[production-notes] Episode 9.5 (Patreon)

Hello friends! I'm so sorry to have missed two production diaries. I was extremely clever and miscalculated this season's writing schedule (an off-by-one error that programmers will be all-too familiar with), and so I'm back on the old 2 week writing, editing, and recording schedule, and it SUCKS. Next season I will make SURE I'm writing 3 weeks in advance, which allows me to produce a final episode a week before publication. My life was SO GOOD last season...

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The screenshot is obsidian.md, my writing environment. I recommend it to anyone who works with text (report writing, dissertation, research, programming manuals, even fiction podcasts!). Come and chat to me about it on the discord, I'll talk your ear off! https://discord.com/invite/mCY2bBmDKZ

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ONWARD! This episode has a few 'Firsts' for the show. In-world, we have the first confirmation that people are alive in the Southern Hemisphere! (outside of the unusually cool climate of New Zealand). Writing firsts are that I'm now confident enough of a writer and a human to write an explicitly trans story, and on the back of the emotion of this story, the first profanity (shit just got real!).

I don't intend for the show to become full of profanity, I mostly keep the themes suitable for all ages, but now and then, as in life, such language is reasonable and realistic.

I hope you think and will think that Lara's story be written sympathetically, as with any subject I write about, the first question I  asked my trans friends is "what story do you wish you had been told earlier" and then work from there. 

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Last episode I introduced the Moscow Strategic Reserve. This is based on a myth we have in the UK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_steam_reserve

I do love the urban legend of the UK Strategic Steam Reserve, and I especially love the extra layer that this is the world of Thomas The Tank Engine!

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Space trash is a real problem for us as a hopeful space-faring civilisation, and it is incredibly disappointing to see recently the first (public) orbital weapons testing happening. I hope the scientific community can come to an agreement to ban this, otherwise the amount of space junk will endanger everyone's satellites!

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Thanks all, I'll make sure I have another production diary for you next week. Thank you all for your support as ever!
Tris <3