Podfic is one of fandom's quietly wonderful corners: fanfiction performed aloud and recorded as audio, so you can listen to a story instead of reading it. Think of it as a fan-made audiobook for fanfic.
For readers who commute, exercise, or simply love being read to, podfic turns fic into something you can enjoy with your eyes closed.
How podfic works
A podficcer records themselves reading a fic — sometimes with full character voices, music, and sound effects — and posts the audio, almost always with the original author's permission. Many fics carry a note welcoming podfic, and some are written or transformed specifically for it.
Podfic ranges from a single voice reading a short one-shot to elaborate multi-voice productions of novel-length works, complete with cover art.
Finding podfic on AO3
Podfic is posted on AO3 like any other work, tagged with 'Podfic' and often the length of the recording. You can filter a fandom or ship for the Podfic tag to find audio versions, and a work that has an associated podfic usually links to it.
If you love listening on the go, searching the Podfic tag in your favorite ship is a great way to build a queue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does podfic mean?
Podfic (a blend of 'podcast' and 'fic') is fanfiction recorded as audio — a fan reading a story aloud, usually with the author's permission, so others can listen to it.
Is podfic allowed on AO3?
Yes. Podfic is a recognized type of fanwork on AO3 and has its own tags. Podficcers typically get the written author's permission before recording.