Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Want to Write Better, More Suspenseful Fiction? This Is What You Need to Know

What are some tips for novice writers trying to create suspense in stories?originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.

Answer by Peter Swanson, Crime Novelist, The Kind Worth Killing, on Quora:
Suspense is a tricky thing, because it is not simply a matter of creating a suspenseful situation. Otherwise we could all sit down and write a story about a crazed killer chasing a woman through the woods. It just doesn’t work that way. First, we have to care about the woman. That doesn’t mean we have to necessarily like her, but we need to know enough about her to make us care. It also helps, though not always, if we know a little bit about the maniac chasing her down. And another thing that helps is if those woods feel like real woods, because if the situation isn’t happening in a world that feels real, or plausible, then why do we care?
Here are a few other tips that might help:

10 Signs You Have Connected With A Soulmate

Listen to the wisdom of your heart.


UNSPLASH.COM-KRISTINA LITVJAK
There are many misconceptions out there about what a soulmate really is. Of course, there is no right or wrong. But I have come to understand soulmates as being entirely different as to what you hear about in the movies. 
Soulmates are just that, they are mates of your soul. They share a similar energy to you and perhaps come into this world with a similar purpose. 
I believe soulmates come together to help remind each other of this purpose. I believe soulmates come together to help awaken each other and remind each other of who they really are.
Essentially, encountering a soulmate can help to awaken and stir things from within so you can reconnect with your soul essence. 
Soulmates don’t have to be romantic but very often they are. This is due to the strong attraction that is felt when connecting with a soulmate.
Soulmates also don’t have to be forever. Often once the lesson is learned and the soul has been awakened, soulmates can move on.
This may be very different to what you have heard about the soulmate connection, but it may also describe those heated and intimate relationships that change everything yet don’t last.
Sometimes soulmate relationships can blossom into forever, and other times they are too intense and need to be released
Even though soulmates may not physically stay together forever, the love is always there. Soulmates touch us in such deep and profound ways that their memory will always remain. 
If you are wondering if you have encountered a soulmate connection, here are 10 typical signs:

The Lesson My Scars Taught Me


Scars can be difficult to deal with. But in the end, it’s just damaged skin.




MICHELLE ZUNTER/THE PONDERING NOOK
When I was about 18 months old, I was burned quite badly. These were scalding hot water burns. This was an unfortunate household accident that could have happened to anyone ― and as a parent myself now, I can only imagine how difficult this must have been for my parents at the time.

Why Two Harvard Academics Talk About ‘Harry Potter’ Like It’s The Bible


Will aliens someday confuse “Harry Potter” with a religious text? Let’s discuss.




PETER MOUNTAIN VIA GETTY IMAGES

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

7 Illustrations That Perfectly Sum Up Life With A Dog

They may be incredibly cute, but dogs also require an incredible amount of housework
Yet as irksome as the extra chores may be, we wouldn’t trade all those chewed shoes, slobbery carpets and hair-covered couches for anything in the world. These doodles from artist Landysh of Lingvistov are a perfect summary of ALL the feels that come when you live with a dog. 

  • 1
    Landysh

  • 2
    Landysh


Friday, August 26, 2016

Khmer Rouge Tribunal: Segment on Forced Marriage Begins



Today, August 23, 2016, two Civil Parties gave their testimonies in relation to forced marriage, a segment that had started yesterday afternoon. The first Civil Party remained anonymous due to ongoing investigations in other cases. She told the court about forced marriage and an instance of rape by her unit chief. Civil Party Sou Sotheavy talked about her experience as a transgender woman and being

Rape
All parties were present, with the exception of Nil Nonn, who was replaced by Judge Ya Sokhan. 2-TCCP-274 was heard first, followed by 2-TCCP-224.
HONG Kim Suon-3
Civil Party Lawyer Hong Kim Suon
First, the Lead Co-Lawyers for Civil Parties were given the opportunity to continue putting questions to the Civil Party. Hong Kim Suon asked whether she was told about a marriage by anyone else before her marriage. She recounted that she was informed about her marriage a day before. However, on the wedding day, “the man was not the man who proposed to me”. A person called Om Phorn proposed to her before, but on the wedding day she was married to another man. He was called Nhean. She was instructed to stay at Ta Mounty Khnong. The couple was instructed to enter a room. The other newlywed couples stayed in other rooms. “I was not instructed anything, however, when I entered the room, my husband was there”.  She remembered: “At that time, we didn’t talk much. He just slept with me. I was afraid. I resisted his advance. He was upset, so he went out of the room and informed his military commander.”
She resisted, because she did not like her husband. “He did not try to console me […]. He simply wanted to have sex with me.” Her husband reported the matter to his chief Comrade Phan. “He complained that I did not consummate the marriage with him. Then, Comrade Phan called me to see him”. This happened during the same night. She was called to a room. “When I was in the room, I was questioned why I did not consent to have sex with my husband.” Her husband was in the other room at the time. Comrade Phan then raped her. “He said that if he raped me and I shouted, then I would be shot dead. And after that warning, after that rape, that I had to shut my mouth and had to agree to live with my newlywed husband”. He used “strong words” while he raped her. “I didn’t dare to make any noise, because I was afraid that I would be killed if I made any noise”. She had a cousin called Heng Vanny, who refused to marry her husband once or twice. She was taken away and killed. Someone else was wearing her shirt the same day that she was taken away, because that other person had her cousin’s nametag on the shirt.
Her husband remained in the military unit, while she was transferred back to Unit 7. When the couple met each other every ten to fifteen days, they would consummate the marriage. “The guards monitored us”. She noticed the militiamen when she went outside to relieve herself. “Every time he came to see me, we had sex. But I did not really feel it was a husband-wife relationship. My husband did what he wanted to do.”

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Kampot or Kep?

If you’re heading down to Sihanoukville or the islands and want to see more of Cambodia than temples, beaches and historical memorials, Kampot and Kep, both in Southeast Cambodia, make a great stop-off point. Only 25 kilometres apart, it’s easy enough to stay in one and visit the other for a day, but which should you favour? 
Each of the two towns has a distinctive flavour. Kampot has slightly more of a laidback backpacker vibe, while Kep, with a distinct French tilt, appeals particularly to Phnom Penh expats, flashpackers and travellers with kids. That said, there are benefits to visiting both regardless of who you are, so here are our suggestions for working out which will suit you best. Spoiler: Go to both!
Kampot's daily show.
Kampot’s daily show.

7 Rules For A Happier, Healthier Life


PETER BEAVIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
Sometimes, when you’re looking to make some new healthy changes to your life, the last thing you want is another calorie-counting food journal or specific list of exercises that tone each troublesome body part. Instead, a simple mantra or two will do.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Good business: how social enterprises are changing Southeast Asia



With more and more customers seeking out socially conscious products, the business of ‘doing good’ is booming for social enterprises 


ROHINGYA AND CHRISTIAN REFUGEES SHARE WHY THEY LEFT MYANMAR


Photo taken from Twitter
But it’s safe to say that regardless of how seasick you are, you are in a significantly better situation considering you don’t have to drink your own urine to survivedon’t have to fight over scraps of food (apparently, this fighting over food has led to about 100 deaths), and of course, the fact that you are not actually on a boat with your life at stake!
Adding to this seasickness are the negative comments on posts regarding this matter ranging from “I could care less” to “Just sink the boat and let them drown” to “We have had enough of PATIs (pendatang asing tanpa izin), send them back!”.
Regardless of your views on it, one good thing that has emerged from all of this madness is this: there’s now a sense of urgency to discuss meaningfully and effectively about something that has been affecting and will continue to affect all of us.
And as a volunteer teacher at a refugee learning centre in KL, this issue has always been close to my heart – so seeing how my friends have begun to talk about this topic (instead of DotA all the time) is a wonderful thing to behold.
I spoke to two Myanmar refugees – one Rohingya and the other a Christian – to learn about their story. But before that, a few things to get out of the way:

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

This Healthy Shrimp And Asparagus Stir-Fry Is Under 300 Calories

Spark up your stove!

INGREDIENTS:

4 tablespoons olive oil - 477 calories
1 pound raw shrimp - 539 calories
1 pound asparagus - 91 calories
1 teaspoons salt - 0 calories
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper - 3 calories
1 teaspoon garlic, minced - 4 calories
1 teaspoon ginger, minced - 2 calories
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce - 8 calories
2 tablespoons lemon juice - 7 calories