Steddie Underdog Fics

Why do you write Steddie?

There’s just something about these two idiots that really draws you in, y’know? But, in all seriousness, Steddie was my late in life introduction to fanfiction. After watching season 4 and becoming obsessed with Eddie—as one does—I started seeing very intriguing Steddie edits all over Tiktok, including fic recs, which introduced me to a magical place called AO3. It didn’t take long for me to move from reading to writing.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

Oh boy, that’s a tough one. Friends to lovers, Strangers to lovers, ENEMIES to lovers—it’s all so delicious. And who doesn’t love a good bit of hurt/comfort?

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

I didn’t mean for it to happen but I think movie crossover/AUs have sort of become my thing. I really enjoy the whole process of adapting the boys and company to other existing and beloved IPs, and the challenge of preserving not only the essence of their characters but also keeping the heart of the AU alive is SO much fun. I think I have a bit of a knack for it.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

Now that’s just cruel, how could I choose just one?? Honestly, so many come to mind, I could go on for hours. We are ridiculously blessed in this fandom with an overwhelming amount of talented authors. The first few I can think of are: “Yes, Chef” by Sadstateofaffairs, “Deal with the Devil” by VTHX, and “carve your name into my chest” by hexiewrites

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I haven't really done a soulmates fic yet (though I did get introduced to the Soulmate goose of enforcement when it was requested by my winter exchange giftee, which was a blast to play with). I’d like to do a good long soulmates fic some day, just waiting to come up with a fun unique twist on it!

Are there any memorable Steddie collaborations (art, writing, podfic, etc.) you've done or would like to do?

Just recently my one-shot “Who Even Goes on Blind Dates Anymore?” was made into a podfic by @ beingmissbatty and it was so amazing to be able to listen to my own story like that! They did a truly wonderful job with it, and I hope they do many more podfics in the future.

What is your writing process like?

99% of the time I write a rough but complete outline at the beginning. I like to know the big beats of where I'm going from the start, especially if I’m going to post before the whole fic is completed. Then chapter by chapter I'll usually write the dialog first and work out from there. With some fics I listen to music to get in the mood, with others I'll find ambient videos on youtube to play in the background.

What writing tools do you use, if any? For example, do you participate in community writing events like sprints or prompts, or have a favorite writing program aid like Scrivener?

Yes, I sprint on discord A LOT. I’m a mod for the @ strangerthingswritersguild and we do mod-run scheduled community writes every weekend, so I can always count on at least a little group writing time each sat/sun. I also lead a WIP Weekend group in the STWG along with @ pearynice, aimed at supporting and motivating each other and it’s been such a wonderful experience. As far as programs, I used google docs for a long time, but I switched to Ellipsus some months ago and I absolutely love it.

Do you have any writing quirks?

Oh my god, SO many i’m sure. I know I have a lot of crutch words that I overuse, and that’s been something I'm working on. I also have the unusual habit of creating banners and graphics for fics before I've even started writing them. I also REALLY like to have a title in mind before writing too.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

I like to post as I go, kudos and comments are a really great motivator for multichapter fics! Though, lately I’ve been trying to wait until I have at least a few chapters banked before posting.

Which fic are you most proud of?

Another hard choice but I think i’d have to say my Labyrinth AU “It’s Only Forever”

What's a funny or interesting or completely wild research topic you've dug into as a result of writing Steddie?

My google search history has to be a very strange place to visit. Lots of “how long can a person be upside down before they’d fall unconscious”, double checking what material butt plugs were commonly made from at different periods in history, or researching the spiritualism movement for a one off line.

How did you get the idea for Fuggi Regal Fantasima?

Like a lot of my fic ideas, it started with hearing a few lines of dialog in my head while daydreaming. I imagined Eddie sitting on the counter in Steve’s kitchen, annoyed and a little sad because no one would pay attention to him, and could hear Steve’s equally annoyed and slightly sad voice as he finally gave in and acknowledged Eddie with a quiet “They can’t see you.”

When writing Your Dasher Is Nearby, what was something you didn’t expect?

The ending! Spoilers ahead, but when I started writing it the end looked a bit different and I had no plans for Eddie and Chrissy to know each other, or for Eddie to be a guy she’d been trying to set Steve up with all along. When the idea came it wound up being such a fun payoff.

What inspired Save A Mechanical Bull, Blow A Cowboy?

I wish I could say but I honestly don’t remember how it all started! It was one of three fics I wrote for smutty September last year. I just knew Steve was the type of guy who would think “oh that looks easy, that’s a surefire way to turn Eddie on and maybe end this little game once and for all!!”

What was your favorite part to write from Ye Olde Meet-Cute?

THE STOCKS. I’m still not over it to be honest.

How do/did you feel writing Fuggi Regal Fantasima?

Ugh, I love it so much but that one made me SO sad sometimes. Even though I knew there would be a happy ending eventually, getting in to either of their heads was almost always mildly painful lol

What was the most difficult part of writing Not (A) Cinderella (Story)?

I decided early on to stick with Steve’s POV alone for this fic which made it a little more challenging to have Eddie’s actions make sense and not be seen as too ridiculous or frustrating when the reader didn’t have any much insight into his motivations (yet). I’m actually in the middle of writing the final chapter of this one now and I already miss this version of Steddie. They’re so innocent and adorable!

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

There’s so many that I still think about all the time. Here’s the first few that come to mind. The ball/dance scene in “It’s Only Forever”, the ghostly smut scene in “Fuggi Regal Fantasima”, the moment when Steve puts on the ruby slippers in “I don’t think we’re in Hawkins anymore, big boy.” That last one is also one of my favorite lines.

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

I’m pretty excited about this year’s Steddie big bang. So, naturally I can’t say much about it yet, but the idea is one I've been sitting on for a VERY long time and I really can’t wait to get into it. I’m also still plugging away at my summer camp au “Midsummer Nights” and I'm hoping to finally finish it this year.

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

Just a heartfelt thanks to you, the lovely folks behind the steddieunderdogfics page for all your hard work putting this stuff together. The spotlight, the fic recs, the theme weekends, it’s all so great!

Why do you write Steddie?

There’s just something about these two idiots that really draws you in, y’know? But, in all seriousness, Steddie was my late in life introduction to fanfiction. After watching season 4 and becoming obsessed with Eddie—as one does—I started seeing very intriguing Steddie edits all over Tiktok, including fic recs, which introduced me to a magical place called AO3. It didn’t take long for me to move from reading to writing.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

Oh boy, that’s a tough one. Friends to lovers, Strangers to lovers, ENEMIES to lovers—it’s all so delicious. And who doesn’t love a good bit of hurt/comfort?

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

I didn’t mean for it to happen but I think movie crossover/AUs have sort of become my thing. I really enjoy the whole process of adapting the boys and company to other existing and beloved IPs, and the challenge of preserving not only the essence of their characters but also keeping the heart of the AU alive is SO much fun. I think I have a bit of a knack for it.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

Now that’s just cruel, how could I choose just one?? Honestly, so many come to mind, I could go on for hours. We are ridiculously blessed in this fandom with an overwhelming amount of talented authors. The first few I can think of are: “Yes, Chef” by Sadstateofaffairs, “Deal with the Devil” by VTHX, and “carve your name into my chest” by hexiewrites

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I haven't really done a soulmates fic yet (though I did get introduced to the Soulmate goose of enforcement when it was requested by my winter exchange giftee, which was a blast to play with). I’d like to do a good long soulmates fic some day, just waiting to come up with a fun unique twist on it!

Are there any memorable Steddie collaborations (art, writing, podfic, etc.) you've done or would like to do?

Just recently my one-shot “Who Even Goes on Blind Dates Anymore?” was made into a podfic by @ beingmissbatty and it was so amazing to be able to listen to my own story like that! They did a truly wonderful job with it, and I hope they do many more podfics in the future.

What is your writing process like?

99% of the time I write a rough but complete outline at the beginning. I like to know the big beats of where I'm going from the start, especially if I’m going to post before the whole fic is completed. Then chapter by chapter I'll usually write the dialog first and work out from there. With some fics I listen to music to get in the mood, with others I'll find ambient videos on youtube to play in the background.

What writing tools do you use, if any? For example, do you participate in community writing events like sprints or prompts, or have a favorite writing program aid like Scrivener?

Yes, I sprint on discord A LOT. I’m a mod for the @ strangerthingswritersguild and we do mod-run scheduled community writes every weekend, so I can always count on at least a little group writing time each sat/sun. I also lead a WIP Weekend group in the STWG along with @ pearynice, aimed at supporting and motivating each other and it’s been such a wonderful experience. As far as programs, I used google docs for a long time, but I switched to Ellipsus some months ago and I absolutely love it.

Do you have any writing quirks?

Oh my god, SO many i’m sure. I know I have a lot of crutch words that I overuse, and that’s been something I'm working on. I also have the unusual habit of creating banners and graphics for fics before I've even started writing them. I also REALLY like to have a title in mind before writing too.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

I like to post as I go, kudos and comments are a really great motivator for multichapter fics! Though, lately I’ve been trying to wait until I have at least a few chapters banked before posting.

Which fic are you most proud of?

Another hard choice but I think i’d have to say my Labyrinth AU “It’s Only Forever”

What's a funny or interesting or completely wild research topic you've dug into as a result of writing Steddie?

My google search history has to be a very strange place to visit. Lots of “how long can a person be upside down before they’d fall unconscious”, double checking what material butt plugs were commonly made from at different periods in history, or researching the spiritualism movement for a one off line.

How did you get the idea for Fuggi Regal Fantasima?

Like a lot of my fic ideas, it started with hearing a few lines of dialog in my head while daydreaming. I imagined Eddie sitting on the counter in Steve’s kitchen, annoyed and a little sad because no one would pay attention to him, and could hear Steve’s equally annoyed and slightly sad voice as he finally gave in and acknowledged Eddie with a quiet “They can’t see you.”

When writing Your Dasher Is Nearby, what was something you didn’t expect?

The ending! Spoilers ahead, but when I started writing it the end looked a bit different and I had no plans for Eddie and Chrissy to know each other, or for Eddie to be a guy she’d been trying to set Steve up with all along. When the idea came it wound up being such a fun payoff.

What inspired Save A Mechanical Bull, Blow A Cowboy?

I wish I could say but I honestly don’t remember how it all started! It was one of three fics I wrote for smutty September last year. I just knew Steve was the type of guy who would think “oh that looks easy, that’s a surefire way to turn Eddie on and maybe end this little game once and for all!!”

What was your favorite part to write from Ye Olde Meet-Cute?

THE STOCKS. I’m still not over it to be honest.

How do/did you feel writing Fuggi Regal Fantasima?

Ugh, I love it so much but that one made me SO sad sometimes. Even though I knew there would be a happy ending eventually, getting in to either of their heads was almost always mildly painful lol

What was the most difficult part of writing Not (A) Cinderella (Story)?

I decided early on to stick with Steve’s POV alone for this fic which made it a little more challenging to have Eddie’s actions make sense and not be seen as too ridiculous or frustrating when the reader didn’t have any much insight into his motivations (yet). I’m actually in the middle of writing the final chapter of this one now and I already miss this version of Steddie. They’re so innocent and adorable!

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

There’s so many that I still think about all the time. Here’s the first few that come to mind. The ball/dance scene in “It’s Only Forever”, the ghostly smut scene in “Fuggi Regal Fantasima”, the moment when Steve puts on the ruby slippers in “I don’t think we’re in Hawkins anymore, big boy.” That last one is also one of my favorite lines.

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

I’m pretty excited about this year’s Steddie big bang. So, naturally I can’t say much about it yet, but the idea is one I've been sitting on for a VERY long time and I really can’t wait to get into it. I’m also still plugging away at my summer camp au “Midsummer Nights” and I'm hoping to finally finish it this year.

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

Just a heartfelt thanks to you, the lovely folks behind the steddieunderdogfics page for all your hard work putting this stuff together. The spotlight, the fic recs, the theme weekends, it’s all so great!

Why do you write Steddie? There’s just something about these two idiots that really draws you in, y’know? But, in all seriousness, Steddie was my late in life introduction to fanfiction. After watching season 4 and becoming obsessed with Eddie—as one does—I started seeing very intriguing Steddie edits all over Tiktok, including fic recs, which introduced me to a magical place called AO3. It didn’t take long for me to move from reading to writing.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

Oh boy, that’s a tough one. Friends to lovers, Strangers to lovers, ENEMIES to lovers—it’s all so delicious. And who doesn’t love a good bit of hurt/comfort?

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

I didn’t mean for it to happen but I think movie crossover/AUs have sort of become my thing. I really enjoy the whole process of adapting the boys and company to other existing and beloved IPs, and the challenge of preserving not only the essence of their characters but also keeping the heart of the AU alive is SO much fun. I think I have a bit of a knack for it.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

Now that’s just cruel, how could I choose just one?? Honestly, so many come to mind, I could go on for hours. We are ridiculously blessed in this fandom with an overwhelming amount of talented authors. The first few I can think of are: “Yes, Chef” by Sadstateofaffairs, “Deal with the Devil” by VTHX, and “carve your name into my chest” by hexiewrites

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I haven't really done a soulmates fic yet (though I did get introduced to the Soulmate goose of enforcement when it was requested by my winter exchange giftee, which was a blast to play with). I’d like to do a good long soulmates fic some day, just waiting to come up with a fun unique twist on it!

Are there any memorable Steddie collaborations (art, writing, podfic, etc.) you've done or would like to do?

Just recently my one-shot “Who Even Goes on Blind Dates Anymore?” was made into a podfic by @ beingmissbatty and it was so amazing to be able to listen to my own story like that! They did a truly wonderful job with it, and I hope they do many more podfics in the future.

What is your writing process like?

99% of the time I write a rough but complete outline at the beginning. I like to know the big beats of where I'm going from the start, especially if I’m going to post before the whole fic is completed. Then chapter by chapter I'll usually write the dialog first and work out from there. With some fics I listen to music to get in the mood, with others I'll find ambient videos on youtube to play in the background.

What writing tools do you use, if any? For example, do you participate in community writing events like sprints or prompts, or have a favorite writing program aid like Scrivener?

Yes, I sprint on discord A LOT. I’m a mod for the @ strangerthingswritersguild and we do mod-run scheduled community writes every weekend, so I can always count on at least a little group writing time each sat/sun. I also lead a WIP Weekend group in the STWG along with @ pearynice, aimed at supporting and motivating each other and it’s been such a wonderful experience. As far as programs, I used google docs for a long time, but I switched to Ellipsus some months ago and I absolutely love it.

Do you have any writing quirks?

Oh my god, SO many i’m sure. I know I have a lot of crutch words that I overuse, and that’s been something I'm working on. I also have the unusual habit of creating banners and graphics for fics before I've even started writing them. I also REALLY like to have a title in mind before writing too.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

I like to post as I go, kudos and comments are a really great motivator for multichapter fics! Though, lately I’ve been trying to wait until I have at least a few chapters banked before posting.

Which fic are you most proud of?

Another hard choice but I think i’d have to say my Labyrinth AU “It’s Only Forever”

What's a funny or interesting or completely wild research topic you've dug into as a result of writing Steddie?

My google search history has to be a very strange place to visit. Lots of “how long can a person be upside down before they’d fall unconscious”, double checking what material butt plugs were commonly made from at different periods in history, or researching the spiritualism movement for a one off line.

How did you get the idea for Fuggi Regal Fantasima?

Like a lot of my fic ideas, it started with hearing a few lines of dialog in my head while daydreaming. I imagined Eddie sitting on the counter in Steve’s kitchen, annoyed and a little sad because no one would pay attention to him, and could hear Steve’s equally annoyed and slightly sad voice as he finally gave in and acknowledged Eddie with a quiet “They can’t see you.”

When writing Your Dasher Is Nearby, what was something you didn’t expect?

The ending! Spoilers ahead, but when I started writing it the end looked a bit different and I had no plans for Eddie and Chrissy to know each other, or for Eddie to be a guy she’d been trying to set Steve up with all along. When the idea came it wound up being such a fun payoff.

What inspired Save A Mechanical Bull, Blow A Cowboy?

I wish I could say but I honestly don’t remember how it all started! It was one of three fics I wrote for smutty September last year. I just knew Steve was the type of guy who would think “oh that looks easy, that’s a surefire way to turn Eddie on and maybe end this little game once and for all!!”

What was your favorite part to write from Ye Olde Meet-Cute?

THE STOCKS. I’m still not over it to be honest.

How do/did you feel writing Fuggi Regal Fantasima?

Ugh, I love it so much but that one made me SO sad sometimes. Even though I knew there would be a happy ending eventually, getting in to either of their heads was almost always mildly painful lol

What was the most difficult part of writing Not (A) Cinderella (Story)?

I decided early on to stick with Steve’s POV alone for this fic which made it a little more challenging to have Eddie’s actions make sense and not be seen as too ridiculous or frustrating when the reader didn’t have any much insight into his motivations (yet). I’m actually in the middle of writing the final chapter of this one now and I already miss this version of Steddie. They’re so innocent and adorable!

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

There’s so many that I still think about all the time. Here’s the first few that come to mind. The ball/dance scene in “It’s Only Forever”, the ghostly smut scene in “Fuggi Regal Fantasima”, the moment when Steve puts on the ruby slippers in “I don’t think we’re in Hawkins anymore, big boy.” That last one is also one of my favorite lines.

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

I’m pretty excited about this year’s Steddie big bang. So, naturally I can’t say much about it yet, but the idea is one I've been sitting on for a VERY long time and I really can’t wait to get into it. I’m also still plugging away at my summer camp au “Midsummer Nights” and I'm hoping to finally finish it this year.

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?