Howdy! My name is Firefly. Thanks for stopping by!
I am a female writer in my 30s, and although I only started writing late last year, it has quickly become one of my favourite things to do. Joining the forum was a great step for me in building my experience and confidence, and I owe it all to the great partners and friends I have made so far. So, finally... I've worked up the courage to make my own request thread! You can find out more about me below, or alternatively, punch that little envelope and send me a message with any questions you have.
I do want to state something upfront and I hope it doesn't discourage you from reaching out.
I've been incredibly spoiled with some wonderful current and past partners, so I will be very selective with who I choose to write with. I'll be able to get a feel for our vibe when we chat, but if I decline doing a story together, it will not be a reflection on you or your talent; I am no great wordsmith or published author myself. I would just like to increase the likelihood of finding a successful and long term partnership. It's important to me that our vibes sync up and writing styles compliment each other I welcome you to read some of my posts in other stories to get a feel for my style.
About me
Outside of writing, I'm a big nerd in a small, gnome body. I love reading, gaming, art, animations and film, anything crafty, weight lifting, all of the memes, travelling to inhospitable locations, and (maybe a bit randomly after all that) motorbike riding. I'm a full time graphic & digital designer, but after work you can find me buried under a pile of books, fighting robot T-rex's on PS5, or riding one of my giant dogs to the local grocery store for chocolate pretzels.
Books & Graphic Novels - I read A LOT. Some of my favourites are:
Sherlock Holmes
The Dark Tower
The Murderbot Diaries
Saga
Media:
A certain early 2000's space western tv series
The Expanse, Stargate SG-1
Crime shows, documentaries
Animations: Adventure Time, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Studio Ghibli, Bee and Puppycat
Sports: F1, Dakar Rally, Moto GP, Rugby Union
Gaming - mostly massive open-world rpgs or artsy projects on PS or PC:
RDR2
Horizon
The Last of Us
Cyberpunk 2077
Ghost of Tsushima
Life stuff:
Travelling: I've been lucky to visit places like Japan, Norway, Iceland, UK, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa, NZ, and a little of the US amongst others. I'd love to hear about your travel and anything cool you've experienced or learned.
Motorbikes: café racers , dual sports
Camping, fishing, 4WD - basically anything involving a beach and no phone reception
Animals (send me your pet pics!)
Writing Genre & Interests
Space Westerns: my all-time favourite genre of anything, goshdangit. This includes space operas and epics, but I love sci-fi in general, including but not limited to: cyberpunk (2077 universe + genre) and retrofuturism. Having said this I have just realised that most of my plot ideas below aren't sci-fi
Fantasy: even though sci-fi is my first love, most of my stories on the site have been in fantasy and I really enjoy writing it. I prefer the dark and gritty types, though spits tobacco into metal can thing
Speculative Fiction: I generally prefer imagined worlds rather than SOL, including; supernatural, dystopian, futuristic, mythology, and drimdark. However, it's nice to mix in some quieter "every day" moments into the high-octane shootin' and wranglin' for a change of pace.
Action and adventure: similarly to the sentiment above, I like plenty of energy and wawaweewa in my stories! Worldbuilding and exploration, combat, cool weapons, puzzle solving, daring concepts - I love it all!
Romance: this is not a requirement for the stories, but I sure do love me some slow burn building and cuteness. NSFW elements are enjoyed, but also not required. We can discuss this privately.
I am chill and easy going (that's what they all say), albeit occasionally excitable, and I like to be in regular contact with my partners inside and outside of our writing. I enjoy engaging in plenty of collaboration and workshopping, as well as making internet friends who I can share the occasional laugh or meme with. I have a busy IRL with work, doges, hobbies and social stuff, so in no way do I expect or desire constant contact, but I've found that my longest running/easily maintained stories are with the people I get along with outside of the "serious business". If you are a person who prefers business-only or reduced OOC, we'll likely not make good writing partners.
Also, even if we start working on something and for whatever reason you are no longer feeling it - just let me know! I'm an adult and will not be upset, I promise, but please do not ghost, ignore or throw me long periods of time with no contact. It'll take the glow right outta my butt ~cue sad firefly noises~
Nothing against the youngins but I prefer writing partners who are 28+ in age, with all characters being 18+ and a preference for main characters being 25+. This is especially important in stories with NSFW elements.
Here's the what-what about my writing style:
3rd person, past tense
Detailed, thoughtful replies
Predominantly active voice. I like my characters to do rather than only tell, and tend to mix in internal thoughts with plenty of descriptions of physical actions, reactions, environment etc. (I enjoy this in partner replies as well)
I tend to write female [F] characters, but would be open to writing other genders
In romantic settings, I tend to write my characters for male characters [FxM], but I am LGBTQI+ friendly and would be open to writing other pairings.
I enjoy including NSFW/erotica in my stories and having fun with the ol' spicy scenes, but the narrative must be the main focus (heavily) or I will lose interest very quickly! If you would like to know my preferences for these scenes, please send me a message via DM and we can discuss.
I only write OCs and prefer original worlds, but would enjoy playing in a few select canonical universes such as Cyberpunk 2077, the Witcher, and ATLA.
Long-term stories
Here's the how-now? about my posting style:
Reply frequency: 1-2 times a week. I consider myself a detailed and attentive writing partner. I like to take my time and carefully craft each post, and would appreciate the same level of effort. I am known to occasionally engage in some daily/multi-daily back-and-forth if my other stories are dormant during that time or if I've had too many oat milk lattes and am procrastinating from work.
I will never rush you for a post, but after a month or so of no contact I may check in with you to see what's up. Ideally, we'd be in regular contact anyway between replies cos we're frens, and in this case, I would have infinite patience.
Variable post lengths to match the tempo of the story in the moment, as well as my partners preferences, although I do lean towards longer posts. Typically they range from a few paragraphs to 1k words.
When my character is human, I like to play women of colour, particularly of east and south Asian heritage. Have a look at some of the character mood boards I have made to get an idea.
I live in Australia and tend to post late in the evening my-time, I'm a night owl and you'll often find me online on Discord well into the early hours.
I have a flexible job and work from home most of the time, with semi-regular trips for work somewhere into the oUtBaCk Australians don't actually use this term or somewhere around the dark side (Eastern states). This disrupts my posting routine but I keep my partners well informed.
What do I like in a partner?
A nice human bean
Creativity, consistency, friendliness, and civility
Good communication
Willingness to explore, challenge, and take risks
Provides well thought-out and literate replies with decent grammar and spelling
Likes to have fun - this is a hobby after all!
Still with me? Noice!
Below are some ideas that I've had bouncing around my brainpan. None of them are set in stone, I like to collaborate with my partners to create something we're both equally invested in and enthusiastic about. The pairings are also flexible, so if you like the setting but have a different character idea, let's chat!
For centuries, the Slayer's Guild and Mage's Council held a tremulous peace. But, from time to time, they were forced to work together for the good of the Kingdom.
A spate of monster attacks prompts a city to seek out the services of an "official" Monster Slayer, and the Mage's Council sends one of its own members as liaison and additional support. It's too bad that the Slayer's Guild and Mage's Council have centuries old beef and typically don't get along.
The pair uncover a conspiracy, forcing them to go on the run and rely on each other to survive while also trying to prevent a kingdom/world-ending event.
Character Ideas:
⠀⠀[Slayer x Sorceress] - the initial idea was to pair a tough guy slayer with a snobby sorceress.
Thick fog hugs the winding path and dark shapes shift within it. It's been far too long since the last roadside lamp, and still, the night grows darker. It is a grievous mistake to travel so late, for the darker it gets, the fouler the monster. Luckily for the trembling civilians, a bonafide member of the Roadkeeper's Guild escorts their convoy.
Their gunslinger's pistols glint reassuringly in the faint light of the carriage's lamp, and a smart three-high sits low over their brow. They can't see the fellow's face, but they know just by looking at him - should there be any trouble, there'll be shooting first and questions later.
In a world where terrifying monsters roam the countryside, a profession emerges and cements itself as one of the essential services every city and traveller requires: Roadkeeping.
Inspired by the world artfully crafted by D. M. Cornish in Monster Blood Tattoo, I'd like to explore a world where Roadkeeper's are used to maintain the dangerous roads between population hubs like towns and cities, and escort travellers through areas infested with monsters. They organise themselves into Factions and regulated by the Roadkeeper's Guild, however, there are rogue Keeper groups who are known to clash with the official groups, and even independent contractors. Some Keeper's are even sympathetic to the monsters, but nobody talks about that.
Character Ideas:
⠀⠀[Keeper x Keeper] - a new initiate is paired with a seasoned veteran, two newbies graduating training and entering the profession at the same time, Keeper's from competing Factions forced to work together etc.
⠀⠀[Keeper x Civilian] - a veteran Roadkeeper is hired as an escort by a rich and sheltered city slicker.
A wave of darkness rolls over the continent, and behind its swirling curtain, a force grows. Kingdoms rise to meet it, and some even rebel, but they all fall in the end. Then, as the force approaches a certain kingdom, rumours emerge from the shroud of myth and fear - the Darkling King wants a wife, and will spare the kingdom she comes from.
So, I actually developed this "dream" of an rp plot from extensive negotiations with another writer on the Sanctum last year, but before it got kicked off... they fell off the face of the earth. I haven't really been able to shake the concept from my mind.
Two kingdoms; one - a conquering and formidable "dark" force sweeping through the land, the other - the next target in the expanding power's sights. The King of the "dark realm" offers a marriage instead of war, and the other accepts. The thing is, there's all sort of rumours about this invading kingdom; stories of eldritch horrors and dark creatures roaming the lands and doing the King's bidding. Some even say the Dark King is a demon himself... (he can be if you like! Or it could be rumours and propaganda).
The Princess is taken into the "dark court", where she actually begins to thrive in the strange, challenging, competitive, and dangerous environment in a culture that values strength and dominance, even in the women. Eventually, a true connection and respect forms between her and the King and they become a formidable joined force. I was thinking their romance/relationship could actually become quite a wholesome rather than dark if that's what you prefer, a Gomez/Morticia type thing. The king's story is of course to be developed by the partner, so that he, too, may have a rich and developed story arc.
Character Ideas:
⠀⠀[Dark King x Princess] - unsociable/cruel King paired with chronically underestimated Princess, enigmatic King paired with serious Princess etc. Roles and genders can be changed!
A good, old-fashioned space-epic based in a world similar to Dune; overbearing and far-reaching governing Houses heavy with political plays and corruption + a competing House forcefully overthrowing a governing House with the aid of the Imperials + a secret organisation much like the Bene Gesserit also making their moves behind the scenes etc. In my shorts thread "The Sting of the Dragon's Tail" you can find excerpts/prompts for this story, written with my character in mind who is an Initiate of this secret organisation, her target: your character!
YC could be a House scion, but waaaaay down the line. So he's off exploring the universe, maybe as a researcher or archaeologist or other such wholesome occupation, enjoying the perks of belonging to a rich and powerful family and having a fancy exploratory vessel with no responsibility. etc. In a completely unexpected turn of events, his House is decimated (maybe a few survivors here and there) and he is, technically, the new Lord.
Meanwhile, the secret Order had assigned a green initiate (MC) to YC because even though he was very far down the line of succession, they wanted to start "infiltrating" this powerful House. They play the long game; generations, hundreds of years, manipulating pairings and crafting desired genealogy etc. They think "Let's not waste a full-blown operative on this random 3rd cousin 100 times removed, give him one of the newbies and have them make babies."
He's been ignoring the order/requests from his House to meet with MC for the "arrangement" because he just wants to be free and explore. So, at this point MC is feeling very insulted. Just as she's about to make her move by force (intercepting him somewhere and being like "yo excuse me we are to be married", the attack is made, and YC is forced to rely upon MC and the Order for protection, hiding, resources, mounting a counter attack etc.
It would be a tremulous relationship, at the start and throughout, because not only are they using each other, they may grow actual feelings.
Character Ideas:
⠀⠀[House Scion x Secret Order Operative] - YC is open, but in the shorts I wrote he is the heir of the seated House which was forcefully overthrown. I have a backstory prepared as to why they must work together etc. but also I am keen to workshop it with someone or work in any ideas you have.
If you read all the way through that, thank you! Please don't hesitate to reach out to discuss a plot via DM (not by commenting below), or even just to chat. Do you have a good book recommendation? Or found an obscure Indie game on Steam that I can try out and suck at? (How is Disco Elysium so beautiful but so stressful at the same time?) Maybe you've seen a reel featuring a capybara or other such round animal and simply want someone to share it with. psst that's me. send me the capybara video.
I welcome you to read some of my posts in other stories to get a feel for my style.
Books & Graphic Novels - 
Media:
Gaming - mostly massive open-world rpgs or artsy projects on PS or PC: 
Life stuff:
, dual sports
Space Westerns: my all-time favourite genre of anything, goshdangit. This includes space operas and epics, but I love sci-fi in general, including but not limited to: cyberpunk (2077 universe + genre) and retrofuturism. Having said this I have just realised that most of my plot ideas below aren't sci-fi 
Fantasy: even though sci-fi is my first love, most of my stories on the site have been in fantasy and I really enjoy writing it. I prefer the dark and gritty types, though 
Speculative Fiction: I generally prefer imagined worlds rather than SOL, including; supernatural, dystopian, futuristic, mythology, and drimdark. However, it's nice to mix in some 
Action and adventure: similarly to the sentiment above, I like plenty of energy and wawaweewa in my stories! Worldbuilding and exploration, combat, cool weapons, puzzle solving, daring concepts - I love it all!
Romance: this is not a requirement for the stories, but I sure do love me some slow burn building and cuteness. NSFW elements are enjoyed, but also not required. We can discuss this privately.
Here's the what-what about my writing style: 
Here's the how-now? about my posting style: 
frens
