Keep Singing: a Bethyl Walking Dead Podcast

The Rambling Dead shockingly returns for the Plague Times, and your intrepid host is drinking tea in their closet. In the dark. Because this is how we live now. Talking points include: TWD used to be genuinely horror, the gender politics of this show are such garbage, Lori and Andrea and Carol all deserve better, Daryl Dixon Competence Porn, and what actually lies ahead is ROCKS AND TREES AND TREES AND ROCKS AND OCCASIONALLY WATER   Music featured is by Nicky Apple - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nicky_Apple/ Enjoying yourself? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows your intrepid host that they're... basically not watching the show anymore. Here, all in one place and in an hour and a half, is why. Talking points include: TIME JUMPS, narrative messiness, what happens when the center does not hold, this should actually be a zombie show with no zombies, Negan and Fanservice Judith, SERIOUSLY THE TIME JUMP WAS SUCH A BAD IDEA, the Season 9 that might have been, and Schrödinger's Beth. Music featured is by Anima - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Anima Enjoying yourself? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which we finally complete season the first. Talking points include: The ethically difficult case of Shane Walsh, why the show should have been all about Jenner, how come we can't ever actually stay anywhere, is science good or not, "it does matter", whether the air literally being on fire actually hurts, and WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN FRANCE Music featured is by Nicky Apple - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nicky_Apple/ Enjoying yourself? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which Keep Singing reveals itself as at least a little bit alive, with five fics: "Peaches" by wallflow3r, "maybe everything that dies someday comes back" by leftmywingshome, "Leaving" by ivyandocean, "The ocean in your head is so deep and dark" by cc5, and "Make of Yourself a Light" by your intrepid host. Music courtesy of FM-84, ykymr, Hyson, Kai Engel, and Black Hill

God, where do we even start. In which there is basically a gigantic rant about time jumps. There's a lot of other stuff about a lot of other stuff, but primarily this is ranting about time jumps. You've been warned. Or maybe you're into that, in which case welcome.  Also there's a brief midterms pep talk because it's my podcast and I do what I want. Music featured in this episode is by dustmotes and Ketsa -  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/dustmotes/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry  

In which Rick's story comes to an end - or DOES IT? No, it doesn't. We'll get into it. Other talking points include: cliche fake "deaths", evaluating Maggie's decision-making process, the return of Shane the Scumlord, callbacks and choppers, DON'T DEAD OPEN OUTSIDE, Daryl fucking off to Mordor, AMC's blatant cash grabs, more narratology, and why I'm much more solid with regard to Beth being alive. Also: YOU BETTER EFFING VOTE ISTG Music featured in this episode is by dustmotes and Ketsa -  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/dustmotes/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

Long story short: Best episode this season. Talking points include: the unsolvable problem of Rick's arc, the joys and sorrows of a rad bromance, Daryl finally talking about his own damn feelings, callbacks and what the hell they're actually about, and a scene with Negan that's legitimately interesting (yes, really). Music featured in this episode is by dustmotes and Ketsa -  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/dustmotes/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which matters continue to improve, ratings not withstanding (yikes). Talking points include: STILL PROBLEMATIC TIME JUMPS, oh god NOT MORE PROBLEMATIC TIME JUMPS, Rick being bad at everything, RICHONNE BABY, Meaningful Literature, A's and B's, the deal with the choppah, whose fault is all of this (it's Rick's), and why Rick isn't actually going to die maybe (and why I still think we might see Beth again). Music featured in this episode is by dustmotes and Ketsa -  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/dustmotes/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which things improve slightly. There are still problems but it's better. Talking points include: Daryl's crappy life, Rick the bad friend, Aaron the perfect angel, watch out for the Foreshadowing Hammer, ship status roundups, oh wow Maggie did have a sister, why isn't everyone talking about the helicopter all the time, and Negan is still boring.  Music featured in this episode is by dustmotes and Ketsa -  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/dustmotes/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which we launch into season 9. And... It's good. It's okay. There are some problems. The problems are in fact pretty significant. We'll talk about them.  Music featured in this episode is by dustmotes and Ketsa -  http://freemusicarchive.org/music/dustmotes/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which the Keep Singing reading series gets a bit of a makeover. This episode is devoted to two chapters of your host's fic Safe Up Here With You, with another episode devoted entirely to The Vampire Cat's Burn to follow.  Content warning: episode features disturbing imagery, gore, sexual violence, and fantasies of murder and suicide. Promise it's not quite so brutal in the end. Songs featured are: Tycho - "Dye", "L"; Kristian Eidnes - "Credits pt. 2"; Jean-Pierre Taieb - "One Way to Life"; Brian Eno - "An Ending (Ascent)" Full fic soundtrack: http://dynamicsymmetry.tumblr.com/post/126121742181/what-were-we-hoping-for-music-for-safe-up-here Full fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/4200327/chapters/9488922 

In which we attack the penultimate episode of season 1. Talking points include: funerals are so important, Jim's death is totally dope, hooray for Jenner, these writers still can't do anyone consistently, turns out this is probably the weakest season, and why walkers are not apex predators or indeed predators of any proper kind. Music featured is by Nicky Apple - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nicky_Apple/ Enjoying yourself? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which there's a fair bit of yelling about Robert Kirkman. Talking points include: screw Robert Kirkman; why you need to respect your dang audience; more about Daryl's mental state; Dixon-esque racism, and why Team Family is the real villains in all of this when you really look at it. Music featured is by Nicky Apple - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nicky_Apple/ Enjoying yourself? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

Your host sits amidst nature in all its birdy glory and opines on episode 3. Talking points include: lay off Glenn; oh boy MORE gender problems, no seriously why can't these writers do women at all; T-Dog the Cinnamon Roll; HEY IT'S EVERYONE'S FAVORITE REDNECK ASSHOLE; really though let's get deep into Daryl's psychology right out of the gate; Rick and Daryl's zombie apocalypse meet-cute; how is it that hard to find a damn deer; Bear McCreary can go straight to hell and stay there. Music featured is by Nicky Apple - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nicky_Apple/ Enjoying yourself? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry  

The rewatch continues and we get deeper into it. Talking points include: oh my GOD Shane is skeevy as hell; Andrea is emotional and incompetent because she's a lady; the perfect living sunbeam that is Glenn Rhee; Merle Dixon as (super) problematic fave; there are still worldbuilding problems; dude that helicopter wtf. Music featured is by Nicky Apple - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nicky_Apple/ Enjoying yourself? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

The rewatch kicks off. Talking points include: oh wow this show used to actually be horror; boy oh boy there are some gender problems; Shane is not likeable; Rick really shouldn't be alive. Music featured is by Nicky Apple - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nicky_Apple/ Enjoying yourself? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which we sort through the wreckage of the season finale, which... Let's just say your intrepid host is displeased. Details of why are gone into, including how we ended up here in the first place, why endings matter so much, what it looks like when these writers fall down on the job, what might have happened had Carl not died, what the hell Rick's deal is, and what (few things) actually went right.  Music featured in this episode is by Ketsa - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which there is much nerdy yelling about the next-to-next-to-last episode of the season. Talking points include: Rick's hotness/moral bankruptcy correlation, whether or not a Negan redemption arc is working or can work, why Carol is so inexpressibly great, Morgan as a Biblical prophet, Carl as a saint, holy relics in the ZA in general, what's with all the callbacks, and WHAT IS WITH THE DAMN HELICOPTER Music featured in this episode is by Ketsa - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which we review the events of the most recent episode, with talking points including: How I'm annoyed with the show for making me take Negan seriously, why you don't want to be a doctor or near a child in the zombie apocalypse, the glory that is Maggie Greene, Daryl and all his queer friends, and Morgan as a center of mysticism.  Music featured in this episode is by Ketsa - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which we take this past Sunday's episode point-by-point, from Daryl's moment of breakage to Maggie's general amazingness to Tara's somewhat problematic character arc to how Gabriel is good now to why I think Carson miiiight not be quite so very dead as the show would have us believe. Also included: The running theme of the fantastic in the show as a whole, and the notion that magic is creeping back into the world.  Music featured in this episode is by Ketsa - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry

In which we work through the whole thing segment by segment, topics including Rick's grieving process, (not) dealing with trauma as a running theme in the entire show, a few things that I don't entirely dislike about Negan, the question of whether or not Negan actually has any real human emotions at all, speculation about writers' room dynamics, curious symbolism, and Zombie Apocalypse band names. Well. One. One band name. But it's a *great* band name, dammit. Music featured in this episode is by Ketsa - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/ Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry Support Keep Singing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicsymmetry  

In which your intrepid host launches their series of audio episode recaps. I've been doing these in writing on my Tumblr blog for a while, and I felt like trying a new format. So herein I go on at some length about last night's mid-season premiere "Honor", including the rightness and wrongness of Carl's demise, how deaths on this show do and do not work in general, Rick's arc, the fascinating stuff going on with Carol and Morgan and Ezekiel, why Daryl is currently frustrating me, and the Big Questions this story is ultimately asking and has been since the beginning. 

In which we forge ahead with part 1 of chapter 8 of Burn by TheVampireCat (MEL DO YOUR CHAPTERS HAVE TO BE SO LONG), chapter 9 of Safe Up Here With You by yours truly, and seraphcelene's kiss me, and you will see how important I am. Links in show notes below. Be advised that there's some adult sexual content herein. Aw yeeeeeeeah. (Some of it is really disturbing but if you're me it's still aw yeeeeeeeeeah.) Music courtesy of Anima, Janneh, Ketsa, Deltamorphon, M.Nomized, and Kai Engel. Burn: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1750796/chapters/7724861 Safe Up Here With You: http://archiveofourown.org/works/4200327/chapters/10162139 kiss me, and you will see how important I am: http://archiveofourown.org/works/3464573 Enjoying Keep Singing? Buy your fannish host a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/dynamicsymmetry  

In which Keep Singing makes a triumphant return from the dead with a fabulous conversation with UltimateBethylFicList (Stacey). Discussed: What it's like to attempt to catalog all the fanfiction for an entire fandom, the joy of making authors feel special, maintaining enthusiastic commitment to a ship that may in fact be done (IT'S NOT, DAMMIT), and other delights. Check out the Ultimate Bethyl Fic List site here: https://ultimatebethylficlist.com/ Music courtesy of Ketsa.

In which we FINALLY continue with TheVampireCat's Burn, your host's Safe Up Here With You, and Ambrosia29 (tumblr: writerloverpsycho_pomp)'s sweet sad near-death experience tale The Moments Between (find them all on AO3). Please note: Thanks to Burn, this episode is so so so so so nsfw. So gloriously nsfw. It's awesome. Music courtesy of Ketsa, Ars Sonar, M.Nomized, and Julian A. Lacroix.

In which Mollie (sail-not-drift) and I finally hang out in our fleshy forms and discuss a number of different things, in particular Team Defiance and why we can't let go, and wine is drunk and we both do manage to remain pretty lucid. Guest appearance by dudes outside on obnoxiously loud motorcycles. Music courtesy of Broke for Free

In which there is important logistical news and then we continue with the reading series, consisting - as always - of chapter 6 (part 2) of TheVampireCat's Burn, chapter 7 (part 2) of your host's Safe Up Here With You, and Schwoozie's one-shot Hope is the Thing (all can be found on AO3). Warning: there's a hint of the beginnings of smut in Burn, some really messed up smut in Safe Up Here With You, and then Hope is the Thing requires no warning at all, because it's a complete tonal shift to finish up the episode and is very sweet and lovely. Music courtesy of Anima, Mystified, Scott Holmes, Shadows on the Snow, Kai Engel, and All Shall Be Well; all found at Freemusicarchive.org.

In which the Wisconstravaganza is completed, and we sit in on the second of two lengthy hotel room conversations featuring Amber (writerloverpsycho_pomp), Airey (breathoffreshair, who fell asleep almost immediately) and Jason the Best Roommate Ever. This one takes place in the wee hours, and there is alcohol, and like usual it kind of goes all over the place, and you get to hear what your prudent host sounds like when they're completely smashed. Featured topics include Daryl Dixon meta, yet more media criticism, drunk political science in the zombie apocalypse, The Dark Tower and a brief digression into the general oeuvre of Stephen King, and what it must be like to have your Stupid Zombie Show predict a presidency (it must be so damn weird you guys). Music courtesy of Dlay and Broke For Free.

In which we eavesdrop on exactly what it says on the tin: a (lengthy and very rambly) conversation in a hotel room from this past Wiscon 41, featuring Amber (writerloverpsycho-pomp), Airey (breathoffreshaire), your host, and your host's roommate Jason. It's a bit chaotic and at one point happy hour in a bar is going on in the background but hopefully it's at least kinda entertaining. Topics covered include: the awesomeness of Wiscon, why Beth is super duper alive or at least why her death continues to make no damn sense at all, general shipping stuff, and (I'm pretty sure it's in there) the story of how I tried and failed to assassinate Jason in his sleep. Music courtesy of Dlay and Ketsa.

In which we sit in on a panel from this last weekend's WisCon: How to Ship Without Being a Jerk, and Other Guidelines for Being Good Citizens of Fandom "Everybody hates shipper wars, but nobody trusts the cult of nice, and at some point many of us have been tempted to send a snarky postcard/email/tweet to the Author or Showrunner Who Ruined It All Because They Just Didn't Get It. But just because the Powers that Be are the worst doesn't mean we have to be. How do we have conversations about the fandoms we all love without ruining friendships? Are those even the right goals? If not, what is a better way to look at it?" Panelists: Ty Blauersouth (mod), Leigh Hellmann, KJ, and yours truly. Music courtesy of dustmotes and Ketsa

In which Nikita (nikitajobson on Tumblr) and I discuss all the reasons why Beth's death makes absolutely no sense to us and therefore we don't buy it, what about the show we're loving right now and what drives us up a wall, and making art/the creative process. It's pretty fantabulous. Music courtesy of Stellardrone and Broke For Free

In which our reading series continues with not terribly angsty (part 1 of) chapter 6 of TheVampireCat's Burn, extremely angsty (part 1 of) chapter 7 of your host's Safe Up Here With You, and a sweet little ASZ reunion scenario called Conflagration by headtripparadde. Slightly short episode because your host has been having A Week, but slightly short and late is better than not at all. Music by Stellardrone, Lee Rosevere, AVOIDANT, Transient, and Ketsa

In which Mollie (sail_not_drift) and I attempt to discuss multishipping and... Well, we do, we just also end up going pretty much everywhere else. Multishipping, the problematic particularities of Rick Grimes' psyche, and why people are such jerks about this in general, with a slice of broad fandom griping on the side. Guest appearances from my cat and the birds in my yard (all my windows were open). Enjoy. Music courtesy of Ketsa

In which our reading series keeps on a-rollin' along. Chapter 5 (second half, your host had to split it up) of TheVampireCat's Burn, chapter 6 of your host's Safe Up Here With You, and a lovely little one-shot by the name of And All Your Roads Lead To This, by moonwalkingdead (here at Keep Singing we love fics that begin with "and"). So that's angst with mild smut, straight-up super heavy angst, and sweetness. All bases covered. Music by Dlay, Ketsa, Kai Engel, Shadows on the Snow, and ykymr

In which we settle in for a conversation with Susan/inkinmytea that covers everything from Coda feelings and multishipping to... Well, what it says on the tin. Shoe-stealing foxes and muses in Hawaii. Yeah, you kind of just need to listen. Music courtesy of Ketsa

In which we continue two journeys into hearts of darkness - and pop back out on the other side with flower crowns and fluff. Chapters 5 of my Safe Up Here With You and thevampirecat's Burn, along with What You Think by Vlora. Because angst is nothing without daisies. Music courtesy of Ketsa, Kai Engel, Ars Sonar, and Lee Rosevere

What it says on the tin. I figuratively sit down with fic author and general fabulous person Abelina (abelinajt) to talk about her fic, her history with the fandom, all about how we both feel and think about these characters and this ship, and... yeah, really pretty much anything and everything. It's very cool. Take a listen. Music courtesy of Stellardrone

Last episode in the Reading Series was after the election. This one is after the inauguration. Are you sensing a trend? Regardless, in an upsetting time, here are two reasonably upsetting pieces of fanfic: chapters 4 of TheVampireCat's Burn and your intrepid host's Safe Up Here With You. I'm sorry/you're welcome. Music courtesy of Ketsa, Shadows on the Snow, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere

Lift Up Your Voice, Children, Rejoice - Abelina There’s no dog. No cars. No one returned to lay claim to the place. Nothing to keep them from stickin’ around, so they do. And it’s hard, sometimes, to look around this new home without thinking about the past. Link (AO3): http://archiveofourown.org/works/5971302

In which we're joined by Mollie (sail_not_drift/Schwoozie) for a lengthy discussion of... Well, a lot of things. You really have to just listen. Also included: a reading of "Tune My Heart to Sing Thy Grace" (by your intrepid host), which is Christmasy in nature. Note: The music referred to in the outro (Lee Rosevere) is not in fact the music being played DURING the outro but is instead the music that appears at the end of the fic. I know that's confusing. I'm sorry. Music courtesy of Broke For Free, Dustmotes, and Lee Rosevere

(recorded on November 9th) In which we drag ourselves out of the pit of electoral despair and attempt to salve our wounds with chapters 3 of Burn (by TheVampireCat) and Safe Up Here With You (by yours truly). Maybe it'll work. Maybe. Worth a shot. Music courtesy of PlusPlus, PCIII, Kai Engel, Dexter Britain, Cousin Silas, and Arcane Waves, licensed under Creative Commons.

In which there's just an awful lot of yelling. About the season premiere, about the fandom, about a lot of things. There is also, somewhat ironically, a reading of a lovely little fic called "Hope" by ivyandocean (on AO3). Music courtesy of Ketsa and Jahzzar

In which we (finally) continue with chapters 2 of both TheVampireCat's Burn and your intrepid host's Safe Up Here With You, concluding with Fragmented Anamnesis by cc5. I said last time that there would be a little less angst. My pants are aflame. Music courtesy of Ketsa, Rec008, Kai Engel, Deltamorphon, Westy Reflector, and Transient, licensed under Creative Commons.

In which all the stuff about how we're the best that couldn't fit into part one shows up in part two. So really it's more of the same, except thanks to the SDCC season 7 trailer there's a little bit of new stuff to talk about. There's also a reading of "quoth the raven, nevermore" by alchemystique (on AO3) which will make you go awwwww and then ruin your life. Music courtesy of dustmotes, Alex Fitch, Scott Holmes, and Rho

In which Keep Singing's new (semi-alternating) format is launched: Serial chapter fic rather than only one-shots. We have for your listening pleasure chapter one of Burn by thevampirecat and Safe Up Here With You by dynamicsymmetry, with This is Where it Starts by rednecksaints to cap things off with a nice angsty cherry. Best kind of cherry, if you ask me. And even if you didn't. Music courtesy of Ryan Litt, Kai Engel, Cousin Silas, Janneh, Black Hill, Dana Boulé, and Stellardrone

In which we're the best. Seriously. We're the absolute best. Here's a lengthy discussion of how best we are, and in what ways we are the best. We're so the best, I had to make two episodes to fit all the best into. There's also the usual fresh crop of fic recs delivered straight to your door, and a side of ranting. Just a teensy bit. For flavor. Plus a reading of "Will You Be My Anchor" by dynamicsymmetry (yours truly) which can be found on both AO3 and ff.net. Music courtesy of Tyler Twombly, Black Hill, Andrea Carri, and Stellardrone

In which Keep Singing makes a triumphant return, and we - I and special guest Mollie (bethgreenesgirlgang) - plunge into the depths of Daryl's sexual psyche. Talking points: Asexuality and why we see him on that spectrum, what that implies regarding Beth, healthy relationships and the lack thereof in both their histories, how to interpret the complexities of physical touch, when being a 40 Year Old Virgin is not at all a joke, depictions of sexually aggressive masculinity and why that can't at all apply here, and much much more. Plus a reading of "All Of Me" by HappyDirtyCookiie, found on AO3. Music courtesy of dustmotes, Black Hill, and Alex Fitch

Life is Sweet (chapters 4-6) - Schwoozie Summary: Beth came back wrong and she knows it. She doesn't need to be reminded by everyone else. Audio of this: archiveofourown.org/works/4865255/c…apters/11151095 Music courtesy of Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Scott Holmes, and Blear Moon

In which the dark is pierced: violence, horror, angst, disturbing themes, catharsis, and what it all means in the context of this pairing. Also addressed: is this a sexist pairing? It's not, but why not, given culture and all? Plus a very sad reading of "Scar Tissue" by PunkyNemo (TheVampireCat), which can be found on AO3. Music courtesy of Kai Engel, Rho, and Lee Rosevere, licensed under Creative Commons

In which writing in general is discussed, and fanfiction in particular. Topics include where the hell to begin, how the hell to handle multiple projects at once, what the hell is the deal with plagiarism, and why the hell this whole thing is so stigmatized. Also included: recs, what might have been going through Beth's mind between The Back Hug and The Porch Conversation, and a reading ("We'll Scream Our Names to the Heavens and the Plains", by dynamicsymmetry). Music courtesy of Broke For Free, Cousin Silas, and Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons.

In which the Bethyl Smut Week mega-episode concludes. There are recs, discussions of what people would prefer to NOT see in their smut, what they haven't seen and would like to see more of, and what maybe um they weren't so into before and then they were ruined and now they're really really into it, as well as speculation regarding the ease of locating a strap-on in the zombie apocalypse. Also a reading of yet more smut ("just like a stranger | just like I am" by dearygirl and openhearts, found on ao3) Music courtesy of Broke For Free, and Cousin Silas and Black Hill, licensed under Creative Commons