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