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submitted by user812
[link] [13 comments]

submitted by badumtsshh
[link] [15 comments]

submitted by Dukurow
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submitted by Ga1axy_Wo1f
[link] [1 comment]

Dear Mr. Grizzly,

I had been considering becoming an ESL (English as a second language) teacher for some time, but it wasn't until the last six months I had decided to do it. In order to do this, I will have to get a bachelor's degree in something (it doesn't really matter what), get a TEFL certificate and move to the country I signed up for. There are some countries that don't require a BA, but I'm a bit more skeptical about those places. I have been considering teaching somewhere in east Asia, like China, Japan, or South Korea. I also want to work on a graphic novel in my spare time.

I have been very indecisive about my career choice for a long time, and my family knows this. My mom and my stepdad are supportive of my choice, but my dad and my stepmom aren't that much. Literally right after I brought it up to my dad he asked me "So, have you thought about anything ELSE you'd like to do?" 

When I went to visit them a couple weeks ago, they literally told me to stop going to college and to start going to a technical school, so can get a "real" job, I suppose. Whenever I bring this up to them, they try to change my mind. I've slowly been learning the fact that you can't live up to everyone's expectations, and that it's a waste of time to try. 

How do I put my foot down and tell them that I've made my decision, and that I want to follow my dream?

Sincerely,

Caleb (age 19, Michigan)

* * *

Hi, Caleb,

I’m confused why your parents think TESL is not a “real” job. It’s a very real job, and an excellent one at that. There is high demand for it, and if you’re good at your job you will likely never be unemployed. One suspicion I have is that your parents don’t want you to move out of the country and they would miss you. That’s understandable, but a bit selfish on their part. If I were you, I would pursue the following course: 

1. Pick the country you wish to go to as early as possible. Asia is a good choice, and if I were to advise you, I think China is the way to go. China’s economy is on the rise, there are literally hundreds of millions of potential students there, and you could live there very comfortably on an ESL salary. Also, this page explains what your earnings could be and what expenses are, on average, in China.
2. Although you are correct that you don’t need to be fluent in Mandarin (or whatever) to be an ESL teacher because classes are taught in English (they should do that in America—that is, have, say, a French class in which the teacher only speaks French to her students; they use this strategy in the military and it works very well), it would be an advantage to you to learn the native tongue of whatever country you pick. So, for your B.A., study Chinese and the Chinese culture (substitute “Chinese” with whatever goal nation you pick).
3. So that you don’t have to go to school for four years and then go for another year for TESL, combine your majors into a double and complete your studies in four years total.
4. To hold down costs, you should: A) attend a community college for the first two years, making sure all credits are transferable to a university, and then B) go to a state school, preferably one close to home so you can live at home while you study.
5. Learn everything you can about the culture you plan to live in. The more you can minimize culture shock, they better off you’ll be.
6. Not sure why you want to write a graphic novel, but I would put that notion aside until you have achieved your main dream; then, should you get “free time” later, work on the book. You will find that gaining life experience will greatly benefit your writing, too.

Now, while I would pick China, I did a little research and found an excellent article by an ESL teacher in China in which South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China are compared. Overall, this person picks South Korea, but here’s a link to help you pick for yourself. And here is a helpful site on ESL careers in general.

Besides perhaps not wanting their baby to move to Asia, your parents might also be woefully misinformed about what an ESL job is and what it entails. Your job, in order to convince them, is to provide them with information about how great a career choice it actually is. Not only will you make a decent income, you will also gain an incredible amount of life experience that will serve you well for years to come. 

Judging by your parents’ comments (and where you live), I’m guessing they are blue collar workers who have lived all their lives in the Midwest, thus developing a rather colloquial attitude about the world in which factory and farm work are “more real” than academics and culture. You need to get them out of this mindset, but in a way they will understand: and that way is to show them you can make a good income and be a success. This isn’t like you are flitting off to Asia to party and occasionally teach a class; this is a serious career choice. So, gather up your research and make your case.

One last thing I’d suggest is to ease off the “put my foot down” strategy. After all (pretty sure of this) it’s your parents who are likely going to do a lot of the heavy lifting in paying for your higher education. Therefore, approach it like you would a salesman making his pitch to a large company for a long-term investment (you are their investment in the future). Don’t go for the emotion; go for hard facts. Don’t use glitzy, starry-eyed words such as “this is my dream,” but, rather, use words they understand, such as “I can make a salary in China that will allow me to put almost half my income away for savings and investments for the future....”

That should help. Good luck! I’m routing for you!

Papabear

submitted by kyleisperfect
[link] [3 comments]

FINAL EDIT: Okay gonna CLOSE these. This was uh...the biggest turnout I've had (holy shit). I think at most I'll be getting to 20 of these, hopefully more but I do want to finish them by Sunday. Miiiight stream them...

You know the deal. Ref sheet if you have one, detailed text if you don't. NOT first come first serve, taking however many I can. These are free, I may take artistic liberty/practice brushes/rarely do something more. No guarantee when I'll have these done, but Sunday at the latest.

Link to my gallery, for those who weren't around when I did these frequently.

Edit: RIP my inbox

Edit 2: no guys, none of you are late. When this post is 6 hours old...yeah you might be late.

Edit 3: IF I DIE YOUNG, YOU'LL KNOW WHY

submitted by Sareii
[link] [152 comments]

submitted by Drakkonnan
[link] [51 comments]

submitted by liafcipe9000
[link] [7 comments]

submitted by TaiHusky
[link] [26 comments]

submitted by VikingInABox
[link] [6 comments]

Fred Patten, Furry’s favorite historian and reviewer, submits this review: The Guardian Herd: Stormbound, by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. Illustrated by David McClellan; map. NYC, HarperCollinsPublishers/Harper, April 2015, hardcover $16.99 ([xiii +] 299 [+ 1] pages), Kindle $8.89. Well, this is a big surprise! The Guardian Herd: Starfire, the first book in this series, listed 32 […]

For a good while I've been a closet furry, afraid to come out due to very judgemental friends and family. My closest friends always make fun of Furries and whatever's on /r/Cringanarchy, I had to make this separate reddit account because of this just so I can sub /r/furry. My Mom I know wouldn't mind if I told her but, my Dad's side of the family is very judgemental and point out every little thing and the only way to cope with that is to be judgemental back ans witty then they accept you. (No problems with them currently) I wouldn't know how my brother would react though, all I know is not well... I've never been into the whole fursuit thing but I've wanted to wear a tail before. I would just like some opinions from you guys cause I've heard you guys on this sub are very friendly :)

submitted by NovaThePlague
[link] [29 comments]

submitted by Kagami_126
[link] [39 comments]

submitted by Vexthra
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submitted by Rikku-Panthera
[link] [31 comments]

I've had a shark character for awhile, but could never figure out how to make him not look awkward. I've been looking at other sharks to get an idea-the head was a big problem, and finally after several years, I think I've got it.

But then there's the issue with his tail. Sharks have big thick tails, and its not like you can leave it out. He wears pants, but it feels like a shark tail would take up most of the seat of his pants. Most furries can just get away with a relatively small hole.

Any advice/stories about your hard to anthro characters/how you 'fixed' it?

Also, as there are scalies, avians, etc, what are sharks?

submitted by LeatherHog
[link] [10 comments]

I have just been added to a sub, made just for redditors With fox in there name... pretty freakin' awesome

submitted by FlufferFox
[link] [28 comments]

1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

I just finished final edits on “Unfading”, which will be in Heat issue 12 coming out at Anthrocon in early July. It’s about a wolf who discovers she’s a different creature on the inside, and begins an arduous physical and mental transition to becoming who she feels — or rather knows — she really is.

While imagining we’re something or someone else is part of every furry’s life in a way, the idea first grew out a private joke I had with myself in which I’d mulled over changing my fursona. I figured rather than just pick another species and twiddle with my name I’d actually get pretend plastic surgery, do an in-between icon that was just a head wrapped in bandages, and tweet in mumbles for a week. While that never happened, I did wonder about the kind of calamity one would have to go through changing species, the surgical stuff, the hormones, the diet. This then elevated to matters of the heart and mind, how one would evolve in the process of adapting to their new selves, how their family would react and how the outer world would see them in their struggle.

The story just evolved from there into a metaphorical look at the plight of transgendered individuals, dealing with obstacles most of us will never face, namely a world that actively resists the person who they know they are. In exploring some of these questions, I found “Unfading” a very satisfying story to write.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

Something in between. I do like general outlines to give me a sense of direction, but halfway through writing I’ll break away from them as often as I’ll stay the course. Whatever keeps me going without stopping.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

I try switching it up as often as I can because I get bored of trying the same things. I really love sci-fi and horror as genres, but have messed around with fantasy, mystery and a little bit of satire. The last one is the hardest to do I think.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

I’d have trouble picking just one character, as I try to identify in some way with everybody who gets a voice, the villainous jerks no less than the heroes or every-furs. I find right now it’s a tie between Amar from the story above, who represents the need in all of us to be the person we know we can be and a character from an upcoming tale named Earlan, an eager, enthusiastic explorer in a novella-length piece set to come out in an anthology later this year. He’s seeking to understand his place in the universe and test the boundaries he feels foisted upon him. Can’t say much about that story yet.

5. Which authors or books have most influenced your work?

There are too many to count, really. When I was younger I devoured Stephen King as a horror buff, fantasies and sci-fi’s by Larry Niven, David Gerrold, Arthur C. Clarke, Allan Dean Foster (who introduced to me literary furry with Spellsinger), read classic fantasy from the Narnia novels of C.S. Lewis to the Homeric myths, snacked on Hardy boys, Sherlock Holmes, Phillip Marlowe mysteries and Star Trek novels. Lately I’ve been going to the well of classic twentieth-century authors to learn their tricks and get the feel for different eras. I try really hard to learn little bits reading everything, fiction or fact, in and out of this fandom.

6. What’s the last book you read that you really loved?

I just finished a non-furry classic book with an unintentionally furry name, Rabbit Run by John Updike, another famous author whose work I have just gotten around to. It’s a testament to his prowess as a writer that he can thoroughly engage you with a main character who is an insufferable bastard on so many levels. I wish I could write with such skill, compelling readers to take interest in characters and situations who we can barely stand or see ourselves identifying with, but stick with because their experiences are made so compelling.

7. Besides writing, how do you like to spend your free time?

I love writing as a form of recreation itself, but I also collect records and movies, watching films at the drive-in where I grew up and visiting the gym often for runs or weightlifting. More than anything though, I love reading. I shrivel and die if I go too long without a good book.

8. Advice for other writers?

Don’t be afraid to fail. Be terrified to discover you never tried. Also, listen to your beta readers. The worst thing they can give you is exactly what you want — cold hard honesty. Criticism from betas and your editors will toughen you up for when people are paying for your work and have every obligation to point out where a story is weak, so cherish that.

9. Where can readers find your work?

I’ve got stories in Heat issues 11 and 12, Trick or Treat Volume 2, Roar Volume 6 and Fang Volume 6 (all of which should be out by Anthrocon in July). There are several more anthologies coming out in the next year or so that I will also be featured in but dates aren’t set.

10. What’s your favorite thing about the furry fandom?

It’s a hub of pure creativity with no discernible limits or end game, a place for really friendly people who I keep getting to meet and a great way to get in touch with the ‘other’ inside one’s self. There’s something about being furry that can make us warmer, more open, accepting human beings, and I love that about it.

 

Check out Slip-Wolf’s member bio here!

submitted by IndigoTheFennec
[link] [26 comments]