Happy February! We hope you guys are writing something Valentine-y for our lovely blonds. I dunno ... smut? Drama? Smutty drama? Smutty funny drama that smuts? Maybe Spike finds a puppy or kitten with a red bow around its neck and HAS to give it to Buffy? 

Anyway, we are pleased to bring you the February Scoobies of the Month! First up, we have our Author: Tikiriaaa

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

I had seen some episodes on tv as a young teen, but back then we didn’t have a good channel reception for it, so it was all scrambled and unfortunately the dubbing wasn’t great (I am French). Then when I started uni I met a friend who absolutely loved the show, and we swapped her BTVS dvd box sets with my Doctor Who ones. We successfully managed to convert each other, and once I finished season 2 of BTVS I bought my own box sets. I am still so thankful to her for making me watch the show, she’ll forever be one of my favourite people for it, even though she is a Bangel fan hahaha.

I came to fan fiction much much later. I had read some Harry Potter fics before, pretty irregularly, but never for BTVS. But when I got pregnant with my third child I was really sick, and I was stuck in bed for a while, and after rewatching my favourite episodes I decided I wanted more, and went looking for some fics online. I ended up finding EF and meeting great people there, including Harmony99 who recommended a few fics from SAD, leading me here!

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

I have ADHD and a lot of intrusive thoughts, so a lot just randomly pops into my head when I’m supposed to be focusing on something else. I also have pretty crazy and/or vivid dreams almost every night, which can be great sources of inspiration for me.

I also do a lot of what ifs? Just change one detail or one event from the show, and what happens then?

Who is your favorite character to write and why? Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

I think one of my favourite characters to write is Anya, because she’s easily badly written I find, and when I can get her voice right it’s so rewarding. I also really like writing a teenage Buffy.

I think the story I am most proud of is the one I am writing right now and plan on starting posting this month (let’s call it BE for now, I don’t want to give anything away). I am also really happy with the one I wrote before, “Relentless”. It was a Christmas gift and following someone’s requirements really pushed me out of my comfort zone as a writer.

The one that was (is) hardest to write is probably “Rewind the Rebound”, which I haven’t posted here yet, because I feel bad about only posting the first chapters when I am not actively working on it right now. I think it’s the hardest because I wanted to start writing something without planning ahead and see where it would take me. In the end I am not sure this style of writing is working for me. I usually tend to start with a detailed plan of where the story is going.

But I am hoping to get back to it soon and post it on SAD then! As soon as I plan it out!

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

I think I would have tried and tackle the inconstancies regarding vampire lore. I get that the writers didn’t always care about continuity, and wanted to focus on the story of the week, and also that perceptions do evolve as you grow up. But one of the most annoying things on the show was the double standard when it came to Angel/Angelus vs evil/ souled Spike. I would have spent more time on Dawn and Spike’s relationship in season 7 as well (or any time at all, really).

The second thing I would have changed would be more accountability for Xander. Not only is it annoying that he gets off scot-free with a lot of stuff, but I think it also denied him the chance to grow and develop as a character. That and his attitude towards Anya.

Then I probably would have pushed for way more flashbacks! I’m a sucker for them!

(Thank you so much, Tikiriaaa! We are so glad you moseyed over to our neck of the wood and started posting here! The fandom is blessed to have you! And uhm ... any time you want to write a fic where Xander is held accountable ... YES. SO, yes! Especially when he summoned Sweet and people danced themselves to death! :) )

Next up is our lovely Commenter of the Month: SpuffyFan12345

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

My brain is wired to dismiss new info and suggestions until I hear them from multiple sources. I could've joined the fanbase a decade ago if I'd listened to a boyfriend at the time and watched the show. Then in 2023 I really enjoyed the “Buffy Gets Therapized” videos from Mended Light YouTube, but I don’t think I made it past the opening theme song when I tried to watch Buffy. Then 9/21/2024 my journal states: “started Buffy the Vampire slayer last night—I started watching a YouTube video yesterday that said the series is very feminist and oh boy it is. Little over-the-top and low production quality taste, but it gives me a chuckle now and then, and yes I love the female-power/female-centered the plot is.” Little did I know how my life had changed!

The next weeks of journaling note my binge of the whole Buffy and Angel series, growing more and more excited for the characters and the universe. I followed up with Passion of the Nerd (YouTube) storytelling analysis, the podcasts “Still Pretty” and “Still Dead”, etc. I couldn’t get enough! Early 2025, I found my way to AO3 and the world of fanfiction.

Oddly, I’m not the best at re-watching Buffy episodes or seasons in full, but I can quote most of Spike’s lines thanks to the YouTube playlist “Spuffy - All Scenes” from Buffy & Spike Channel. Much love to whoever created that! It is priceless to me.

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

Summer 2025 I picked up writing as a "serious" hobby, and have generated 120k words across as 7-book series I have planned. I'm giving myself a decade to learn craft and get the first two books published, so 2035 will be a big year for me if everything goes as planned... (None of my other plans tend to work out, but maybe writing is the exception that proves the rule?)

My series’ main character and love-interest carry the same energy (push-pull dynamic) of Buffy/Spike, even if they are too far off to work as fanfic. Spuffy will forever be in my heart!

What motivates you to leave comments?

Some of the best writing advice I've heard was from "How Story Works" podcast, and was that before any work is completed, the only feedback one should ever accept is the answer to “what’s your favorite part?” Hearing encouragement of favorite parts on my “zero draft” snippets helped me go from zero to a hundred real quick, find my writers voice, and have a lot more writing confidence. Plus, it was super fun! I want to pay that favor forwards, so that’s what motivates me to leave comments on fanfic, highlighting my favorite parts of each work. Echoing back the best character moments, impeccable insights, and just pure fun, I hope resonates with the authors and encourages them to keep writing!

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

I was a lurker for a while, especially on AO3 (SpuffyFan123). Recently moved to SAD as primary, first motivated because Dusty has more works posted over here, and then sticking around because I like how easy it is to find and view my past comments. (My brain will remember a particular scene at random, and have no idea which fic it was from, only that I definitely want to re-read it, like now! Past comments form the breadcrumbs in such frantic searches....lol)

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

I post mainly for the joy of the authors (I hope). And because I like actively engaging in what I read. Unlike a physical book or ebook where highlights would go into a void, knowing that my comments can be read (whether or not they are replied to) is very motivating. If an author does choose to reply, that’s the cherry on top of an already delicious ice cream sundae.

(Well, SpuffyFan12345, we think the cherry on top is having YOU here! Thank you for being such an amazing part of the community! We can't wait to see what you do next. <3 )

And that's a wrap! Happy writing everyone ... remember ... puppies or kittens with a red bow for Buffy would be a lovely Valentine for Chell- uh, I mean BUFFY. Wow, Buffy sure would like that!

Happy Hearts!
Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and GriefCounseling