RAWRz

Lilli - 28 - she / her - white bread American - bi-coastal kind of girl, currently living on the east coast - space cadet (ADHD-PI) - of the fannish persuasion

[extremelynormalblog]

How to support podfic & podficcers!

I’ve seen a few “Here’s how to support writers” posts, so here’s one for your friendly neighbourhood podfic people! 

Podfic is more well-known these days, but in case you haven’t come across it: think of it as fan-made audiobooks for fic.

If you like podfic and would like to help the people who make it make more of it, here are a few easy tips and tricks:

How to support podficcers as a writer:

Post a permission statement somewhere public! That can be your AO3 profile, your tumblr bio, the tags of your works… Preferably all of the above! You don’t have to give “Blanket Permission,” it can be an “ask first but I’ll probably say yes” or an “leave a comment and I will decide on a case-by-case basis” statement. Or even a “Blanket no” statement, which will spare the podficcers the time and energy to track you down and ask you, only to be told no thank you. If you want to be asked, though, make sure you specify an up-to-date way to contact you.

Share the podfic! If someone makes podfic of your work, the most helpful thing you can do as a writer is share it: accept the related work notification and add the “podfic & podficced works” tag on AO3,  but especially share the link on Twitter, reblog the podficcer’s post, etc. You don’t have to rec the podfic or even listen if you don’t want to-it’s not expected of you! You don’t have to say anything but “Look, this exists!” Your audience as a writer is almost always much bigger than the podficcer’s own audience, so by sharing the post with your followers, you will help increase the podfic’s visibility and chances of getting feedback, which in turn will probably motivate the podficcer or inspire other podficcers to record more of your stories/your fandom.

How to support podficcers as a listener:

Give feedback! If you think writers get little reward for their efforts, oh boy do I have news for you about podficcers. There’s a bunch of reasons why it’s logistically harder to leave feedback on podfic (we’ve all downloaded and listened to something & then… forgot to come back….), and readers sometimes don’t know what to say. If you’re looking for inspiration or a place to start, here are some ideas for leaving podfic feedback: Podfic Feedback Toolbox by KLB, and some useful vocabulary to comment on podfic by yue_ix. Feedback on podfic is so rare that I guarantee you that every single kudos notification, comment, tweet, squeeing tags on a reblog, ask or nice AO3 bookmark is cherished forever.

Share the podfic and/or rec it! Maybe new people will be intrigued and give it a try, which will increase the demand, which will motivate your current podficcers and attract new ones, you know the drill.

In general, the more podfic-positive and responsive a fandom, the more podficcers will be attracted to it. So if you love podfic and would like there to be more… You know what you have to do :p

And if you’re new to the idea of podfic and don’t know where to start: There are more than 22,000 on AO3 right now, in a multitude of fandoms, ratings, lengths, voices and styles. You can usually stream them right on the page, and you can always download them to listen to later. It’s never been easier to have a fluffy ficlet keep you company while you do the dishes or to have someone tell you your favourite AU as a bedtime story.

And that’s it for me! Please share this post and feel free to add your own tips or ask questions if you have any. :D Thank you for reading!

[lillisaurusrex]

*taps mic* what if I got back on tumblr. would that be a good choice, or nah?

[striderepiphany]

I am a man on a mission, and that mission is reintroducing podficcing into the fanfiction community. Tell your friends.

(I spent 30 minutes typing out a text transcription and then Tumblr completely ate it and I saw white for a second so I’ll add an image description once I’ve calmed down)

[kumabearsweetheart-deactivated2]

I don’t have the energy for a really good transcript of all the adorable drawings but I can give you the words. <3 Sorry for not better accessibility but my energy is really low this morning.

I like podfics.

Cute image of someone listening to headphones happily.

Lemme talk about them for a second. What is a podfic? Podfic is an audio recording of fanfic, read aloud by a fan (or several). The term is also used as a verb; someone may ask to podfic someone else’s story, or spend an afternon podficcing. A podfic of a slash story may be called podslash. Podfic is also known as audiofic. Cute image of someone reading at a microphone. Speech bubble reads “It’s like a bedtime story, feachuring Sasuke Uchiha!.”

Text continues: what’s so great about podfics?

Fanfics are great!!

Hours and hours of free entertainment & community connections!

But reading just isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Audio formats let you enjoy your favorite stories in the car, doing chores, or just relaxing! More content = more exposure for authors

ACCESSABILITY

For - Visually impared fans, fans with dyslexia, fans with no time to read, fans who just don’t enjoy reading, AND MUCH MORE!

MY DREAM More podfics!!

I am looking into recording opportunities for myself and orgamizing projects dedicated to the art of podficcing! stay tuned! and make more podfics pwease.

[lemonsharks]

Is there an AO3 tag for “yes yes podfic my stuff”?

[lillisaurusrex]

Good news, friends! There isn’t a specific tag on ao3*, but you CAN add a permission statement to your profile! (and/or add your name to the Blanket Permission List. You can read more about this here*, here, and here.) Adding a permission statement is the best way to indicate that you’re podfic-friendly!

If you’re interested in making podfic, please, do! I used this tutorial when I was getting started, and found it useful as a jumping off point. I would recommend starting with something 2k or less for your first project (and from an author with blanket permission, if asking permission is what is holding you back). If you get stuck or have questions, consider checking out the podficcer discord. The podfic community is small, but very helpful and encouraging.

And to all those who enjoy podfic, please show your podficcers some love! (Kudos and kind comments are always, always appreciated.)

[officialhome]

reblog if u are currently A Mess

[medicinal-music-deactivated2021]

communication is so damn sexy

busy for the day, but you hit me with a “i love you, but i need to do some work today, so I wont reply for a while” message? mmmm sext!!

gonna be distant for a while because of something personal, but took the time to send me a “dont worry it’s not about you but i need some personal time rn” text? ill be looking at wedding rings, while you get yourself where you need to be!!

basically, you don’t need grand gestures or to be present and available 24/7 to relay to someone that they are wildly important to you… you just need considerate fractions of moments and communication.

[meanplastic]

so apparently sleeping doesn’t make your problems go away. I woke up and everything still sucked. shocked and upset

[softlyshine]

think it’s a good sign that 2019 is starting on a tuesday.. tuesday again ? no problem

[dutchster]

[flowerais-deactivated20211031]

a gentle reminder that you did well this year. you met new people, learned new things and felt new feelings. you did so many things that made you scared. you picked yourself up off the floor after feeling completely defeated or heartbroken. there were some really tough nights but you survived them all. you made people happy just by existing. you accepted many goodbyes but the serendipitous meetings made up for them. it was your own hard work that paid off but you always downplay it or compare yourself to others. that’s not fair on yourself. you’ve come so far from the first day of this year. you have more wisdom and strength now. yes, other people seem more “successful” but does that even matter? please don’t think so lowly of yourself to only think about your failures. 2018 was your year of growth. I hope you take a moment to be kind to yourself, and believe that 2019 will be even better.

[dukseon]

[medievalpoc]

There’s a reason why Moana was neck-to-neck with Frozen’s record at the box office, Hidden Figures made more at the box office than Rogue One, and Ms. Marvel, Monstress and the upcoming America are bringing more fans to comics. There’s incredible power in not only seeing yourself reflected in media, but seeing that representation done right as well. It reminds you that your experiences are worth being treated with respect, that there are more choices open to you than you might think, and that you can be seen as a whole person, not just through the flattened lens of white supremacy. Luke Cage broke Netflix because so many people were watching the series, after all (and yet frustratingly, predictably, Marvel decided to ignore every lesson from Luke Cage’s success in making Iron Fist but that’s a rant for another day). Escapism isn’t truly escapism when you keep finding the same microaggressions, erasure, and stereotypes in the stories you love and are trying to escape into, and we ignore this truth at our peril because it’s never “just a story.

“Finding Yourself in Fandom” by Michi Trota (Uncanny Magazine)

“…because it’s never ‘just a story’.”

*standing ovation*

(via haveievermentioned)

[anakinh]

can i just say something?

when I was a kid, I told my mom that I wanted to be an actress when I grew up. You know what she told me?

She said, “sure, but you’re going to have to do it in China. America won’t hire you if you’re Asian.”

And that was it for that dream. 

Of course, that was just a phase - one of many, one I would’ve gotten over anyway. But what she said stuck to me. You’re going to have to act in China, because America doesn’t hire Asians.

And if there’s anything I learned over these years, it’s that she was right. Asian-Americans don’t get to see ourselves on screen. We don’t get to read about our deeds. And we get pissed. We complain, we shout, and people dismiss us because, oh, “the Japanese are okay with Ghost in the Shell”, and “I’ve heard that mainland Chinese are perfectly fine with Iron Fist.” Well, great for them. This isn’t about them.

This is about us. Asian-Americans. Asian-Canadians. Asian-Australians. Asian hyphen something. And the Asians in Asia don’t understand - because they can’t. They’re surrounded by media portrayals of them. They never have to fight for representation because it’s always there. They have no idea what it’s like to live in a country that sees you as other, and then to have to go back to your home country, to have your parents tell you “this is you, this is your culture, your heritage” and you look upon the faces of your family and you see nothing of yourself in them. 

Asian-Americans are not the same as Asians who live in Asia. We live in a different culture. Our values, our beliefs, the experiences that shape our lives are separate. 

We want to see ourselves in western media because it’s what we grew up with. It’s what surrounds us. Sure, we can watch K-dramas and anime and Chinese/Taiwanese/Japanese/whatever dramas, and a lot of us do, but it’s still not us. 

We shouldn’t have to go watch Asian dramas just to see a part of us represented. We shouldn’t have to move to Asia just to be hired. 

We deserve to represent, and be represented, as ourselves.

[riveralwaysknew]

I took my father to see Rogue One today. I’ve wanted to take him for a while. I wanted my Mexican father, with his thick Mexican accent, to experience what it was like to see a hero in a blockbuster film, speak the way he does. And although I wasn’t sure if it was going to resonate with him, I took him anyway. When Diego Luna’s character came on screen and started speaking, my dad nudged me and said, “he has a heavy accent.” I was like, “Yup.” When the film was over and we were walking to the car, he turns to me and says, “did you notice that he had an accent?” And I said, “Yeah dad, just like yours.” Then my dad asked me if the film had made a lot of money. I told him it was the second highest grossing film of 2016 despite it only being out for 18 days in 2016 (since new year just came around). He then asked me if people liked the film, I told him that it had a huge following online and great reviews. He then asked me why Diego Luna hadn’t changed his accent and I told him that Diego has openly talked about keeping his accent and how proud he is of it. And my dad was silent for a while and then he said, “And he was a main character.” And I said, “He was.” And my dad was so happy. As we drove home he started telling me about other Mexican actors that he thinks should be in movies in America. Representation matters.

[glumshoe]

Representation is important because it allows people to see characters like themselves as heroes.

It also allows people to see characters unlike themselves as sympathetic and relatable. 

Stories teach us how to be human.

[cenkrett]

This is also why bad representation that demonizes already stigmatized groups is so dangerous; it reinforces the belief that those groups are not human.

[blackfemmejeanvaljean]

I’m about 90% sure the economy is never gonna “improve” 

this is capitalism in it’s final form

this is it honey 

[wumblr]

except, you know, those companies that do a charitable thing for every thing they sell

that’s kinda new and interesting. benevolent capitalism

[blackfemmejeanvaljean]

lmao

[wumblr]

Pay attention, class: This is what it looks like when one is unwilling to consider new information.

[alexandra-erin]

It’s not new information, though. It’s misinformation.

First, it’s not that new.

Did you know that there was a time in U.S. history—which is by definition recent history—when a corporation was generally intended to have some sort of public interest that they served? I mean, that’s the whole point of allowing corporations to form. Corporations are recognized by the commonwealth or state, and this recognition is not a right but a privilege, in exchange for which the state (representing the people) is allowed to ask, “So what does this do for everyone else?”

The way the economy is now is a direct result of a shift away from this thinking and to one where a corporation is an entity unto itself whose first, last, and only concern is an ever-increasing stream of profits. What you’re calling “benevolent capitalism” isn’t benevolent at all. It’s a pure profit/loss calculation designed to distract from—not even paper over or stick a band-aid on—the problems capitalism creates. And the fact that you’re here championing it as “benevolent capitalism” is a sign of how ell it’s working.

Let’s take Toms, as one example. The shoe that’s a cause. Buy a pair of trendy shoes, and a pair of trendy shoes will be given away to someone somewhere in the world who can’t afford them.

That’s not genuine benevolence. That’s selling you, the consumer, on the idea that you can be benevolent by buying shoes, that the act of purchasing these shoes is an act of charity. The reality is that their model is an inefficient means of addressing the problems on the ground that shoelessness represents, and severely disrupts the local economies of the locations selected for benevolence.

(Imagine what it does to the local shoemakers, for instance.)

The supposed act of charity is just a value add to convince you to spend your money on these shoes instead of some other shoes. It’s no different than putting a prize in a box of cereal.

Heck, you want to see how malevolent this is?

Go ask a multinational corporation that makes shoes or other garments to double the wages of their workers. They’ll tell you they can’t afford it, that it’s not possible, that consumers won’t stand for it, that you’ll drive them out of business and then no one will have wages.

But the fact that a company can give away one item for every item sold shows you what a lie this is. A one-for-one giving model represents double the cost of labor and materials for each unit that is sold for revenue. Doubling wages would only double the labor.

So why are companies willing to give their products away (and throw them away, destroy unused industry with bleach and razors to render them unsalvageable, et cetera) but they’re not willing to pay their workers more?

Because capitalism is the opposite of benevolence.

“Charity” is by definition exemplary, above and beyond, extraordinary, extra. “Charity” is not something that people are entitled to. You give people a shirt or shoes or some food and call it charity, and you’re setting up an expectation that you can and will control the stream of largesse in the future, and anything and everything you give should be considered a boon from on high.

On the other hand, once you start paying your workers a higher wage, you’re creating an expectation. You’re admitting that their labor is more valuable to you than you were previously willing to admit, and it’s hard to walk that back.

Plus, when people have enough money for their basic needs, they’re smarter and stronger and warier and more comfortable with pushing back instead of being steamrolled over. They have time and money to pursue education. They can save money up and maybe move away. They can escape from the system that depends on a steady flow of forced or near-forced labor.

So companies will do charitable “buy one, give one” and marketing “buy one, get one” even though these things by definition double the overhead per unit, but they won’t do anything that makes a lasting difference in the standard of living for the people.

Capitalism has redefined the world so that the baseline of ethics is “How much money can we make?” and every little good deed over and above that is saintly.

But there’s nothing benevolent about throwing a scrap of bread to someone who’s starving in a ditch because you ran them out of their home in the first place.

[left-reminders]

This is one of the best anti-capitalist posts on the entire site.

[theauspolchronicles]

I’m so goddamn mad that oil companies have known climate change is real for decades and did everything to stop people from acting on it. I want to burn their offices down. I want to throw their CEOs into a fucking pit. The world is being destroyed because some filthy rich fucks saw the end coming and figured making money off it was better than saving it. That’s pure evil, plain and simple.

[quasi-normalcy]

Exxon knew about climate change almost 40 years ago and took steps to suppress the evidence

Likewise Shell.

This isn’t a conspiracy theory, this is a documented historical fact, and people’s heads should literally be rolling for it.

[persrephone-deactivated20171009]

This blog…

“It matters not what someone is born, but who they grow to be.“

[brutereason]

Your activism can be part-time, when you have the strength to do it. Not every combatant can be a warrior on the front lines; there should be room for guerrilla tactics, and spies, and even noncombatants who occasionally lend hugs to the people who need them. You have to protect yourself so you can fight whenever you can, in whatever way you can. You might not be up for every battle. You might, in fact, be totally unable to fight some battles because you know that losing your kids or your parents or your social group is not something you can afford to do right now. That’s okay. Protecting yourself does not make you a bad person. Find the places where you can afford to make change, but don’t beat yourself up for not being able to be as “bold” as other people, because part of this journey is in finding your own strengths and learning how you can contribute even with the very real compromises that everyone has to make.

Good People Often Stay Closeted. Good People Sometimes Stay Silent. | Ferrett Steinmetz (via brutereason)