Fic Clique

83: “The Poorest Little Meow Meow on the Grid”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "sacrificial lamb (self-proclaimed)," by flemeth (Locked Tomb) @10:12, "voyages," by junos (SVT RPF) @36:14, and "leave no space," by linearity (Formula 1 RPF) @1:05:01.

It's that time of year again where your hosts gather 'round and swap fic recs! While we always enjoy our host rec exchange, we think we really knocked it out of the park this year. If you enjoy the community efforts of fandom, AUs as a vehicle for character study, or how the burden of legacy can weigh on someone, you'll love this episode too.

82: “The One and Only Voice of Pastiche”

In this episode, your hosts discuss "Honey and Wounds," by earlybloomingparentheses (Sherlock Holmes) @11:39, "they will us waving from such great heists," by laiqualaurelote (Ted Lasso) @37:54, and "la petite mort," by howlingmoonrise (Barbie, Dracula) @1:03:22.

With a range of fanfictions for you to enjoy this episode, our topics include reconciling different versions of someone across a lifetime, the absolute joy of perfectly executed tropes, and the various natures of immortality.

Minisode: Genre and Subgenre in Fanfiction

In this minisode, your hosts present their panel from Geek Girl Con 2023: Genre and Subgenre in Fanfiction!

We had so much fun crafting & presenting our panel that we wanted to immortalize it for you all. This somewhat more formal minisode takes a look at how genre & subgenre function in both published literature and fanfiction, with some key talking points covering romance as the foundation for fic, genre fusions, and our pitch for what "fic genre" entails.

81: “Home is Where the Haunt Is”

In this fic, your hosts discuss "quelled and quenched in leaves," by Senri (Stardew Valley) @9:04, "red, and a little more red," by atwater (F1 RPF) @33:52, and "practical magic," by notspring (SHINee RPF) @1:04:31. 

In this Halloween-themed episode, your hosts trick-or-treated through a delightful neighborhood of Ficlet recommendations and uncovered beautiful and mysterious truths about cycles of life, the nature of a haunting, and what to do when a guy infuriates you but man are his arms beautiful. Join us as we celebrate this charming holiday with a plethora of sub-10k fics, and perhaps also as we locate its true meaning.

80: “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Agonies”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "A Temporary Fix," by bosgood (Untamed) @10:41, "No Reservations: Narnia," by Edonohana (Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations RPF, Chronicles of Narnia) @41:07, and "A Wee Monster Problem," by isis (Witcher) @1:01:00.

Would you like to have your heart ripped out via melancholic fanfiction? Explore a love of food as an avenue for culture? Bear witness to two co-hosts absolutely obliterating the good name of their third co-host? Whether you said yes to any of these questions or not, you should listen to this episode!

79: “That’s a Threat and a Promise (I Love You So Much)”

As one season tips into another, so too does Fic Clique make the transition into another year of podcasting with our fourth anniversary!!

This episode features us finally getting our act (somewhat) together, loving and appreciating the ficlets, and witnessing a multi-award winning performance from host Brenna. There are never enough words to describe how truly grateful we are for you all joining and supporting us on this ride, but know from the bottom of our hearts that we love you. Here's to another year of fanfiction and wack nonsense.

78: FYC: Maybe the Truth

In this episode, your hosts discuss "Maybe the Truth," by aceaceaceace (SHINee RPF).

We hope you're enjoying our new "For Your Consideration" series, because we're back with another installment! It's easy to see why host Brenna championed this fic, as we all really enjoyed the smart authorial choices, realistic portrayals of the human experience, and multiplicity of truth that this story had to offer.

Alternate titles include: "See If I Ever Validate You Again," "Don't Be a Coward, Read the OCs," and "Making a Gay Guy Happy Is So Ally of Me"

77: “You’ve Set Me At A Grueling Pace”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "And Then We Shot the Ox," by coltsbane (Oregon Trail) @9:53, "RICHIE TOZIER IS...THE COMEBACK CLOWN," by owlinaminor & tinypersonhotel (IT) @35:52, and "it walks among us," by strangehunger (She-Ra) @1:02:58.

This episode features lots of unintentional throughlines between our fics, from literalized video game mechanics to the many sides of someone's persona to delightfully clever twist endings.

76: “My Youth is Slipping Away”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Distraction Management," by sinsense (Semantic Error) @17:02, "Her Heart is a River," by angelan (Six of Crows) @43:00, and "Ere," by audreycritter (The Queen's Thief) @1:07:13.

When there's someone you care deeply about and you need to talk to them, how do you communicate? Is it via a series of increasingly unhinged text messages? Letters where much is left unsaid? Stilted conversations in royal bedchambers? The fics of this episode offer you a plethora of really viable and useful options to explore in your own life.

75: “Ballin’ On Your Birthday”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Le Cirque Des Souvenirs," by AirgiodSLV, CompassRose, Ellejabell, epaulettes, kitkat50311, mahons_ondine, minnapods, & sisi_rambles (The Night Circus) @15:15, "gone to ground," by merionettes (FE3H) @44:25, and "if you would only let you," by gdgdbaby (Untamed RPF) @1:11:56.

Your hosts have returned from their annual spring/summer break and we're ready to party, so put on a festive shirt and let's get celebrating with Reid's birthday episode! Alongside a lovely guest of the pod, we discuss creation for the pure joy of it, implicit trust in relationships, and the unstoppable train that is life.