping a spin off and Buffy as a character never fully recovered. Faith got short-changed as a side effect, never getting enough screen time for us to truly understand her. Lose, lose.

2. To not let Anya and Tara slip into the roles of "Scooby arm candy" and leave them there. Tara got it worse, but Anya's a victim, too. They were both loaded with potential that went untapped. Anya was given throwaway comedy lines that made her look dumb when her knowledge and experience should have a powerful tool in the Scooby arsenal on a regular basis. Tara's gentle, accepting personality would have made her the perfect confidant for Buffy, easily her best friendship match in the later seasons, but we only got a glimpse of than in canon, no on-going development for that relationship. Or for Tara herself. She deserved better.

3. (Here's where I get booted from the fandom for heresy.) To have never produced OMwF. Season six is packed full of half-baked ideas, irregular and ill-logical characterization, and story arcs that were badly paced, leaving a lot of debris on the ground for season 7 to pick up (or fail to), when season 7 did not have that kind of time. If the hiatus between seasons 5 and 6 wasn't spent putting endless hours into producing a musical, that time could have -and probably would have- been spent getting plans for the entire season ironed out and locked down. We got one episode that contributes nothing to the larger story that couldn't have easily gone into the surrounding episodes, in exchange for the quality of the entire season. Again: lose, lose. So yes, I think the first bit of BtVS I ever saw is among the show's worst missteps.

And this is why fanfic exists.

Thank you, myrabeth! We love having you here and can't wait to see what you'll write next. <3

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Our Commenter of the Month is the lovely Grief Couseling.

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

A guy wearing a trench coat in a dark alley accosted me one night, opened his coat all sneaky-dickens-like (Not Charles Dickens-like), and had all these DVDs attached to the inside panel. He was like, "Hey, man, you wanna take a wild trip?! Watch this show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer." And I was like, "Joke's on you, I've already seen it!" Because I had, because my sister who used to write fanfic for the show forced me to watch it in the early 2000s alongside Angel in episode succession just as it aired on TV and I was immediately hooked. By the way, that man in the trench coat? He now owns Amazon.

What motivates you to leave comments?

I'm not an avid reader, I have to be honest. Getting this award was shocking (but thank you so much!!) because I feel like I fail fandom by not gobbling up as much as I could - but I've been in this fandom since 2006 so it's not as typical for me to go on those days-long reading binges like I used to. BUT! When a man in a trench coat says, "Hey, pretty lady, you wanna take a wild trip? Read this story!" And then sneaks me a NC-17 tale? You bet your butts I'm commenting. There's not much motivation involved. If I read it? I comment on it. I might not hit up every single chapter if the story is complete, but I absolutely give it some love. It's impossible NOT to. By the way, that man in the trench coat? He used to be Steve Jobs.

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

Well, I like to think I'm a writer, but that's up for debate. When a man in a trench--okay, joke landed. The point is, I see a lot of dudes in trench coats and they're always famous in a few years. What gives, science? Yeah, I write. Like, a lot. And I used to write under another name to hide from the FBI. It's been a decades-long hunt to catch me for thousands of cereal killings (I love me some Cheerios) and they'll NEVER CATCH ME.

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments or did you comment right away?

I lurked for about three to four months on livejournal. I didn't really know about all the archives (there were so many more back then) but I'm not a very shy person so if I liked something, I tackled the author with praise. Maybe a little TOO much praise back then, because I was in my 20s and hadn't yet learned about being in your 40s.

I think I instinctively knew how important it was to give others feedback when an author responded to one of my comments, who apparently had received none and was so touched to have literally anyone say something. If I could brighten someone's day by thanking them for sharing their art with the world? Man, that's pretty easy! It literally takes no effort on our parts to give even a simple thank you, or an "I loved it or liked it", or send a man in a trench coat to their comments box to give them bootleg copies of Chance on DVD.

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment?

I actually never think about the author's response when I leave a comment. It's not about that for me. Like, when you give something to someone (For instance, bootleg copies of Chance) it shouldn't be about the thank you you get in return, it should be about the gift. I also know how stressful it can be as a writer to have a lot of comments to reply to, and sometimes you're stuck thinking "I sound robotic, or repetitive, or maybe not as grateful as I actually am" so I never expect the author to take that step to say thanks. I know they appreciate it, because of all the spyware I've installed in everyone's houses to keep track of how many times a day they smile from comments. Is that weird? ;)

Thank you, Grief Counseling, and yes ... it's a little weird but we love you so we'll welcome it. But if you see anyone in hair rollers ... it's on you. :) 
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And that's a wrap on interviews. Now stop reading this and go go go create for our new event. Take us on epic adventures and introduce us to the monsters from your nightmares! :) 

Take care,
Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and Grief Counseling

So excited to bring you our July SOTM interviews! Hope you guys are staying nice and cool wherever you are. :)

First up, our Author of the Month: hulettwyo

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

First, I want to say a million-billion thank yous to the person who nominated me!  Oh, the scream I scrumpt when I got that email!

I was aware of the show and vaguely aware of the characters, but I didn’t properly watch the show until 2010 when I was 38 years old.  It was on the TV in the living room, and I wasn’t really paying attention because I was dinking around on my laptop.  I asked, “Why’s that guy in a wheelchair if he’s a vampire?”  Back to season one, episode one we went, and I watched it all the way through two or three times.  I wanted more of that world and those characters, so I started reading fanfic, then I started writing it, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

For my first story (trying desperately not to cringe – I’m reworking it and will eventually post the new version), the question, “What could’ve happened if Spike hadn’t burned up in the Hellmouth?” popped into my head and wouldn’t go away.  I typed out a rough first chapter and thought it would, but it didn’t, so I kept typing.

My ideas for my other stories came from random places.  Songs, bits of TV shows, movies, or books, one idea came from a meme I saw on Facebook, and one was a Spuffyfied rework of a funny post I saw somewhere about waxing your hoo-ha.  I’ve written one story from a prompt about mind-reading, another story came from a discussion in a chat room when Ghost of the Robot was doing Stage-It shows, one came from a Spike statue I used to have, and one came from walking around the carnival that comes to town each June.  Most times, I’ll see, read, or hear something and think, “I can totally make that Spuffy,” and off I go.

Who is your favorite character to write and why?

Spike is my favorite character of all time.  There’s just so much you can do with him.  In my stories, he’s an abused teen, the Master of the Hellmouth, a wealthy businessman, a vampire prostitute, a recovering addict, a drummer, a sex slave, a time-traveler, an agoraphobe, a boyfriend for rent, a carny, and a celebrity bodyguard, among others. 

My muse does love to torture the poor guy – he’s so damn pretty when he’s hurting – but I do try to make my muse give him some happiness and comfort.

Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

Trying to pick a favorite story is like trying to pick a favorite child.  Probably ‘Service Unit’ or ‘Coming Through’ for my Spike is a vampire stories.  I’m rather partial to ‘Not Long to Wait’ as well, although that’s Spike/Dawn and not Spuffy.  For my Spike is a human stories, probably ‘Oblivious’ or ‘Clean Slate’ or ‘It’s Easy Time, Until It’s Not.’  It’s really hard to choose.

The hardest to write, as far as researching and hoping I’m not completely screwing everything up, is probably ‘Bruises.’  It’s been a minute since I was a teenager, so trying to write how teens would act or react is a bit difficult.

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

I’d have yeeted Angel out of Sunnydale long before the end of season three.  Not that I don’t like Angel, I just really really don’t like him with Buffy.  And bringing his brooding butt back in season seven to basically undo all the Spuffy would not have happened.  I also wouldn’t have killed Tara because she's fricking awesome and I love her.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! We are so glad to have you at SAD! You are amazing and we appreciate you!! 

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Next up is our Commenter of the Month: VioletMoon

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

Getting into the show was such a journey, so forgive me if I get long-winded.  BtVS premiered when I was in high school, but I couldn't get into it even though I had loved the movie. I gave up after the first episode, but I vaguely knew of Buffy and Angel's romance, and thought it made for an interesting story.

Fast forward to 2006 - I had just finished binging the amazing Farscape, and was looking for a new fantasy show to love.  Bones was on the air at the time, and I was enjoying David Boreanaz’s role so much, that it made me curious to see him portray a vampire. I went on YouTube to watch some clips, but I kept seeing scenes of Buffy and Spike (and obviously, we know how amazing they are, so I was very intrigued). 

And then a friend of mine had sent me her old BtVS videotapes to watch, and this time I got hooked immediately. I ordered all the DVDs right after. 
I became obsessed. I knew all the lyrics to the OMWF soundtrack, before I even got to the third season, kind of obsessed. The love for that show, and Spuffy, hit me really hard. 

As for fanfiction - I was already reading and writing fic for another show (Third Watch). Members from that community were actually the ones who had recommended Farscape and Bones, and had also sent me the Buffy VHS tapes. So I feel like this all paved the way to the BtVS fandom.  

I mainly read Spuffy fics now...and the reason I started reading them is because I wanted more :) I still do. I want to see them have the happy ending they deserve, but also see explorations of them in other universes, angsty scenarios, comedies, etc. I  just want it all!

What motivates you to leave comments?

• I want the author to know that someone is reading and enjoying their hard work. 
• I’m being provided with free entertainment about two of my favorite characters of all time. You bet I’m going to appreciate that and leave you some love. 
• If I feel any sort of emotion - sadness, happiness, comfort, etc. 
• Even if one line sticks out for me - something romantic, a joke, a haunting description, etc. I want to make sure I highlight that line and comment about it. 

This also goes for artists and their art work! I've definitely squeed over art that has been posted here. 

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

I also write! Which is another reason why I love commenting - I want to give an author/artist the same giddiness and motivation that I get each time I receive a new comment. 

This also ties in to what motivates me to leave comments  - for me, writing is very personal, and putting myself out there could be scary. So when I receive kind words on something I bared a piece of my soul on, it makes me really happy. And I want to be able to give that back. 

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments or did you comment right away?

I can't really remember, but I think I started leaving comments pretty early on. I definitely remember being so excited when I first discovered fanfic, it just felt like a whole different world. 

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment?

Not very, because I totally understand that life gets busy (I even have a bunch of comments that I haven’t replied to yet).  But I do love the interactions and reading the author's responses, especially when they give an insight into what they wrote. 

Thank you thank you thank you, VioletMoon! We love having you here and you bring so much to the community! 

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And that's a wrap! Hope you're all having a great summer! Hydrate! :) 

Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and GriefCounseling