This week, we're highlighting @stervrucht! All recs this week will be for her work, both fics and arts. @stervrucht writes, and draws for the Stranger Things Fandom for Harringrove and Steddie. We're highlighting Ster for her digital art pieces with expressive faces and dreamy, almost water-colory brush strokes, and her visceral Harringrove fics.
You should check out her ongoing fic, There's a gap where we meet for some incredibly poetic feral wet cat depictions of Billy, and check out her Ster draws st tag for her art.
She answered some questions about her work under the cut
Why Stranger Things?
I've always drifted between fandoms. I started reading Harringrove back when season 2-3 aired, left, came back and discovered Steddie, left again until I picked up writing and drawing in 2024. The ST fandom had been extremely welcoming and met many wonderful people.
What's your favorite ship (platonic or romantic) to create for?
I love many ships and what I create for largely depends on what a story or artwork is trying to convey. Each pairing has its own vibe and I try to flow with that. I think if I had to pick just one, it would be Harringrove.
What's your typical writing process like?
Get a hot drink and a blanket and settle on the sofa. I have playlists for each fic so I put that on. I don't really plan my stories thoroughly, but I generally have some events I'm working towards. Other than that I let the characters' emotions guide me.
What's your typical drawing process like?
I seek out references, draw a crude sketch, put down rough colours, and then paint over top. I especially enjoy doing speedpaints because they force you to capture the raw essentials and embrace imperfection.
Do you have a favorite tool or brush set for your drawings?
I use Krita with its default brushes. My favourite brushes are Bristles-4 glaze and Chalk-soft
What has been your favorite project so far? Why?
Writing 'There's a Gap where we meet' has been lovely. I enjoy writing Billy's voice. It's very different from Steve or Eddie.
What has been your hardest project so far? Why?
That's probably 'The Graveyard Shift' and my Big Bang fic. There's a lot of plot and world-building. I've never tackled a project like that before.
Have you ever had a creative block? How did you get over it?
Just do something else. If I can't draw, I write and vice versa. If neither is working, I read.
Is there a big source of inspiration for you? Books? Art? Games?
I have a lot of love for Anne Rice's writing, both stylistically and thematically. Art-wise I love impressionist painters like Monet and van Gogh.
Is there an upcoming project you're particularly excited about?
I have so many things brewing and I'm equally excited about all of them.
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This week, we're highlighting @jo-harrington! All recs this week will be for her work.
@jo-harrington writes for the Stranger Things Fandom, with a special focus on xOC, and xReader fics. She's also a great beta-editor and design all the graphics for her fics!
We're highlighting Jo for her incredible world building and strong OCs.
You should check out her Store Manager Verse fics for some great fluff and top-tier retail angst
Jo answered some questions about her creative process and her work under the cut
Why Stranger Things?
I’ve been an avid ST Fan since the beginning. My old Store Manager and I watched the first episode in the backroom of our store while folding t-shirts and rest was history. Fic-wise, a certain Metalhead Dungeon Master brought me out of a fanfiction posting hiatus and I haven’t looked back since.
What's your favorite ship (platonic or romantic) to create for?
Platonic is always going to be the Hellfire Club boys. I love writing their adventures. Their friendship is epic and deserves to be explored and celebrated.
Romantic…EddiexOC or EddiexReader. I mean, I’ve been an xOC girl since my first fandom. xReader is new for me but it’s almost an extension of xOC. I always joke that I’m allowed ONE epic borbo obsession love of my life per decade and I’ll give them one canon pairing but the rest are OCs.
What's your typical writing process like?
I have an idea, I write it down, I get sick of working on a chapter, I don’t edit, I post. (Which is funny because when I beta, I am a lot more detailed. But for my own work I just need it out of my head.) It might not be the best. It could probably read better or have less typos or mistakes. But it’s always from the heart.
How do you come up with your OCs?
I sit there for a long time and figure out how I can put a part of myself into a story. Oops was I not supposed to say that? Sometimes you think of a character that you just can’t help but want to write. But even if they aren’t a manifestation of your physical self or your personality, they almost always end up being an extension of you in some ways, or something you aspire to be. You also need to add some attributes you hate into them, so that they’re not too perfect and you can throttle them around and make them suffer and not feel too bad/let it become a self hatred thing.
What has been your favorite project so far? Why?
Store Manager Verse. (EMxReader) Retail is who I am and who I’ve always been. I had a mall romance irl that went south. So it was a way to rewrite my past with my comfort character…and also give said comfort character a happy ending as well.
What has been your hardest project so far? Why?
As Above, So Below. (EMxOC) It is a passion project, it is a beast, every chapter takes an emotional toll on me and it takes a month—if not more—to recover. But it has been the single most fulfilling project that I’ve worked on in the 20 years I’ve been writing fanfiction. I've been working on it for about 2 years now. 3 more chapters til the end…I’m gonna be very sad when it’s over.
Have you ever had a creative block? How did you get over it?
My brain is just a beehive that I shake every now and again to get the bees angry. Honestly, the bigger block I get into is self-doubt. I have no problem finding the words, it’s the courage to put them to paper I struggle with at times.
Is there a big source of inspiration for you? Books? Art? Games?
Yes all of the above. But in all seriousness, life experience is the best inspiration. There’s only so much research you can do. Truly for me, the canon characters are the source of inspiration. Then I take from things I’ve done, things I’ve read, places I’ve been in order to take an idea to a fully formed plot.
Is there an upcoming project you're particularly excited about?
Eddie Munson Big Bang. I know you’re gonna hear that a lot. I love creating really ambitious AUs and I think this one is really testing my abilities as a writer. It's a crossover fic, in a way, but with a lot of original plot folded in. I hope I do both fandoms/universes justice.
Is there anything we didn't ask that you'd like to add?
I’m from the Midwest, so thank you for listening to all of my long-winded answers. Haha.
This week, we're highlighting @ihni! All recs this week will be for her work, both fics and arts. @ihni writes and makes comics for Harringrove and Metalsandwich ships. We're highlighting Ihni for her hilarious dialogues and heartfelt moments. She also puts out adorable Harringrove comics.
You should check out her Pacific Rim MetalSandwich AU for some stellar enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Steve and Billy with Eddie's sincerity and openness gluing the two of them together. And she has books of her comics available here
original image here
She answered some questions about her work under the cut
Why Stranger Things?
It's all Billy's fault, really. I mean, I liked season 1 well enough, but in a more normal-person, casual-watcher way. Then season 2 showed up and ... to be honest I didn't like Billy much at first. But then that scene with his dad happened, which explained a lot about him, and I did a 180 and adopted him as my favorite on the spot. Looked for fanfics, found fanfics, and that was that. He's been my #1 since then.
What's your favorite ship (platonic or romantic) to create for?
Honestly, ships are less important to me than (my favorite) characters, and I usually like any situation where characters interact with each other, and I like seeing what happens. I will write and create works where Billy interacts with just about anyone, because it's interesting and fun. Romantically though? I'm a Harringrover at heart (ie Billy/Steve), but am also not opposed to Mungrove (Billy/Eddie) or Metalsandwich (Billy/Steve/Eddie). (When reading, I am not opposed to other Billy ships - as long as it's a gay ship - but I don't really create for it ... except that one Billy/Argyle fic I did, which I just remembered.) All that was a long way of saying: As long as Billy's there and somewhat of a focus (and it's not a het ship), I'm in.
What's your typical writing process like?
Lots of groaning, lots of staring at a screen, lots of checking tumblr and discord and youtube, lots of doing literally anything but writing (like sorting through the bathroom cabinet or making a piercing cradle for future bookbinding projects, etc). Sometimes, inspiration strikes and I can write a whole fic in a day or two, just to forget everything I've written immediately after posting and being surprised to re-read it a couple of weeks later. But often, it's somewhat of a struggle. Normally, I am a pretty slow writer (see abovementioned penchant for distractions), so it often takes me YEARS to finish a longer fic. But I normally don't post WIPs, so it doesn't matter that it takes me a while because no one is expecting anything from me. I recently posted my longest fic yet (first one to reach 100K, wohoo!), and that took over 6,5 years for me to finish.
What's your typical drawing process like?
Depends on what it is. If it's doodles, then a quick sketch, then lines, then erasing the sketch, and then colours (and if it's something else, well then it depends on what media it is; acrylics, pens, pencils, oils ... I like to try a bit of everything). I prefer watercolours for colouring doodles but I only have a TINY bit of black left in the watercolour set that I normally use to colour, so I'm gonna have to do something about that soon. Also I have done most of my doodles on the same kind of paper (I have like, 12 of the same kind of drawing ... pads? Book of blank papers! ... that I got at my old workplace, but I'm on my last one now so soon I'll have to switch to either a different kind of paper, or to drawing on the back of the doodles I have already done! I don't like that thought of that - I am a creature of habit that way.
Bonus: a picture of the doodles I have done that I still have (with some, I have sent them off to whoever inspired/asked for them)
Where do you get inspiration for your doodle faces?
You mean the faces on the doodles? I honestly don't know, I just want them to express some kind of emotion, and I try to convey that in the simplest forms possible. Sometimes, I succeed.
What's been your favorite project so far? Why?
Oh no, why would you ask me that? It's like asking me to choose between my children (I don't have children, but like, if I DID). I like a lot of what I've done, actually. I can't say that I've had a favorite, but if I go back and look at some old doodles or read an old fic of mine, I can feel very proud of myself and be happy that I did it that way. I also like having physical evidence that I've done something, so I have put my doodles into books and I've printed off my own fics and put them in my bookcase, and sometimes when I feel like I have done nothing with my life, I look at them and think "Actually, look at what I've done" and then I get to mentally pat myself on the shoulder and feel better.
What's been your hardest project so far? Why?
There have been some fics that have been difficult to write. Most often, it's one that is for another person, like for an exchange or something - then, I really want to make something for the recipient that they will like, but sometimes what they are asking for or their favorite things are things that don't come naturally for me to write. So then I'll have to struggle a bit. It's always harder with ideas that didn't pop up in my brain unannounced. I still try to do my best with them, though, because I want the recipient to be happy.
Is there a big source of inspiration for you? Books? Art? Games?
Well for doodles, I'd say tumblr. Many doodles have been inspired by or straight-up taken from tumblr posts. For writing, it can be anything; books, scenes from shows, movies ... I am very damaged by now, so when I watch a movie there is always a part of my brain that are going "How can we make this about Billy" or "How can we make this Harringrove". I have a long list of AUs that would 100% work for them, that will never get written by me.
Is there an upcoming project you're particularly excited about?
Not a particular one, I'd say. I have a couple of WIPs, and one fic that I'm kind of close to finishing, so I'm very much looking forward to finishing that one. I'm always excited about finishing fics and posting them, because then they are finally out of my brain - there's too much rattling in there anyway, on a good day, so anything that gets finished is cause for celebration! XD
Do you have a memorable comment or some other interaction with your work?
Many. I love comments, and I save every single one. I have a specific folder in my email inbox where I save all AO3 comments for rainy days, when I need a pick-me-up. Just in the last month or so I have been lucky enough to receive several comments that straight-up made me blush, I was so happy to read them. And while I love ALL comments (including single-sentence ones, keysmashes and emojis), I have two favorite kinds of comments:
The longer ones where someone takes the time to tell me what they liked, or theorize about the events/characters, or what something made them feel.
The ones left by someone I know; friends and people whose usernames I recognize. I don't know why, but it feels extra special when someone I know a little choose to read/look/reblog and leave a comment.
But that said, all are good. Fandom is a community, and I am 100% pro-feedback.
Is there anything we didn't ask that you'd like to add?
Just reiterating that I am pro-feedback. I try to always leave a comment or a tag on the things I see and like, because I know how happy it makes me, and there's nothing wrong with trying to spread a little happiness around in these times. If something I have made has made someone smile, then mission accomplished. We live in complicated times and some days it feels like we are bombarded by bad vibes from all sides, so fandom should be fun and simple and good vibes only. We all need a respite, sometimes. And for me, fandom is just that.
This week, we're highlighting @talanashta! All recs this week will be for their work.
@talanashta writes, and makes graphic designs at @talanashta-graphics.
If you want to see all their work, check out their website! (which they also designed and maintains)
We're highlighting Talanashta for their incredible Stobin dynamic.
We strongly recommend checking out their UnderTale crossover fic -- Fallen Down, which they also did a bunch of fantastic graphics work for.
Talanashta answered some questions about their creative process and their work under the cut
Why Stranger Things?
I had read a few Stranger Things fics way back when the show first came out and knew a bit about the show, but at the time I hadn't been drawn in. (This was immediately post-season 1.) But then as the show continued, and Steve became a bigger part of it, and Robin was introduced, I got sucked in fast. I love both of them so much!
What's your favorite ship (platonic or romantic) to create for?
Stobin. They are my OTOTP, above any other pairing in any other fandom, and I'd like to think that comes through in my works. I have so many emotions about these two, it's ridiculous. Pretty much if I've got both Steve and Robin in one of my fics, that's it; they're the main focus.
What's your typical writing process like?
I have a bit of a hodgepodge of styles. It really depends on if I have a plan in mind or not. Sometimes I'll write with a super detailed outline and stick to it, but most of my works I just go with the flow and write where my creativity takes me. If you ask anyone, though, I'm a notes person. Any of my fics that involve actual planning end up with pages upon pages of notes.
What got you started on making graphics?
For the things for my site, I just wasn't finding resources out there that were what I wanted, so I started making my own. Plus I wanted my accounts to have my own creative touch on them, instead of someone else's.
What's your typical designing process like?
Vibes. 100%. I have a couple styles I like, so I pick a theme or color scheme and just build on those. Like for my seasonal stuff, I'm just like "What's Halloween-y? Pumpkins? Toss some of those in there then!" I use Canva (the free version) for making most of my graphics, but I use Krita for anything Canva can't do.
What has been your favorite project so far? Why?
Fallen Down is for sure my favorite. It's very fun to see these two familiar characters going through a very new situation like this, interacting with other characters I love. It's got a bit of mystery, some adventure, friendship, the works. I also have a very loyal fan of the story who leaves me very detailed comments that always make my day!
What has been your hardest project so far? Why?
Kinktober. I've been doing creative writing for over 15 years now, but I only recently dipped my toe into occasionally writing smut, and boy, did I struggle with it. It's like any skill, and I just didn't/don't have a lot of practice. I ended up only filling a few prompts for it and called it good.
Have you ever had a creative block? How did you get over it?
I don't have too many issues with that, in general. I feel I'm a pretty creative person. Over the years, though, I've learned a few tips to help when I come across a stumbling block. If the story isn't flowing, I go back a few paragraphs and try again. Usually, the direction I'd been taking the story in just wasn't the right one, so I don't force it.
Is there a big source of inspiration for you? Books? Art? Games?
Stranger Things isn't my only fandom, so some of my inspiration comes from what's going on in other fandoms. I read a lot of fanfiction if I'm being honest, and that shapes a lot of my ideas.
Is there an upcoming project you're particularly excited about?
My Eddie Munson Big Bang fic! I don't want to spoil anything, but it follows middle-school Eddie just after he moves in with Wayne. In the fic, their neighbor at the trailer park owns a dog. It's a very "horse girl" fic, with Eddie and this dog and their developing friendship. It's got some angst, but it works towards a lot of positive feelings and a happy ending.
Is there anything we didn't ask that you'd like to add?
If anyone out there reading this ever wants to talk about any of the things I've put out there (my site/coding, my fics, my art) or ask more questions, feel free to DM me! I'm always happy to chat.
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Please ask them:
What character first inspired them to write for the Stranger Things fandom, and why?
This week, we're highlighting @melodymunson as a writer! All recs tagged #melodymunson will be from her work.
Melody answered some questions about her writing process under the cut
What character first inspired you to write for the ST fandom? Why?
Eddie Munson. Because I loved that Eddie was so like me in that he was a metalhead, an outcast, funny, all around solid and nice guy also a bit of a nerd.
What's your typical writing process?
I like to do my research first and I'm very particular with things and I how organize sometimes. Other times though I might skip ahead in a series I'm writing and write stuff for that before I finish earlier parts. I like to have a editor/beta-reader as well. Sometimes I will write the nsfw first other times the plot/story first.
Do you do anything different for your RPs?
I also like to research things. I use tupper for most of my rp storylines to keep things organized and better portrayed.
What has been your favorite project so far? Why?
My stranger things to do list. Its inspired by one of my favorite movies. I love how I started writing for other characters I haven't before with it like Argyle and Jeff.
What has been your hardest project so far? Why?
The older Eddie rockstar/younger reader fic with bodyguard Steve. I did a lot of researching on places I described and used to make it most accurate. It had a heavy plot with some dark elements as well.
Have you ever had a creative block?
Yes especially when I'm working on a series.
Is there a big source of inspiration for you? Books? Art? Games?
Music especially heavy metal music. I like to make playlists for my fics and watch music videos for certain songs to get more inspiration.
Is there an upcoming project you're particularly excited about?
Just focusing on blurbs for Stranger things mainly Steve. I would love to collab with mutuals on a fic though.
Is there anything we didn't ask that you'd like to add?
I have some stranger things oc's I use for rp I would love to share for anyone interested. I'm most proud of my ST oc for Edwina Munson though Eddie's twin sister. Her face claim is younger Angelina Jolie.
This week, we're highlighting @eddiemunson-reader-shame as a writer! All recs this week will be from her
London answered some questions about her writing process under the cut
Why Stranger Things?
I'm the daughter of a dude who was a teenager/young adult around the timeline that Stranger Things takes place canonically. So I was raised on a lot of 1980s music, movies and television. My hometown is also very poor, so we often grew up still using appliances and wearing clothes from the 1980s. I also love science fiction and cosmic horror, and the fact that Stranger Things incorporates all of my special interests just made me fall instantly in love!
What's your favorite ship (platonic or romantic) to create for?
My absolute favorite ship in the entire world is... the x reader ship with Eddie Munson! I also enjoy creating for the Chrissy Cunningham x Reader ship, mainly because it's not one I ever really see!
What's your typical writing process like?
Usually, I like to get inspired first. So I hop on my phone, and read a couple of inserts in my To Be Read list. Alternatively, I'll also crack open one of my Stranger Things novels and read a few chapters before I begin. After that, I just kind of decide what scenario I wanna put my characters in. Usually I like to base my stories around a piece of media. One of my stories, "Be My Wife", actually has a central theme revolving around "A Clockwork Orange". Not typically something you'd see in a romance story!
How do you come up with your xReader personas?
It really depends on the type of character I decide I want the reader to be. They don't usually end up in one simple box, and end up becoming these little nesting doll-esque characters that vary in complexity. Some days, Reader might be an autistic woman with a special interest in Disney and Dungeons and Dragons. Other times, reader is an edgy proto-grunge cryptid hunter from a small desert community. Usually, I pick their aesthetic (grunge, cottagecore, cryptidcore, etc.) and then build from there. I really enjoy characters who project one type of outward appearance, but then have a mismatching personality. Example: Hopper!Reader presents as a cutesy cottagecore horse girl, but she swears like a sailor and likes to sock people in the stomach.
What has been your favorite project so far? Why?
So far, my favorite project has been remastering my fanfiction "A Freak and A Basket Case: The Seven Inches of Satanic Panic Edition". I didn't feel like anyone would care about my OC, and I at first made it a reader insert. But after a while, I got inspired by the Stranger Things OC community to rewrite it as an OC fic. I enjoy the remaster a lot more, because I'm finally writing the character as I envisioned her.
What has been your hardest project so far? Why?
My MKUltra!Reader Project has been shelved and scrapped so many times, and that's mainly my fault. I have an idea of where it will go, I just worry that I won't get the responses I want for it…
Have you ever had a creative block?
All the time. Sometimes I end up with a month long one that I just cannot escape. Very frustrating, especially when I have the desire but not the drive to make a move.
Is there a big source of inspiration for you? Books? Art? Games?
I’m usually inspired by a lot of anime, especially ones like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, One Piece, or any Studio Ghibli film. I like the fact that the stories can be wacky and out there slice-of-life moments, but they often have these deeply emotional scenes where the character finds hope in despair. Alternatively, they often explore every side character and their own story arcs, and I try to do that often with my own stories.
Is there an upcoming project you're particularly excited about?
There’s quite a few! Mostly I’m excited to get into later chapters of “A Freak and A Basket Case”, as well as posting more of my “Space Oddity” reader, and my Hopper!Reader.
Is there anything we didn't ask that you'd like to add?
Not that I can think of, but I always like to yap about characters. Everyone’s free to send a dm or an ask! I love to make friends, and I’m always lurking about. Lots of love to all ❤️
send me your favourite fic writers! i’m looking for new things to read and maybe even shine light on smaller accounts that don’t get the attention they deserve <3
