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The Parenting Playlist 001: Origin Story

This is a time of year for resolutions. We all know the drill: pause, reflect, think ahead, resolve. The unspoken final step in this whole process doesn’t really pop up until after the new year has passed, after all the parties are done, after all of that the joy, love, and optimism have faded into slush and deadlines. That’s when the last resolution step finally kicks in: you forget.

That’s not to say all resolutions are left behind. In 2008 I had one clear resolution that I staggeringly proclaimed to everyone who would listen on new years eve. I boldly pronounced: “This will be the year that I get married”. Three days into the year I crossed that one off the list. Emboldened by my resounding success, my resolution for 2009 was a little more risqué. I laughed at Fortune’s fickle face as I described my surely soon-to-happen triumph, “This will be the year that I get my first novel published”. Three years later, I’m about to renew that resolution once again.

That's not a big deal; new year’s resolutions come and go. But what if it’s not a new year that you are starting? What if it is a new life?

In October of this year my partner informed me that we had done just that. The two of us had created a new life.

Posted by Mark Kowgier

If Your Favorite Literary Characters Had A Wrestling Theme Song

Imagine this: By some unforeseen chain of events, your favourite literary characters have decided to take up professional wrestling.

As they walk into the stadium, their theme songs blare on the audio system, telling us a little bit about their individual stories and providing us with endless entertainment as we try to hide our laughter.

KATNISS EVERDEEN: She’s the girl to run the world. Hell, she won The Hunger Games – nothing can stop her now. [Audio Link]

SHERLOCK HOLMES: There isn’t a case that Sherlock Holmes can’t solve. If you’ve done something wrong, one way or another, he’s going to get you. [Audio Link]

Posted by Maria Vicente

10 Excellent Reasons to Date a Bookworm

Photo via PhotoSteve101

Bookworms seem like anti-social wallflowers with their nose buried into a good novel. This is not the case! Books instill a significant amount of culture and imagination, and those are great qualities when it comes to a romantic partner.

You’d be surprised by the amount of game a bookworm has. Here are 10 reasons why you should date one.

They’re Adventurous: Ever wanted to try river rafting? How about skydiving? Bookworms spend their free time reading about far away lands and exciting adventures. They would love to be the person in the middle of the action. A bookworm is always up for trying something new and adventurous. You should definitely take the time to get to know a bookworm’s adventurous spirit. (Photo via)

They’re Romantic: The Notebook, Pride and Prejudice, Gone With The Wind—these are some classic romantic novels that bookworms eat up. They love to read all the mushy details, and stockpile those ideas for their own romantic explorations. A true bookworm will go far beyond the traditional flowers and chocolates and move onto professing their love for you in the pouring rain without an umbrella. If you’re starving for a little romance in your life—a bookworm is who you should be dating.

Posted by Jo Pincushion

Ten Celebrities We Wish Would Write Poetry

Image via Inquisitr

In case you haven’t heard the news, James Franco is scheduled to publish a collection of poetry, currently titled Directing Herbert White, in 2014. I assume he was inspired by his role as Allen Ginsberg in Howl (2010).

There are many other celebrities that I’d like to see pen poetry and so I present to you, ten celebrities Quirk wishes would write poetry. Please note, if your name is on this list and you actually do have a collection of poems sitting in your bedside table, here’s a link to our submissions page.

Posted by Maria Vicente

New Year, New Project

2013 is finally here, and you’re ready to take the bull by the horns. You’re juggling resolutions, starting fresh, and vowing to be the best you can be. Yes, 2013 is going to be your year! You’re forgetting something though—your book! You know the one– that novel that’s been bouncing around inside your head for the past few months.

You know it’s a great idea, and all you need to do is sit down and write it. 2013 is going to be the year you finally write your masterpiece. Why not? A new year is a great time to start writing a new book, and here are some tips on how to get you started.

Posted by Jo Pincushion

How to Raise A Little Geek

A Death Star, drawn by my five year old.

As a parent, there are many days when things go very badly, days when you feel you are not cut out for raising cats, let alone tiny humans. But then some days you beam with pride knowing you got it right. My five-year-old twin sons are nice to each other (unless a dispute over Matchbox cars arises). They try new foods (unless they look icky). They always let me finish my requests before they ignore them. And now, now they are learning to be good geeks.

It all started so simply. My husband and I were minding our own business playing Angry Birds on our iPads. Our sons, future geeks that they are, were instantly attracted to the buttons, sounds, and pictures. It was as if they were born to understand a touch screen. And oh how we laughed at those silly piggies and crazy birds. The sound of wood crashing and wingless birds smashing was the sound of family time. As each new iteration became available, we had one more carrot to dangle in front of our future nerds.

And then it happened. Angry Birds Star Wars was released. The boys had already taken to Angry Birds Space like, well, like geeks to video games. We had been having some fabulous discussions about space travel and planets. We even watched the NASA video demonstrating how the birds would move in space. We had implanted an idea. Space = cool.

I figured they would just see the Star Wars game as another space mission, but I underestimated the nerd blood that pulses through their veins. As soon as the title cards scrolled on the screen in that familiar pattern, they instinctively knew this was something special. We had made space even better. The birds had names. The planets were different and wonderful. There was a story that Mommy and Daddy told with each new discovery.

And now, here we are; we have two boys who spend their free time at school drawing the Death Star and Tie Fighters. To say I'm proud would be an understatement.

Having successfully indoctrinated the boys into one of our geek loves, we know we can add others. You can too; here's how.

Posted by Stephanie Ross