October Rose

writer, mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, aunt, social worker, recovering attorney, not necessarily in that order.

[huffpost]

Stray Dog Found In The Jungle Treks Miles With Adventure Team To His Forever Home

Sometimes new friends are met in the unlikeliest of places, even in the middle of the jungle.

Earlier this month, a team of extreme athletes completing a grueling race through the Ecuadorian Amazon came across a dirty, stray dog that began following them through the rain forest. The teammates, who named the pup Arthur, eventually gave the pup a new home and a chance at a better life.

“It all started with me giving Arthur a meatball when we we’re eating right before the long trekking,” Mikael Lindnord, captain of Sweden’s Peak Performance adventure racing team, said in an interview for the Team Peak Performance website. “When we set off we did it with some other teams, and I didn’t understand that Arthur was following us until we were alone and he was still there. At one stage we had to take a break and the dog was totally wrecked. We opened two cans of food and let him eat, because he could find no food at all in the djungle [sic].”

Lindnord and three other Peak Performance athletes headed to Ecuador in November to compete in the 430-mile Adventure Racing World Championship. Arthur began following the group before the final stages of the challenge, and he managed to keep up with them through the muddy jungle terrain, according to a race recap on Team Peak Performance’s site. But when the group was about to cross a river on kayaks, they were advised to leave the dog for safety reasons. Arthur, however, wouldn’t stay behind.

Read on and see more photos of Arthur, the stray dog, follow this team to the finish line and find home.

[mashable]

12 Podcasts That Will Tell You A Fantastic Story

If you can’t get enough of Serial, you will LOVE these podcasts too.

[ultrafacts]

Sources: 1 2/2/2/2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Follow Ultrafacts for more facts

[richelle1313]

France is cool. That's it.

[maxkirin]

Hello, writerly friends~ ♥︎

You asked for a Writing Advice Masterpost, so here it is! Below you will find a collection of the best questions and answers from the last two years. Not only that, but they are also organized so you can find the answers to your questions quickly and get on with writing.

But wait, there is more!

This post is more than just a collection of advice, it’s a nexus for writing advice, resources, and information! That’s right, this post is going to grow over time. I will be updating this masterpost WEEKLY with new answers, writing advice videos, playlists, and more! So, make sure to bookmark this page and follow my blog (maxkirin.tumblr.com) so you don’t miss a thing~ ♥︎

Writing Advice Compilations

WRITERS UNITE! A book of writing advice, inspiration, and tips! Written with the help of 248 Tumblr authors. FREE DOWNLOAD!

Prompts

Daily Story Seed

Daily Weird Prompt

Daily Character Question

Your Writing Horoscope (Retired)

"Can I publish a story based on one of your prompts?"

Youtube Videos!

Virtual Writing Academy, a weekly writing class where we explore strange writing exercises. This is NOT a lecture. You are not going to learn by listening— but by WRITING. So, take out your notebooks because we are going to write! New episodes go up every Wednesday.

Writing Advice Blitz, a segment where I answer YOUR writing questions. New episodes go up every Monday.

Writing Challenges— prompts too easy for you? Looking for a challenge? YOU GOT IT. These challenges will push your writing skills to the limit! New episodes go up every Friday.

Motivation & Inspiration

Daily Writer Positivity

How to Finish Your First Novel (M. Kirin’s Origin Story)

What Confidence Is and Is NOT

How to Regain the Motivation to Finish That Book

"I’m afraid writing is a waste of time"

"I’m half-way through this book and I’m stuck"

Stop Trying to Impress People

Stop Trying to Make Your Parents Proud of your Writing

Your Parents Disapprove of Your Writing?

You’re Not The Worst Writer In The World

English Not Your First Language? Neither is Mine

A Tip for All Young Writers Worrying That Nobody Will Take Them Seriously

Dealing with Hate and Harsh Criticism

You Need to Develop a Thick Skin

Neil Gaiman’s “Make Good Art” Speech

Feeling Down About Your Writing? :c

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Inspirational Speech on the ‘Genius’

Neil Gaiman’s 8 Rules of Writing

"I am not as good as other writers" (and other lies)

The 7 Cardinal Rules of Writing Life

Be A Little Delusional

Planning, Outlining, and Getting Started

M. Kirin’s (Strange) Guide to Planning Your Novel

M. Kirin’s Click-n-Drag Story Generator

Which outlining method is the best? (Video)

"I want to write a book but I have no idea where to start"

The Story-Idea Test

M. Kirin’s Secret for Starting books, and Finishing Them

M. Kirin’s Top 3 Tips to Start Writing and Never Stopping

The 10-Minute Writing Trick

Tips for writing Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Paranormal

How Much Worldbuilding is Enough?

M. Kirin’s #1 Tip For Improving Your Writing

Let’s Talk About: Show VS Tell

The Difference Between Character & Plot (The Marcy Rule)

Dialogue

M. Kirin talks about authentic dialogue

The grammatical side of dialogue

How do I write numbers in dialogue?

Editing & Revision

M. Kirin’s Top 5 Revision Tips

How to Love and Care for Your Beta Readers

M. Kirin’s (subjective) secret recipe for the second draft

When is the best time to edit a story?

M. Kirin Talks About Editing, and Speeding Up Your Story

M. Kirin Uses Evernote to Revise Books

"Kill Your Darlings" VS "Cut What You Love"

Writing Killer Plot-Twists and Mystery Novels

"How long is a Rough Draft compared to the Finished Draft?"

Hot Button Issues

Realism is a dirty word

Racist & homophobic language in fiction

Inaccuracy in Fiction (Video)

M. Kirin drops a few bombs on ‘creative vocabulary’

"I want to write but I don’t have the time"

Is it bad to have too many LGBTQIA or POC characters?

"My antagonist is POC/LGBTQIA, is this bad?"

"All my characters are LGBTQIA, is this bad?"

When to let go of a story

Is it rational to be afraid of what people will think of you?

Let’s Talk About: Deus Ex Machina

Let’s Talk About: Coincidence in Writing

Let’s Lightly Talk About: Plagiarism & Copyright

Writing About Things You Have Never Experienced

"Do you need to go to college/university to be a good writer?"

My book is similar to something already out, what do I do?

General Advice

M. Kirin’s Cure For Writer’s Block (and Life Block)

Overcoming the First Sentence

Overcoming the First Sentence, Again

Overcoming the First Sentence, Redux

The 10-Minute Rule

Making Boring Scenes FUN to Write!

Stories are like children

Let’s Talk About Titles (And Then Talk Some More)

M. Kirin Reveals the ‘Secret’ Behind Style

How much description/scenery is too much?

How can I write faster?

I want my readers to love my characters

I think my book may be too short for my genre

My story doesn’t have an Antagonists, should I add one?

I killed one of my main characters by mistake, what do I do?

M. Kirin’s Writing Advice for Fleshing out Romantic Relationships

A warning about character names and meanings

Help! My characters are not doing what I expected them to!

Help! My characters are misbehaving! D:

A warning about character sheets

A talk about the beauty of first drafts, and pacing

Is getting attached to your characters… bad?

A note on Antagonism, and whether you need a villain or not

Past or present tense?

Is swearing okay? And other muthafuckin’ truths

"What emotion do you find hardest to write?"

"What writing software do you use?"

Communication, a must for collaborative works

Researching illegal things, cousin? I got just the thing for you!

Joss Whedon’s Top 10 Writing Tips

M. Kirin’s Tarot Cheat-Sheet

Writing Tips for Storytelling in Video-Games

Fair Use In Novels (by thedancingwriter​)

Let’s Talk About: Pen Names!

Let’s Talk About: Reactive VS Proactive Characters

Let’s Talk About: Transitioning Smoothly From Scene to Scene

Let’s Talk About: Writing The Climax (& Resolution)

Let’s Talk About: Writing The End

Let’s Talk About: Spies

Let’s Make a Title (To A Story You Haven’t Finished)

Publishing

Publishing Battle: Indie VS Traditional

"How do I turn my book into an eBook?"

Writing Music & Playlists

Writing In The Dark (Relaxing, Unobtrusive)

Writing About Love (All the Feels)

Writing & Fighting! (Super Intense!)

Writing About Horror (Welcome to Lavender Town)

Royalty And Noble Blood (Medieval Writing Playlist)

Digital Reality (Cyberpunk/Futuristic Playlist)

Lost In The Wild (Survival/Nature Playlist)

No Hero (Danger, Action, and Anti-Heroes!)

Mermaid Magic (Sunken Cities, Sea Monsters, and Magic!)

After The Bomb (Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian)

Sorrow (Death, Grief, and Despair)

Music For Writers: Portal 2 Soundtrack (FREE)

M. Kirin’s Writing Playlists: Ravensgem

M. Kirin’s Writing Playlists: Justine’s Blood

M. Kirin’s Favorite Music to Listen to While Writing

M. Kirin’s Secret For Making Playlists

Miscellaneous

Finally! An Ask-Meme for Writers! 

M. Kirin’s Philosophy for Running a Writing Blog

Last Updated: 10-04-14. Click HERE to see the latest update. Latest posts are in Italics.

[writingquotes-deactivated201509]

1. Write like you’ll live forever — fear is a bad editor. 2. Write like you’ll croak today — death is the best editor. 3. Fooling others is fun. Fooling yourself is a lethal mistake. 4. Pick one — fame or delight. 5. The archer knows the target. The poet knows the wastebasket. 6. Cunning and excess are your friends. 7. TV and liquor are your enemies. 8. Everything eternal happens in a spare room at 3 a.m. 9. You’re done when the crows sing.

Ron Dakron (via writingquotes)

It's time to try. Really try. You would never let your girls sit on their hands. Risk reaps reward.

[richelle1313]

[usnatarchives]

We had a great time at #ArchivesSleepover on Saturday. Our guests came from states up and down the East Coast as well from the DC area.

The theme was “History, Heroes, and Treasure” and our archival explorers met an underwater archeologist from the National Park Service who is exploring the shipwreck of the “America” as well as representatives from the Navy History and Heritage Center. They learned about mapping underwater shipwrecks and tried on tools used by underwater archeologists, as well as artifacts found in shipwrecks. They even had the chance to dress up as underwater archeologists!

They also had a chance to question famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and Matthew Henson as well as an archeologist during “Archives Reports.”

After a good night’s sleep on the marble floor of the Rotunda, they woke up to pancakes flipped and served by David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and hot chocolate served by American Heritage Chocolate.

Want to join the fun? Sign up here to be the first to hear about the next #ArchivesSleepover: http://www.archivesfoundation.org/sleepover/

[richelle1313]

I ❤️ this. We may be in Chicago, but we are going to the next one. And when LL gets old enough we are going to another one.

[richelle1313]

Life lessons from an eight year old.

A few days ago, BB asked us not to post her picture on Facebook, like ever..... says the almost eight year old going on sixteen.  Why?  Because we need privacy in our lives, you said, we need to have private, family, personal moments that do not and should not be shared with everyone we know.  

And there it is....spoken like a true old soul.  Things that I said about Facebook when it first appeared in our social strata.  Things that I said about it before I got swept up in knowing what our friends are doing on the beach, at the water park, on vacation, at home doing homework.  And while, I don't do that, I have posted, as of late, our mini-trip to the city and our vacation pictures.  Things that could and should be kept private, in the confines of our home, because it should be enough.   It is enough.  It will always be more than enough to experience life with my two larger than life kids and their dad without documenting every moment with a Facebook post.  And so, the posts will stop and they will be documented, in other ways, so we can remember them.  

Also, you said, I spent too much time on the computer.  That I'm always on it.  And although I can partly also blame Facebook, I get everything from my computer.  I practice writing, I read the news, I read important articles about things for you and your sister, I shop (see those cute shoes on your feet?) well I ordered them online, but I get it.  You don't want to remember your mom as the back of her head facing the computer.  You need me to participate.  So it's over.  Only in the morning and the evening before you wake and after you fall asleep will I be on this computer when you are home.  (Good thing you go to school all day, but I will curtail that time too, as your sister is home more than you are.)

Thanks for giving me more life lessons.  I see myself more clearly when it is reflected back from your eyes.  And I want to improve that reflection.  Always learning, always improving, always listening.  

[twwgifs]

[richelle1313]

I heart C.J. Craig.......

[richelle1313]

I refuse to upload any of your first day of school pictures on Facebook.  It's too private for me.  And everyone knows you go to school, but the first day of school is such a mixed swell of emotions for me and it is so complicated, but here is my take on your first day of second grade and kindergarten.....

Dear girly girls,

     Wednesday marked your first day of school for both second grade and kindergarten.  It is with everlasting pride that I send you out of our cozy home and share you with the world.  I want to say that each and every person that sits near you at lunch, that plays with you at recess, that teaches you a new sight word (Leighton) or teaches you a new math fact (Brynna), they will be lucky to have known the beautiful beings that you are and are becoming.  I know this, not as a biased mom with blinders on, but as a human being who has had so much experience with the other types of people that, well let's just say we are unlucky to meet. 

       I know there will be times when human nature might make you jealous, angry, frustrated, irritated and alone and I hope that you will cope and still be kind and righteous.  Sometimes, in the confines of our own home, you don't always take that path and that's ok, because you are safe here, to make mistakes, to navigate the uncertainty of childhood, to always get a do over.  You are loved in our home without measure or judgment.  

      Out there, in school, you don't always get that chance and I understand that as you make your way through the world you will fall back on the times you received second chances.  Somehow, I know you will.  

      I know that as I send you off on the bus, my heart feels a little sadness that you are forever moving away from the safe confines of our loving home and arms.  From the moment both of you were born, you were moving away from us.  I know this and letting go, little by little is often difficult for me.  My instinct is to protect, to guide, to push a little and to be there by your side.  But I must let go, even if it is just a little. I must gently let you understand and navigate the way you need to do it and most importantly, without me.  Both of you, my beautiful girls, are going to do just fine.  Probably better than fine, probably fantastic.  And there is not a word in any vocabulary in all the languages on earth to let you know how proud I am of both of you.  But I am.  And as a side note, I AM ALWAYS by your side, maybe not always physically, but in spirit and love I am there.  Beaming, loving and sharing you with the world.    

        Take it to the hole girls!  I know you will!!!

MOM

[modcloth]

Double up on the braids with this tutorial from The Beauty Department. 

[kickoffcoverage]

That’s okay Team USA. We’re still proud of you.  Now let’s let back to the business we kick ass at. Time to bring on the real FOOTBALL.

[richelle1313]

The NFL is arrogant.  I love American football, but give soccer its credit and its due.  First time I'm embarrassed to be a football fan.  Get over yourselves, you are not even nearly that important to the world.  Soccer is.  Blech. 

[ultrafacts]

9 Life Hacks/Tricks to Simplify Your Life #386

1. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop. They’ll be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.

2. Reading a book before bed tires your eyes. As a result, your brain is tricked into feeling tired and falling asleep is easier.

3. If you tend to wake up early after drinking, it might be because your blood sugar is low. A slice of bread or peanut butter can solve this

4. On http://myfridgefood.com  you can put in whatever you have in your fridge and it will tell you everything you can make with them

Read More

[recoveringhipster-deactivated20]

So stoked about the Hobby Lobby ruling today. Officially going to incorporate myself so I can get a religious exemption for my student loans debt they violate my deeply held religious conviction that all debts are supposed to be forgiven every seven years, as per the book of Deuteronomy.

[rhpolitics]

Can we all do this? Because I want to do this.

[positivelypersistentteach]

Brilliant! 

[richelle1313]

Brilliant!

[fastcompany]

This ad really knocks it out of the park!

Watch>

[richelle1313]

Everything my girls do they do it like a girl.  They swim like girls, they run like girls, they play tennis like girls, they dance like girls, they read like girls, they even do math like girls.   And it is magical.  They are graceful, yet powerful.  They are inquisitive and creative in their thought process.  They do things like girls and often times blow all the boys out of the water.  They do things like girls and they are kicking ass and taking names!!  

[writingcareer]

Find Paid Freelance Writing Gigs at FreelanceWriting.com

I started a new section called Paid Writing Gigs for Freelance Writers at FreelanceWriting.com where I list new writing opportunities that you won’t find at any online job site or job board. Most of these are recent announcements posted by editors, publishers and companies that need more writers or have created new opportunities for writers to submit material. I typically add 7-10 new writing gigs weekly, depending on how many I have at a given time.

- Brian Scott, Moderator

[cloudyskiesandcatharsis]

On the morning of September 4, 1957, fifteen-year-old Dorothy Counts set out on a harrowing path toward Harding High, where-as the first African American to attend the all-white school – she was greeted by a jeering swarm of boys who spat, threw trash, and yelled epithets at her as she entered the building.

Charlotte Observer photographer Don Sturkey captured the ugly incident on film, and in the days that followed, the searing image appeared not just in the local paper but in newspapers around the world.

People everywhere were transfixed by the girl in the photograph who stood tall, her five-foot-ten-inch frame towering nobly above the mob that trailed her. There, in black and white, was evidence of the brutality of racism, a sinister force that had led children to torment another child while adults stood by. While the images display a lot of evils: prejudice, ignorance, racism, sexism, inequality, it also captures true strength, determination, courage and inspiration.

[bellecs]

Here she is, age 70, still absolutely elegant and poised.