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Bolt Thru the Heart

@boltthrutheheart / boltthrutheheart.tumblr.com

"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." ~St. Augustine.
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ultimatebethylficlist

Moonshine Awards 2023: Nominations NOW OPEN!

Here are the rules for nominating fics and fanart, which are the same as last year:

  • There is no limit to how many fics can be nominated per category.
  • Most categories have one for Completed works and one for In Progress works. Completed works must have been completed between January 1st, 2023 and December 31st, 2023. Works In Progress must have been updated at least once between January 1st, 2023 and December 31st, 2023.
  • If there is only one category, nominated fics can be either Complete or WIP.
  • Fics can be nominated in multiple categories.
  • First Place winners of previous years’ categories are ineligible for nomination. Second and Third Place winners are still eligible.
  • Yearly “Exclusive” categories are open for fics from any year, regardless of previous wins.
  • Authors are limited to ONE fic nominated per category, so choose wisely.
  • Please nominate a specific piece of fan art for the Fan Art/Cover Art/Classic Art categories, preferably with a link to the source. We will NOT count general artist nominations for any category except Artist of the Year.

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE!

Nominations will close at 11:59pm PST on January 15th, 2024.

#bethyl#bethyl fanart#bethyl fanfic#bethyl fan art#bethyl fan fiction
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WIP challenge

Thank you for the tag @mistressheroine

  • in a reblog (or new post w/ rules attached), post up to five (5) filenames of your WIPs; not titles, file names.
  • post a snippet from one of them. snippet must be words you wrote in the last 7 days. we’re posting progress here. if you haven’t made any, go make some and come back to post!
  • after you’ve posted, people can send you an ask with one of your file names. you must then write 3 sentences in that file. if the filename is one you can’t share from (for example, an event fic), write 3 sentences on it anyway, and then 3 more on another to share.
  • that’s it! you can invite others to join in, or just post.

File names:

I WIll Follow You Into the Dark

Wasn’t Born an Angel

A soft knock on the bedroom door that wasn’t her door rattled Beth’s heart…if it was Daryl…she had absolutely no idea what she was going to say to him.
But it wasn’t Daryl…
“Beth…” a voice she knew but couldn’t recall ever saying her name…
 Another soft tap on the door…
“Beth, it’s Rosita, can I come in?
Such an absurd question…it was clearly Rosita’s room.
“I’m sorry…” Beth squeaked, reply muffled by her face buried in her lap. “I’m sorry…” lifting her head just as Rosita cracked the door.
“Are you alright?”
Never having really become acquainted with Rosita, her concern was unexpected.
“Yeah…yes…I just…” How could she possibly explain what was wrong?
“You just needed a door to slam.” There was such a sultry ease in Rosita leaning up against the doorframe, light from the hall spilling into the dimly lit bedroom. “I do it all the time to Abraham when he’s being a dick, and he’s a dick a lot. It feels much better with the guy getting the door slammed in his face though.”
Beth’s lips turned up slightly, maybe imperceptibly. And Rosita was right. She did need a door to slam.
#bethyl fanfiction#bethyl fan fiction#bethyl fan fic#bethyl#WIP game
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Daryl and Beth: Honey and the Moon

Hey guys…I’m don’t really get personal about my life online…on any sort of open forum or platform, but I guess it is time to open up a little. Writing Bethyl fanfiction has been such a passion of mine since…well, since I first binged TWD in early 2014, and Beth and Daryl, their story, and all of their possibilities (before Still and Alone aired) captured my heart and imagination. It has been such a constructive creative outlet for me, and although through the years, my fic writing went from posting chapters sometimes twice a week to having a more complicated life that only allowed me to update once a month, to even less than that, a few times a year, I have always held my fics very dear to heart. When Covid came around, the uncertainty of life during that few year period really sucked my creative spirit right out of me, and I hoped it would get better as we learned to live with Covid and we got back to normal life. But then something all the worse happened. My Dad got really sick in October of 2021. His doctor didn’t take him seriously…until he did…but by the time he was taken seriously and sent to a specialist in early December, my Dad was mostly bedridden, and it was too late. He had a very aggressive form of cancer, and it was at the terminal stage. With Chemo, we were able to buy some time together…my Dad was my best friend and my business partner…and I am an only child to boot, so it hit me as hard as anyone can imagine. In the spring, the doctors saw some improvement that they thought might give us a substantial amount of time…but in the end, those results were somehow read wrong, and by the beginning of July, my Dad passed away. During all the time he was sick, I was his caretaker (at the end, 24 hours a day), and I was happy to be there for him, I wouldn’t have had it any different, but needless to say, there was no time or inspiration for me to pursue any sort of thing that I used to have passion for. I would peek in on the fandom from time to time, but I was mostly separated from it. Even now, two months after my Dad’s passing, I am still so devastated and bereft that sometimes I can’t even comprehend what happened over the last almost year, but I am trying to find ways to get back to who I used to be…trying to get back into the creativity that I love and need so much.

Then…inspiration just found me…a prompt for the UBFL summer writing contest. I just sat down and found it in myself to write again, and at the end of my little one-shot, when I read it back, it brought me warmth, a sense of sweetness that is still possible in the world, and a sense of accomplishment that I didn’t know I would or could feel again. And then this little one-shot went on to win the contest…when I found out, it honestly made me tear up…in a good way…which hadn’t happened in a very long time. So it is with such a sense of delight and accomplishment that I get to share my newest Bethyl fic with the fandom. I want to thank anyone who voted for me…I am humbled by it, and I really appreciate it more than I can say. It came at the time I needed it the most. I would also like to say that it made my heart happy to see so many wonderful writers submit fics to the contest. The Bethyl fandom might not be as active as it used to be…but those people who still share their creations so freely with the fandom bring such heart, love, and passion to those who still wait so eagerly and need the stories that present all the possibilities of the lives Beth and Daryl could and should have shared. Also...thank you so much @ultimatebethylficlist for continuing to bring us events to keep the fandom active and inspired.

 So, again, thank you all so much for this opportunity to share my fic and find my creativity again. I can’t say that I will be back to writing on a regular basis anytime soon in regards to my long WIPs. I am currently in a certification program since I am pursuing a new career for this new chapter in my life, but I hope by the new year when I have received my certification that I can dive back into fic writing with my full heart.

 My Bethyl fic, Honey and the Moon, can be found on both AO3 and FFnet at the following links:

(x) Honey and the Moon AO3 (x)

(x) Honey and the Moon FFnet (x)

The title as well as the lyrics in the fic are from the song Honey and the Moon by Joseph Arthur.

#bethyl#daryl and beth#bethyl fanfic#bethyl fanfiction#bethyl fan fiction#daryl dixon and beth greene
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These are a little bit different from my usual style of photo editing, but it was something that was inspired by the Bethyl fic In Toto Corde by SquishyCool @im-immortal, which can be found here. 

This fic...wow...so tragic but so beautifully written...while reading it, it played out in my head with the most vivid imagery, this star-crossed couple fighting for love, fighting for life...and sacrificing for that love. It haunts me in the best way possible. 

I don’t know if I did it justice, but I was compelled to create something for it. I couldn’t decide if I liked bloodier Daryl better or not, so I thought, why not post both versions. 

Seriously, go read this story, but prepare your heart.

#bethyl#bethyl fanfic#bethyl fanart#bethyl fanedit#daryl and beth#bethyl fanfiction#bethyl fan art#bethyl fan fiction#bethyl edit
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courtneyshortney82

Who Let Dog Out? Part 2!!

I couldn't leave this universe soooo... this is now a multi chapter with at least 8 more chapters! So here's part 2:

Who Invited Merle?

He walked up to the door and rang the bell. She answered right away and almost knocked him to his knees. She always looked good, but tonight was something more. Her hair was down and flowing around her shoulders. She had on a light pink sundress that skimmed her curves just right. She hadn't put on much makeup—she didn't need it—but what little she had on made her eyes even bluer and her lips a glossy pink that made him want to kiss them already. Gold sandals that intricately circled her calves and tied at the back made her look like some kinda damn goddess.
#bethyl#bethyl fanfic#bethyl fan fiction#daryl and beth#and merle
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courtneyshortney82

Gracie Update!!

Read it HERE!

Gracie began making small noises and Beth jumped up, hoping to keep her from waking Daryl. The night before, she’d filled one of the bottles with water and had it ready for the powdered formula. The cloth diapers that she’d decided to use were harder than she’d thought they’d be to get on and off, but they were getting there. Small steps. While she’d willed herself to go to sleep last night, that's what she’d decided on. Small steps to bonding with her daughter, to making herself whole again. Small steps to becoming a member of this group again. One foot in front of the other, even if it was just a few inches forward now and then.
#Bethyl#bethyl fanfic#bethyl fan fiction#daryl and beth
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ultimatebethylficlist

New Author of The Month: July 2021

Our featured “new” artist this month isn’t exactly new, though she is what could be called “new adjacent.” And she was nominated for Breakthrough New Author in the 2020 Moonshine Awards! After stepping away from fandom for a few years, she’s back with some amazing contributions: it’s @sheriffandsteel​ (or @lumierelalune​ ) !

sheriffandsteel can be found on both AO3 and FFN under the same penname.

When asked what got her into the Bethyl fandom and what it means to her, she said:

I was a casual fan of TWD until season 4. After Beth and Daryl’s interaction at the end of 4x01 I felt like there was something there and when they left the prison together, I needed fics to get me through the hiatus. It was the first ship I was ever truly invested in and the first one I started writing for regularly.  Bethyl is a huge creative outlet for me and the feedback I’ve gotten for my writing has shaped me into a better and more confident writer. I left the fandom for several years after Beth was shot, she is a character I really love and relate to and it just got to be too painful to watch the show without her there. I recently started rewatching TWD because I want to watch the last season as it airs and when I hit season 4 Bethyl sucked me right back in again. Coming back and writing for this fandom has been like coming home. There are so many amazing writers and stories out there and such wonderful people in this fandom. Thank you everyone who writes and reads for this pairing and keeps this ship going!  

For her personal fic rec list, she recommends:

(Everything these authors write is amazing and I recommend all of their fics but these are my stand out favorites.)

sheriffandsteel’s Works & Personal Thoughts:

between the beginning and the end Summary: When Daryl signed on to be up and coming country singer Beth Greene’s bodyguard, he had figured it’d be a pretty easy gig, just watch out for overzealous fans and not let the girl get into any trouble. He hadn’t counted on the insane hours, her obsessed stalker, or Beth herself. He sure as hell didn’t count on four months later the whole world going to shit. Thoughts: This is my favorite thing I have ever written. It contains two timelines which is turning into a bigger undertaking than I was expecting but it is so much fun to write. My only regret is that I started posting it before I got caught up with TWD (I only just reached season 8) I would have included more show characters and less OCs. The response to it has been so kind and I’m so happy people are taking a chance on it. 

Come Back to Me Summary: He has to leave her body behind when the walkers come. He has just turned away and closed his eyes when hers snap open. Thoughts: I wrote this immediately after Beth died and it helped me get through my grief over her demise.  

Side Effects of Consuming Moonshine  Summary: Moonshine is an extremely strong drink and the side effects of drinking moonshine are not to be taken lightly. Thoughts: I always enjoy fics that are written different than just prose and this was my first try at writing one. I’m really happy with how it turned out.  

the difference between living and surviving Summary: Unable to find any other survivors Beth and Daryl head out alone and begin to learn how one can bear to live in this new world. Thoughts: this is the first multi-chapter fic I ever wrote and while it is not a story I would write now it will always hold a special place in my heart. It is one of my most popular fics and I still get sweet comments on it which means a lot to me. 

I don’t, but I will Summary: Admittedly agreeing to be Beth’s plus one to her sister’s wedding was probably not the smartest decision Daryl had ever made. But boy were the consequences worth it. Thoughts: I’m not a big fan of non-ZA AUs for this pairing, I’m too big of an apocalypse fan. This is one of the few AUs I’ve written and it’s my favorite because of the fluff and everyone is alive.  

Reunion  Summary: The town of Terminus was no stranger to reunions, but some always stood out in people’s minds. Thoughts: I wrote this before the show reached Terminus and I just really like it as a soft what could have been even though it is nowhere close to what happened on the show.

Although she’s certainly no stranger to Bethyl fanfiction, we are so glad to have her back and see new content from her! Keep an eye out for more from this author, and in the meantime, make sure you catch up on her older pieces!

#bethyl#bethyl fanfic#daryl and beth#bethyl fan fiction
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Veteran Author of The Month: July 2021

The featured veteran author for July is a well-known name in the fandom. None other than @piper1016​ !

Piper1016 can be found on AO3, and on FFN as piper78.

When asked what got her into Bethyl and what the fandom means to her, she said:

Before Bethyl I really didn’t know fandoms existed to the extent that Bethyl and other fandoms do. I’d been a fan of TWD (and plenty of other tv shows) for a long time but no other character(s) have affected me in the same way Beth and Daryl did. Before or since. After Beth was taken and then after she was shot I had this inexplicable heaviness. I felt silly because they’re ‘just fictional characters’. Even so, I couldn’t get them out of my mind. I felt their time together was not through. Their differences are what made them perfect together. Daryl being stoic and rough. Beth representing hope and beauty in a cruel, ugly world. Daryl teaching Beth to protect herself while she showed him that it’s okay to feel. They taught each other, learned from one another and their time together was cut too short leaving a lot of us in the fandom wanting more. After looking on a few forms and finding Tumblr (thanks to Rckyfrk), I discovered the fandom, as well as fanfiction. A whole new world (obsession), opened up.

For her personal fic rec list, she recommends:

Piper1016′s Noted Works:

Unknown Girl Summary: Sheriff Dixon tries to help a woman who was found on a mountain one cold night in a threadbare dress with no shoes and no memory of who she was or where she came from.

Abandoned Summary: It’s the moment all Bethylers wish would happen. The moment Daryl finds out Beth is still alive.

#bethyl#daryl and beth#bethyl fanfic#bethyl fan fiction
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I just wanted to take a second and say a big “thank you” to all of the Bethyl content creators out there. Fanfic writers, fanartists, video editors, theorists, gif makers...all of you...you don’t understand how much it brightens my day to see new content! To see other people so excited to share their creativity in regards to Bethyl and to see other members of the Bethyl fandom excited and celebrating those posts of writing, art, accomplishment. It’s just a really beautiful thing that we can love each other, revel in the beauty that is Beth and Daryl, and support these lovely creative endeavors. It would be a sad day if the Bethyl fandom died...if there were no new posts, no new art, no new fanfic updates...because quite literally, in a world where things can be so dark, seeing these creations that are the embodiment of love, hope, and faith as represented by Daryl and Beth, sometimes this escapism makes someones day. I know that has often been the case for me. I appreciate you all.  

#bethyl#bethyl fanart#bethyl fanfiction#bethyl edit#bethyl fan fiction#Daryl and Beth
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courtneyshortney82

Gracie Chapter 2

“Where is she?!” Beth was pushing on Rick’s chest with both of her hands. “Daryl said you had her, WHERE IS SHE?!”
Rick was looking at her like he was seeing a ghost. Technically, he was. A ghost that was screaming and shoving him. One of the men from Alexandria had a gun trained on Beth, but Daryl quickly strode over and jerked it out of his hand. 

Wow! Thank you all for the comments, reblogs, kudos, and likes! You're all amazing!

Show Chapter | Archive of Our Own
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org|Organization for Transformative Works
#bethyl#bethyl fan fiction#daryl and beth
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100 Days of Writing Day 3

I actually made it to Day 3 of 100 Days of Writing hosted by @the-wip-project! This feels so monumental, and I have actually very actively been writing/editing/generally thinking about and working on both my major Bethyl WIPS (I Will Follow You Into the Dark and Wasn’t Born an Angel). Today my post isn’t really about actually writing though...it’s about a song that really represents Daryl and Beth for me. This song always comes to mind when I’m considering their “Happily Ever After”, or even just simple, sweet scenes. I don’t know, it’s just like one of my ultimate Bethyl songs. I’ve recently been re-thinking a chapter of Wasn’t Born an Angel, changing my original plan for it to a slightly different direction, nothing major that will change the story or where it goes, just how they get there, and I think for the better. But in one portion of the new scene, this song just keeps playing in the background for me, so it is feeling so right. Also, when I hear this song, the music video my imagination creates for it is Daryl and Beth’s wedding, surrounded by all of their friends in an outdoor ceremony, both smiling so wide that it lights up the world, these two very special lovebirds having all of the wedding traditions even though it’s after the world has fallen. Every eye on Beth as she walks down the aisle a glowing bride, but Daryl being the only person she sees. That first kiss, knowing them in my head, sweetly shy because there is an audience. Having a first (awkward) dance under a starry sky...

Anyway, the song I am referring to is Easy to Love You by Theory of a Deadman. If you don’t know it, you should give it a listen. Thanks for allowing me to share my musings!

Lyrics:

I remember all the summer days drinking wine in the Sunshine I hope it never leaves And I remember all the summer nights staring at you in the moonlight I hope you never leave 'cause baby you're so good to me You have all that I ever need It's easy to love you So easy to love you You know it's true The best part of being with you, to know you're with me It's not so hard to say It's easy to love you I remember all those winter days frozen in the cold tryin' to get you home Should I be moving in?Remember spending all those winter nights stayin' inside by a warm fire Ya you gotta know, I can never let you go You and I have the rest of our lives to see It's easy to love you So easy to love you You know it's true The best part of being with you, to know you're with meIt's not so hard to say It's easy to love you Can anybody else see it? Can anybody else see what I do? Can anybody else feel it? Oh, can anybody else feel the way I do? Now I'm with youHard to forget all the moments When we'd be sitting there hoping it would never end 'Cause this is meant to be Baby, will you marry me? It's easy to love you So easy to love you You know it's true The best part of being with you, to know you're with me It's not so hard to say It's easy to love you So easy to love youYou know it's true The best part of being with you You're easy to love

#bethyl#bethyl fanfiction#bethyl fanfic#100 days of writing#daryl and beth#bethyl fan fic#bethyl fan fiction
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Veteran Author of The Month: June 2021

The featured veteran author for June is also a co-admin right here at UBFL: SquishyCool (or @im-immortal )!

SquishyCool can be found on AO3 and FFN under the same penname.

When asked what got her into Bethyl and what the fandom means to her, she said:

I’ve been a hardcore TWD fan since the show began airing, but that’s because of my love for zombies. In all honesty, I didn’t really ship anyone for the first 3-4 seasons. I kind of shipped Daryl with Carol, but then it became clear that it was a platonic relationship and in all honesty, I just wanted to see them both get some action lmao. Then the prison fell… and in those first moments of “Still,” when we see Beth and Daryl running and running and finally collapsing on the ground, breathless and exhausted… the butterflies started. Something clicked and I immediately thought, “uh oh.” The rest is history, especially considering how “Still” and “Alone” played out. I can’t explain how or why I’m still so heavily invested, especially considering my last 2 fandoms only kept my attention for about 2-3 years each, but here I am. And I love it! I am so incredibly grateful for the Bethyl fandom because not only has it helped me improve my writing so much more than I ever could have imagined, but it has also introduced me to some of the most amazing people, including someone who I now consider one of my very best friends! It’s my happy place :)

For her personal fic rec list, she recommends:

SquishyCool’s Works & Personal Thoughts:

Dirty Fingernails and Dried Blood Summary: What happened during the months between “Still” and “Alone”? Beth uses the last pages of her diary to write down every detail of surviving with Daryl. Thoughts: My first Bethyl fanfic. It holds a special place in my heart for that reason, though it is pretty rough. If I could go back, I never would’ve done it entirely in first-person. But I do plan to finish it one day. There are some scenes I’m particularly proud of, and I still have a long note full of ideas and plot points.

Most Wanted Summary: After Beth’s mother and half-brother are murdered in a drug war, the godly veil on the Greene Family operation is lifted, and law enforcement comes down hard. In an effort to protect her family, Beth commits a heinous crime that could mean life in prison alongside them. Now everyone she’s ever trusted is in police custody and her only chance at freedom is to get as far away from Atlanta as she can… Thoughts: Well, this is a must-read if you like my writing. I hope to one day convert this into an original fiction and maybe get it published, but I need to finish it first LOL. I got the idea from ONE scene of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and from there, it exploded into a huge mystery thriller (with lots of romance and smut). I’m really really proud of it, and I’m scared I’ll fuck it up tbh, so I keep putting off continuing it. But I really need to get back to it because I really want people to see what I have planned! (Also, this fic is the reason @courtneyshortney82​ started talking to me, so that alone is pretty historic lmao)

The Crow’s Song Summary: Beth and Daryl spend a few more days together in the funeral home and come to terms with all they’ve lost along the way. But soon, they must decide what comes next. Thoughts: This fic… this fucking fic. It took me a full year to write. I made numerous edits. I even got a little depressed while I was writing the last two chapters, and my bf didn’t know why until he read what I’d been writing lol. It’s honestly the Bethyl fic I’ve always wanted to write but just didn’t know how. I’m still really really proud of how it turned out.

Carnival Games Summary: Daryl is a traveling carnival worker and Beth is a barely legal farmer’s daughter looking for a night of fun when the carnival comes to town. Thoughts: Omg this fic is so fun!! One of my first Bethyl fics, and one of my first Bethyl smut fics. Short, sweet, a little funny, and a lot hot. I am still impressed with myself on this one, especially considering how much my writing has improved since lol

Breathe. Please. Summary: Beth shows up at the Hilltop. Alive. Daryl can hardly believe his eyes. Until she’s lying in his bed, an arm’s reach away. And he can hear her inhaling… exhaling… inhaling… Thoughts: Another “fix-it” that I’m proud of. Tbh I didn’t think it was anything all that special, but a lot of readers have said it’s one of their favorites, and some say they reread it regularly, and nothing makes me happier than hearing that, so I am extremely proud.

picking @ scabs Summary: Sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, being with them just isn’t right. But what wouldn’t you give for it to be right? Can someone like Daryl learn how to swallow his pride and stop repeating the same mistakes over and over? Can someone like Beth learn to fight off her demons and allow him to get close enough to hurt her again? How can they stay away from each other when it’s all too easy to fall back into one another? Picking a scab will leave a scar, but they both have so many scars already… what’s a few more? Thoughts: This fic is very, very personal for me. It’s like my “therapy” fic. I have poured some of my deepest feelings and struggles into its chapters, and the whole idea that got me to start it was that I wanted to find a way to navigate and cope with ending my 3-year long relationship with my emotionally/mentally/sometimes physically abusive ex. I still have a lot of fond memories from that relationship, but even more so, I have painful memories. Not to mention, going through your early 20s as a woman in the modern day is a fuckin’ trip, so this kind of explores that. It’s really self-indulgent, I think, but I’m really proud of the smut in it. And more than that, I’m proud of the response. I’ve had a few people message me or comment to say that they’ve felt all those things, or have experienced similar things, and it’s really just… relieving. I put my heart and soul out there, and what I got back was “you’re not alone.” So yeah, this fic is special. I wanna finish it soon, but I have to be in A Mood to do so. 

In Toto Corde Summary: Despite a million reasons not to, Beth and Daryl fell in love. Then he made the ultimate sacrifice in order to keep all of his promises. Now, facing unimaginable consequences at the hands of witch hunters, Beth has no choice but to use her powers to bring Daryl back from the dead. “He won’t be the same…” Thoughts: I LOVE THIS FIC. I love it so much that I had to rewrite it after like 4 or 5 years. And I already started on a sequel that I really hope I’m able to finish. Though it doesn’t have many hits, and I don’t think many people have read it at all, which I understand since it basically is entirely focused around Daryl being killed. But damn, I’m proud of this one, and it was really fucking fun to write because witch!Beth is just… the best.

risk it all (part 1 of in for a penny, in for a pound) Summary: Daryl Dixon has a pretty decent life, all things considered. He’s got his own place. A good dog. A few friends. Even a girlfriend. He keeps himself out of trouble. Until he starts texting Beth Greene. And hell, if he ain’t about to risk it all for this damn girl. Thoughts: This was supposed to be one short multichapter fic focused entirely on smut and social media. Then I got on a roll and it ended up being the beginning of a series! This fic is purely fun. Nothing too serious or heavy. I write it when I’m in a Good Mood because it’s my little happy place. I have plans for about 4 more fics before the series will be finished!

Don’t Make Me Haunt You Summary: So here’s the thing: Merle Dixon is dead as fuck. And as it turns out, Beth Greene is the only one who can see or hear him. Which is weird considering she’s never met or even heard of this guy, let alone anyone with the last name Dixon. That’s her first problem… Thoughts: The reception to this fic has absolutely blown me away. I had no idea anyone would want to read about ghost!Merle haunting Beth and forcing her to solve his murder with the help of his grumpy brother. And it was all inspired by an episode of South Park lmao then I started really getting into it and now it’s just like, my super fun fic where I explore a range of emotions and all kinds of religious beliefs and different mythologies and I can build the world however I want and goddamn I just love writing this fic. Plus there’s a podfic for it! I can’t even begin to explain how much I love this fic and how proud I am of it :)

#bethyl#bethyl fan fiction#bethyl fanfic#daryl and beth
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ultimatebethylficlist
allbehereforever asked:

do you have any favourite fics/recommendations?

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ultimatebethylficlist answered:

Hmm, where do we even start?! lol

Here are just a few of our favorites, with a mixture of classic fics and newer must-reads.

If you are looking for any particular tropes or settings, let us know. 

We highly, highly recommend checking out the rest of the works written by all the authors in this list. We only chose one fic from each author, but several of them have dozens of fics, and they are all incredible works of art!

Also, highly recommended that you check out all the winners for the last 5 years’ worth of Moonshine Awards. It’s like one giant rec list! :)

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#Bethyl#bethyl fanfic#bethyl fan fiction#daryl and beth
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Veteran Author of The Month: April 2021

April’s featured veteran author of the month is a well-known name in the Bethyl fandom, Aireabella (but you may know her as @boltthrutheheart​ )!

Aireabella can be found on both AO3 and FFN under the same penname, though she is mainly exclusive to FFN.

When asked what got her into Bethyl and what the fandom means to her, she said:

I fell headfirst into the Bethyl fandom at the end of 2013. I didn’t watch The Walking Dead from day one, but after binge watching it up to the season four midseason finale, I was addicted. I avoided it for so long, despite everything fantastic I had heard about the series over the years because I didn’t think I could ever really enjoy a zombie show, but I quickly learned how wrong I was. It wasn’t a zombie show at all. It was a show about survival, retaining humanity, and the quest to find a way to actually live amidst the world at its darkest. When Daryl and Beth escaped the prison together, I was consumed by the anticipation of what was to come…what would happen between them, because it was as if the hand of fate reached down and brought the two characters who were the epitome of survival and living, practicality and faith, humanity and hope, and sent them off on a journey together that was the height of everything TWD stood for. I started my first fanfic that year. It became the outlet for my creativity that I didn’t know I was missing but would have been lost without. Having never been a part of an active fandom, I went in search of people like me and found such an amazing, creative, and passionate group of individuals that embraced me and made me feel like a part of something so very special for which I am eternally grateful! Thank you to everyone out there who reads and supports all the wonderful fanfic and fanfic writers in the fandom that keep Beth and Daryl alive!

Aireabella’s Works & Personal Thoughts:

I Will Follow You Into the Dark [FFN] [AO3] Summary: This story follows the exploits of Daryl Dixon and Beth Greene after the fall of the prison in the Season 4 Midseason Finale. Having lost their home, their family, and friends, Daryl and Beth are forced to set out on their own. The brutality of their world and their survival instincts will set them on a course to form a bond they never expected. Thoughts: I Will Follow You Into the Dark is my longest and longest-running story. It is my creative baby.

Wasn’t Born an Angel Summary: Beth was stolen from him. Daryl couldn’t save her then. In a broken world where you only have what you can protect, can Daryl find what was taken from him? Is he strong enough to save Beth, and in doing so, save the person she helped him become? This story will follow the lives of Daryl Dixon and Beth Greene following the escape from Terminus. Thoughts: Wasn’t Born an Angel holds a special place in my heart. While it isn’t my first fic or my most read, there is something about the emotional intensity and the journey Daryl and Beth are on together that I am so proud of creating. 

It Only Hurts When I Breathe Summary: Beth was dead. It had all been a dream. Daryl Dixon was done. This story follows the events of The Walking Dead Season 5 Midseason finale, and is an alternate tragic ending to my Beth and Daryl fan fiction “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” with maybe just a little bit of beauty and hope in the end. Thoughts: This one was tough…written in the aftermath of the airing of “Coda”, it was my personal exercise in purging the tragedy that was overwhelming me at the time. I cried through every chapter and smiled at the end. When reading it, please judge me gently because it came from a place of extreme emotionality, and I left a little piece of my heart and soul behind in it. 

Bloodline Summary: This is a very short and tragic Daryl Dixon and Beth Greene Walking Dead fiction. In this work, it is implied that Daryl and Beth have shared a relationship. It examines certain facets of the relationship that Daryl and Beth share and how their personal characteristics culminate in something beautiful through tragedy. Please do not read if you are not looking for something sad! Thoughts: Three chapters. Exactly 300 words of tragedy, love, and a little bit of hope.

Thank you for being such a wonderful creator and supporter within the fandom, @boltthrutheheart​ ! If you haven’t checked out her work yet, don’t hesitate to start now!

#bethyl#daryl and beth#bethyl fan fiction
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New Author of The Month: April 2021

Our featured new author of the month is an up-and-comer: none other than pietromavximoff (or @darylbeth​ )!

pietromavximoff can be found on AO3.

When asked what got her into the Bethyl fandom and what it means to her, she said:

I got into the walking dead fandom first and never expected to be watching it for the shipping/romance aspect. I loved maggie and glenn and assumed they’d be it for me and daryl was always my favourite character but then beth came along and hers and daryl’s dynamic was so beautiful and tragic and unexpected. the moment in the kitchen where she asks what changed his mind and he just stares at her like that, i remember thinking holy shit they’re about to kiss. they’re literally about to kiss darylisinlovewithbeth holy shit. and then they didn’t. and then i went back and rewatched every single one of their interactions like how did i miss this before??? everything about them just works so perfectly and they’re so different but they’re the same in all the ways that matter and they make each other so much better. the bethyl fandom means so much to me, i’ve been a part of it for so long and have met so many amazing and talented people through it! it’s also helped me get creative again and get out of my writer’s block that i was in for so many years, so that’s a massive thing.

For her personal fic rec list, she recommends:

pietromavximoff’s Works & Personal Thoughts:

Not Made To Call You Mine Summary: When Beth is dragged to a bar under Maggie’s watchful gaze, the last way she expects to leave is on the back of Daryl Dixon’s motorcycle. Wanting more than ever to move on from the ghosts that haunt her, Beth finds moving on doesn’t have to be about pushing people away. And Daryl, realising he’s letting Beth in closer than he thought he could, discovers with some surprise that he’d do just about anything for this girl - including protecting her against the twisted gang that his troublesome brother has got himself roped up in. Thoughts: this one was the first proper long fic i’ve written with a fleshed out plot and cohesive narrative. i took a long break from tumblr and bethyl but i missed them so much that i went back and watched all their episodes and just fell in love all over again, and thus, this.

Oh, Did I Say That I Want You? Summary: Beth Greene’s car is on it’s last life, so when Daryl Dixon offers his help after finding her broken down on the side of the road, she can hardly believe her luck. Even harder to believe is him agreeing to pretend to be her boyfriend to convince her family and friends that she truly has moved on from her mother’s death. But it’s hard to know what’s pretend and what’s not when real feelings get involved, and tensions rise when they both realise they’re no longer keeping up their façade as a friendly favour. Thoughts: fake dating au?? need i say more

Call Me Friend But Keep Me Closer Summary: Beth Greene’s starting a new chapter of her life after her mother’s death - college - which means independence, freedom, and a whole lot of opportunities to get drunk and make bad choices, or so her sister Maggie tells her. But all Beth wants to do is focus on her studies - that is until she befriends Daryl Dixon, the bartender at Martinez’ who isn’t half bad to have around when drunk men approach and who she finds herself thinking about late at night more and more. When Beth exasperatedly complains she’s not having any of the fun her sister always talks about, her and Daryl begin a whole new kind of relationship that she never in her wildest dreams would imagine but can’t ever think of going without again. Thoughts: I’m always such a sucker for college Beth and bartender Daryl and the thought of them having a friends with benefits but secretly pining for the other makes for a very entertaining story

Sleep Better Next To You Summary: Beth and Daryl stop in a cabin in the woods for the night but it’s cold and they’re freezing. When Beth remarks that body heat is supposed to help, they snuggle up close simply for warmth but when Beth wakes in the morning to Daryl’s morning wood poking into her ass, she decides she needs to do something about it. Thoughts: which totally happened in my head at some point during their time together, you can’t tell me beth wasn’t freezing her ass off one night and daryl didn’t grudgingly offer his body heat to her all the while secretly enjoying how she moved in closer each time a wind blew

Find Me Summary: It’s hard to keep track of time during the end of the world, but when Beth mentions that she thinks it’s her birthday, Daryl makes sure to get her something that shows just how much he’s beginning to care for her. Thoughts: because soft prison bethyl kills me dead

You Think Of Me, Too Summary: Beth goes to take a shower but finds Daryl in there already, and she’s almost too scared of his reaction to act on her feelings. Almost. Thoughts: because smutty prison bethyl kills me dead

Says He Can’t Believe He Found Me, Wraps His Arms Around Me Summary: Daryl offers to tattoo Beth while trapped in a car riding out a storm, not realising just how hard to is to control himself so close to her. Thoughts: because the thought of daryl tattooing beth in the middle of an apocalypse where there are so many horrors but the only thing he’s truly scared of is not being able to keep it together while being so close to her for so long

We are so lucky to have such a talented addition to our fandom! If you haven’t checked out her fics yet, don’t waste another second!

#bethyl#bethyl fan fiction#daryl and beth
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Matchmaker Merle

Merle Dixon considers himself a jack of all trades. He also considers himself somewhat of a ladies’ man. His brother, on the other hand… Well, let’s just say Daryl needs a little help when it comes to finding “The One.” And who better than his big brother? What could possibly go wrong?

This spring, we want you to give us your best take on Merle playing matchmaker for Beth and Daryl! This is no contest, and there will be no winners. It’s just a nice, wholesome prompt that we hope can inspire some fun ideas. Feel free to interpret however you see fit. We look forward to seeing what y’all come up with!

All submissions will be spotlighted on May 1st, 2021. Feel free to post whatever you’d like, whether it be fic or fan art or anything else. Use the tag “Matchmaker Merle” if you post on AO3, and if you post here to Tumblr, please tag us!

We look forward to seeing what this wonderfully creative fandom can come up with! :)

#bethyl#beth and daryl#bethyl fan fiction#bethyl fanart
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