Fire Juggler

Happy Day!!!! It's Valentine's Day today. But, the thing is, I don't celebrate V-day. I don't hate it. It doesn't make me ragey. I've just been single for so long that it's a null holiday for me. But, it's the middle of February, and if ever there was a month in which we needed to celebrate something to get us through, it's February. Therefore, I present the Not-Valentine's Itty-Bitty Podficlet Anthology. 23 podfics of ficlets and drabbles (no more than 1000 words each) from 11 fandoms. They range from angst to PWP to fluff to humor. There's femmeslash, gen, het, and slash. What they do have in common is that they are all brilliant little snippets that build a whole world in just a few words.

My very great thanks to all the authors for the permission to record these fics. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it, and how much fun I had recording! Blanket permission is a godsend for projects like these and everyone has been so wonderful! Also, as always, thanks to teas_me and takola for the uber-fast beta job.

You can download the entire anthology from the links below the cover art, but go under the cut and you'll find individual download links and live streaming for each podficlet. You can also find information on each podficlet and links back to the original text.

Happy Day everyone!!!



Length: 01:23:04
Full Anthology Download Links (right-click and "Save As"): mp3 | m4b
Alternative (Mediafire) Anthology Download Links: mp3 | m4b

( Individual downloads and Live Streaming )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/77609.html.

This is another chain of podfic recs. Like the last one, it mirrors how I drift around on my iPod (which is very, very, very full of podfic). It goes like this. I'm listening to podfic A that has some feature or theme of [ABC], which makes me think of podfic B, which has some feature of [XYZ], which then makes me think of podfic C, and so on. These tend to leap across fandoms and pairings, so, for a weird little look into the way FJ's mind works, and some completely, freaking awesome podfics, here we go. As always, I encourage you to branch out from your fandom/pairing ruts and give new things a try, I think that for this list, you don't actually have to be familiar with any of the fandoms to know what's going on. If you're not familiar with the fandom, just think of them as original fiction, you won't be disappointed. A CHAIN OF RECS…..

( Click here for Recs )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/74852.html.

Today is Day 5 of Pod_Aware!!!! The theme is Feedback. Feedback, feedback, feedback. Feedback is so nice, and it's one of those things that tends to be even rarer for podficcers. I think that there are several reasons for this. One is that podfic, by its nature, is listened to away from the computer (usually). The result is that by the time you get back to the computer, you've forgotten that it might be nice to leave a comment. I also think, though, that people often don't really know what to say. I mean, the podficcer often didn't write the story, so you can't really say, "I loved the story/plot/writing." So what are you left with? How many ways can you say "I love your voice."? Well, it never hurts to say (and reiterate) that you love someone's voice. That said, I think there are a lot of things that podficcers work on that you *can* comment on. The style of the reading, the approach/techniques (i.e. if there are flashbacks in the story, were you able to follow them?), the clarity and speed of the reading, the characterization (not the writing of it, but the rendition). You can comment on how the podfic made you feel, the atmosphere they captured, how they performed the emotion and dialog. Of course, I say all this, but I'm not that great at getting back to leave feedback either. I've been trying to be better. I also try to comment when I download, just with a "I'm excited to download this, thanks for reading it!" kind of comment. It's not the same as a comment after you've listened, but knowing there are people out there that want to listen and are pleased that you created it makes a difference too. That way, even if I forget to come back to comment, at least they know that there is someone out there listening. ♥

Fan artists love feedback and podficcers are no different. Feedback can motivate us, inspire our muse and help us create more of out art. However feedback on podfic can be rather light. To find out how you can help increase feedback for podfic check out pod_aware on LJ or DW.

Today's rec is in Merlin fandom! Merlin really introduced me to the glories of podfic. I had listened to a couple HP podfics before Merlin, but they were (and still are) a bit scarce on the ground. Merlin, however, explodes with podfic, and it was here that I was able to really start listening to so many different voices and styles. I buried myself in Melin podfic for a while and learned my personal preferences…tweaks I liked, things I didn't like quite as much. I also heard so many different ways to approach some of the challenges of podficcing. For this, Merlin will always have a place in my heart.

Recommendation

Title:Missed Connections (Glory Glory Holelelujah) (Link to Text | Link to Podfic Post)
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Author: tourdefierce
Reader: thisissirius
Cover Artist: helva2260
Summary: Glory-Hole Romantic Comedy. 'NUFF SAID PEOPLE.



( Click for Full Recommendation )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/62760.html.

I'm way behind on reccing podfics, especially since amplificathon and podficbigbang both happened pretty recently, and I have been consuming podfics with a vengeance. BUT.... that stops here. I'm going to be better about reccing podfics!

Title: Little Wooden Boy and the Belly of Love (Link to Text | Link to Podfic)
Author: new_kate
Reader: sophinisba
Cover Art: yue_ix
Summary: Modern AU. Arthur moves to a a different city to start a new life and become a new man. On a whim he decides to share a flat with an attractive stranger, and quickly gets drawn into Merlin's odd little world.



( Click for Full Recommendation )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/36925.html.

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/29310.html.

So... a lot of people have been asking me about where to find podfic. So, I thought I would direct people to the archive and comms, and then segue into a rec list of my favorites. Like all my rec lists, this is kind of half done and will be added to as I get to it, but since I have so many requests for recs recently, I thought I would get these down ASAP.

Last Updated: May 4, 2011

( Click for Podfic Lovin' )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/29123.html.

1) I just watched the first disc of The Big Bang Theory. On a hunch, I checked out Sheldon/Leonard slash. It exists. *brain explodes* Now I will say that I can slash just about anyone in my head and make it work out okay, but Sheldon is the most asexual creature on the face of the planet!! He is unslashable!!!! (at least in my head) It got me to thinking about how and why we slash certain people over other people. I've never had a slash malfunction before this.

2) "There's just something about you Merlin, I can't quite put my finger on it"
Now I ♥ me some Merlin/Arthur fic. I do. In fact, I ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ me some Merlin/Arthur fic. As a matter of fact, I ♥ it so much that I read lots and lots of it. The result is that I have read "There's just something about you Merlin, I can't quite put my finger on it" about 9,400,003 times. The weird thing about this is that I can't figure out what I feel about it. Usually something like this would either irritate the hell out of me or make me smile. I understand why the line is there, it's just that when I read it now, it triggers this weird fight-or-flight response in me. I'm paralyzed.

3) Podficcage.
I am podficcing. In fact, I am working on a rather epic (for me) podfic (H/D). It should come out to about 4 hours long (I think). I was in the middle of recording it when I came down with the the cold/flu/bronchitis/lost voice/horribleness of death. So...I polished the first part and now I am just hanging around waiting for my voice to come back from vacation and my coughing to go back to where ever it came from. Big, big thanks to ladydeth12 for listening to the first 45 minutes of it and waving cheerleading pom poms and giving me the enthusiasm to continue on in the face of perils and the treachery of my body. I also have a few more stories in the line-up. AND I got a brand spanking new microphone. I might not be good at podficcing, but that doesn't mean that I can't do it with zest and enthusiasm.

4) I'm generally more than a little skeptical of polls, but this one cheered me up: More people support Marriage Equality than don't. I'm not sure I believe it, but the fact the the numbers are even in a place where they can be skewed in this direction is positive. Who knows, maybe someday, a majority of people will actually believe that LGBT people are...well...people.

5) Don't look now, but I think that spring might actually be in the immediate future. 70 degrees today!!!!!!!!!

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/25468.html.

Did I do important work this weekend? Ummmm..... no. And I still feel pretty crappy. I actually spent the weekend reading Merlin Fic.

( Specifically... )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/20465.html.

It has been noted by some that I haven't updated my rec lists recently. It's true. It's also shocking that there are people who actually read and keep up with this journal and my random blatherings. While I find it bewildering, it also makes me feel loved.

Anyway, I'm sick. Not near-death sick. Just a bad cold. My hope is, that because I am sick and have an excuse to sit around doing next to nothing this weekend that I'll be able to update some of my lists. I need to make sure that the links still work, and add in my recs, and I shudder to think about what my List o' Fests looks like. Also, I am due to put a few book "reviews" up (I finally read The God Eaters, by Jesse Hajicek). I am so behind. What can I say? RL is kicking my a$$.

As another aside, I have a rec. It's been recced by others, so I am hardly the first, but I am re-reading it now, and even in my stuffy-headed, achy, cranky, tired state, I am squeeing. It's Merlin/Arthur. NO DON'T TURN AWAY, HP-ers!!!!! Because, really, it's about fandom. Just go. Read it. You won't be disappointed:

Pairing Pendragon/Merlin by Anon.

Summary: Arthur is a BNF and Merlin is his prized beta.

P.S. *points to mood theme* I look just like this when I'm sick. Really.

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/19882.html.

Okay, so I realize that I am a little late to the podfic party, but OMG! Podfics allow me to "read" fanfiction while I am working.

cue: A Whole New Wooooooooooooorld....

Also, there are so many Merlin podfics that are amazingly well done. FayJay is currently rocking my little computer technology world with her own reading of her fic "The Student Prince". It's beautifully read and the story is just....so.... *words fail*

So...for those who are even later to the party than I am...get thee over to audiofic and discover the joys of the podfic.

And a special shout-out to reikokatsura who got me started...

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/13181.html.

BBC Merlin is my newest obsession, but I am brand new in fandom, so this is just a post where I can start collecting information on people, fic, comms, fests, etc. Pay it no mind, it's just a dumping ground for stuff I find as I investigate the fandom... (however, if any of my friends are in the Merlin fandom and can recommend stuff, I would appreciate it. Unlike Harry Potter, I am completely lost here and just finding my feet.)

Last Updated: February 20, 2011

( Merlin Fandom Reference )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/12879.html.