running-red-book

[running-red-book]

Howdy y’all, so uh, guess what?

Hibernation is over!

So... I’ve been gone for a good minute, that was not supposed to happen, whoops. I’ve been meaning to update my Tumblr for so long, lol. Anyways, here’s what’s up:

1. First of all, you may have noticed that the posts with full chapters are now gone, with the exception of chapter seven, which is relatively spoiler free, short, and sweet (not really but you get what I mean). They are all still up on Quotev and Wattpad, pending some editing, but they’re otherwise intact. I just struggled with formatting them for Tumblr, and I kind of realized that having the chapters as one big block of text wasn’t exactly convenient, especially since I imagine they’d appear on your feeds and you’d have to scroll for like ten years to get to the good cat memes and whatnot. Sorry about that! I’ve got no spacial awareness in real life, imagine the internet!

2. I also accidentally deleted the character index, I meant to edit out a typo but the trash can was right next to the pencil... yeah. Huh, so we can’t select all text while in edit mode and we also can’t recover deleted posts, how convenient, Tumblr.

3. I have two other pages here now! WithASideOfSalt is for fanfic and Roses-and-Ramblings is for my other writing. This is now (if you haven’t noticed) Running-Red-Book.

4. I have been very busy, being in the last quarter of my senior year I was bound to be, but I am going to at least attempt to publish before graduation. I’ve got a job now so I can finally pay for a good editor, sensitivity reader, and cover maker.

5. I welcome anyone who wants to help beta read, I can’t promise to pay everyone (minimum-wage, baby) but your efforts will be otherwise recognized. I really need all the help I can get.

That’s it for now, folks. Sending lots of love and health your way, may it be gentle going for you, until next time.

Love, Rosy

<3

[running-red-book]

Re-labeling Red

Way back in the very, very beginning, Running Red was Red Hood, and before that it was a fan-fiction for a popular sci-fi franchise that brings me a lil shame to mention, so that part is a secret. Through its many changes, Red has had a lot of major changes in content and with that, labels, so I’m gonna ramble about that for a bit.

The fan-fiction wasn’t really something I labelled, but at the beginning it would’ve been somewhere in the general audiences category (being that I was like 12-13 when I thought it up and this did come from a considerably family friendly franchise). There was a bit of violence, and the element of a crash of sorts that definitely carried through to both versions of Red. There were also Family Issues™, but otherwise it was very squeaky clean and also just in my head. Like, not even on paper, it was just a super inconsistent recurring daydream. It was also sci-fi, then kind-of fantasy, before it became dystopian. I wouldn’t have even warned against language because I was the type of middle schooler to think that saying “hell” was a super bad word, so there was absolutely no swearing.

Red Hood started off with a lot less of what makes Running Red. For example, absolutely nothing about gender or related violence, very little of sexuality aside from just about everyone being gay but in like, a super flamboyant and exaggerated way (proper representation was very much an illusion to closeted younger me), and an overdose way later on in what would’ve been book three. Most of the plot was the same aforementioned Family Issues™ and the protagonists were more cartoonish than anything. For this reason I regarded it as Young Adult and up until recently still labelled it Young Adult. However, I’ve been thinking about it further. Now current themes and elements include:

* gender related violence and harassment (both sexual and non)

* heavier focus on addiction such as Lauren’s opioid addiction and the Wells family generational alcoholism

* some exploration of sexuality

* religious conflict

* a way deeper look into mental health issues

* and abuse of power on family, professional and governmental levels.

I’d say the most graphic descriptions are related to the witness of violence and destruction on a grand scale, which on its own would’ve probably brought me to a New Adult rating anyway. So uh basically that’s a lot of words to say that these characters face a whole lot more than they did in Red Hood. Oh and swearing, lots of it.

I am also in a much different place now than I was four-ish years ago when Red was nothing but a nameless, continuous daydream. I’ll be eighteen in November and I’ve faced a lot more including a whole disaster of a presidential administration, my own mental health struggles, a pandemic, a struggle with my own sexuality and gender (especially in the face of religion), and witnessing similar struggles in people around me. That said, this all shifts Running Red away from Young Adult territory and into New Adult and possibly Adult. For now, the biggest things to look out for in book one are violence and substance abuse. As for book two and beyond? Who knows. All I know is this series will continue to mature with me, and it’s no longer suitable for YA. It’s intimidating to be moving away from the genre where I started, considering I’ve never even officially published yet, but this is where my story falls now, in a much more mature and complex place. It’s kinda surreal to acknowledge that this thing is several years old now, that it’s carried me through middle school and will likely carry me through the first semester of senior year. That said, thanks to everyone who’s stuck around, it means a lot to me! And if you just got here, hello, nice to see you! I hope y’all have a good day <3

Running Red can be found here on Tumblr, as well as Quotev and Wattpad

My Instagram is @/rosy_wip, follow for more on my WIP

Drink water, eat something today, be kind :)

[running-red-book]

[running-red-book]

Go check it out! :)

Hello everyone! If you didn’t catch it, there’s a new article up on our blog today! This one is all about assisting your mentally ill loved ones, so we give tips on doing research, creating boundaries, and starting a line of open communication. Check out the full article at loveandlitproject.com.

[running-red-book]

Good morning friends, go check out yesterday’s post on the LALP website! Lots of love <3

Hello, lovelies! We hope you’re having a good day!

It’s Creative Week here at the LALP, so instead of an advice-related blog article, we’re instead going to be giving unique tips on how to stay inspired. Whatever your field of creativity is—writing, dancing, drawing, designing, etc—we hope these help!

1. Research a subject you don’t know a lot about! I highly recommend psychology, oceanography, or astronomy. They are all incredibly fascinating, and even fun, to dive into! They could spark many interesting ideas.

2. Look back on a piece of art or media that you absolutely hate (book, show, dance routine, painting, photograph, etc). Think about how you could improve it or give it more depth. Think about where the creator messed up, and what you could do to make that better.

3. Put a bunch of one-worded ideas or prompts into a hat, and pull out any random three! Then, put those together, and see if you can make an art piece out of it!

4. Look into different cultures and myths from around the world. Every country has something fascinating and lovely to offer, in the way of stories AND tradition!

5. Indulge yourself. Think about all the tropes and genres and art styles that interest you, and put it all together with your own unique twist! Don’t be afraid to do what you like, have fun with it!

Let us know if these tips helped you, and have a wonderful time creating 💖

~ The LALP Crew

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Hiya, lovelies! If you check our website (@ loveandlitproject.com) you’ll see that we posted a new article today! This week’s theme is toxicity, so we talk about setting boundaries with others and red flags to avoid in your relationships. Below, we’ll be sharing some of those examples! To read the rest, and to learn more about our organization, please visit our blog. It’s linked in our bio, along with the Discord server, Twitter, and Tumblr!

1. Is your loved one over-sharing? Are they talking to you about something that you would consider private or uncomfortable? Something that should be spoken about with a professional or not addressed in public at all? For example: A close friend of yours repeatedly mentions they’re having suicidal thoughts, describing them in great, and scary, detail. If so, that’s a red flag!

2. Does your loved one constantly ask for help on things they could do on their own? Things that bring you or your peers a lot of stress, discomfort, or exhaustion? For example: Your romantic partner is asking you to do all their work for them, even though you’ve got your own work to do (or, if you’re younger, homework). Red flag!!

3. Does it seem as though your loved one never leaves your side? Do they act as if your absence will cause them legitimate harm or even death? For example: Your parent says they will commit suicide if you leave their home. Red flags abound!!

4. When you ask for help, does your loved one oblige? When you are sharing your feelings, do they validate them and listen intently? If not, they aren’t a good part of your support system. For example: Your best friend asks you for help all the time, but when you ask for the same, they always find some excuse not to, and laugh or shrug your feelings off. Red flag, babe!!

5. Is your loved one denying, refusing, or teasing you about the boundaries you would like to set? Do they disrespect your requests for things like sexual safety, personal space, privacy, etc? For example: When you bring up any of the issues above with your loved one, they treat you like you’re stupid or even rude for asking. This might be the biggest red flag of all.

Please consider sharing this post around, and let us know what you think! We hope the article is helpful!

Remember to clean your room and stop getting distracted by all the old shit you found. We love you 💖

~ The LALP Crew

[running-red-book]

Hello, everyone! If you don’t know us, we’re the Love and Literature Project! We’re a community dedicated to giving advice, providing mental wellness tips, helping others, and connecting people from across the world! You can find us on Discord, Twitter, Instagram, and our website (all of which are in our bio). We host games, movie nights, contests, charity events, and much more!

On Monday, we posted an article on our website (@ loveandlitproject.com) talking about feeling like a burden and being selfish for your own good. We talked about shrinking ourselves in order to accommodate for others, setting our needs aside in order to focus on other people’s, and apologizing for having basic needs. Below, we’ll be giving tips on how to avoid those things, and how to support your loved ones without sacrificing your own comfort. Check out our blog post, “Be A Burden”, for more on this discussion!

1. Create firm boundaries with your loved ones. Don’t push yourself to do things you don’t want to or can’t do. If someone is asking for help, figure out a way to do so that adheres to both your schedules, qualifications, and needs. Advocate for yourself and communicate openly. Don’t drop whatever you’re doing or abandon your own principles, because that stuff is important too! Your needs are important.

2. Know what’s crossing the line. If someone continuously asks you for help on something that they could do on their own or that is strictly not your business, let them know that you can’t participate. You are not responsible for your loved one’s constant happiness, and things like trauma and suicidal thoughts have to be talked about with a professional. You are not qualified for that. Also, you have your own life to live, and they shouldn’t need you for everything.

3. Don’t get too involved. You don’t want to end up in the middle of something that isn’t your business. Whether that is a relationship, mental health issues, a traumatic event, etc. These things are not your responsibility. Suggest they get help and step back. Create a firm, equally understood boundary. You can help a friend pick out an outfit, you can’t save their marriage.

4. Normalize speaking up for yourself and your needs. You don’t want to go to a party? That’s completely valid, don’t go! You need accommodations for an illness? Of course, ask for them! Do you disagree with someone? Fair, let them know! Your desires, needs, opinions, and beliefs matter. They are valid, and they deserve to be acknowledged, even if someone is asking you for help. Don’t stay quiet, communicate. No one is a mind reader.

5. Ask others if it’s okay if you rant, ask for advice, get a favor, etc. Be clear in what they are signing up for, and what the task will require. This way, when you do those things, you’ll know that you were given consent, and if the person is bothered, they signed up for it anyway. At that point, it’s not on you, they chose to help.

6. Don’t be afraid to say no. Sometimes you can’t do something comfortably, and that’s completely okay. Your loved one will be fine without you, and your needs come first. They can look after themselves, but you need to look out for you. I mean, don’t be a dick, helping people is great, but never at the expense of your own happiness, health, or comfort. If they get upset when you say no, that is a huge red flag and you probably shouldn’t be associated with that person in the first place. Saying no is okay!!

Remember that you have to look after and take care of yourself, you always come first. We love you 💖

~ The LALP Crew

[running-red-book]

The Love and Literature Project is an online organization dedicated to advocating for mental health, uplifting creatives, and helping those in need!

Though we have many opportunities for mentally ill folks and creatives of all kinds, everyone is welcome to the LALP! There is something here for everyone, from charity events to art contests to game/movie nights. You can find us on Instagram (@ loveandlitproject), Discord (link in our bio), Tumblr (@ theloveandlitproject), and our website (@ loveandlitproject.com). We hope our organization interests you!

Please spread the word about us! Reblog this!! Our goal is to help as many people as possible 💖

[running-red-book]

Lucasfilm did not fire Gina Carano from The Mandalorian for being Transphobic:

She got fired for being Anti-Semitic.

Her being Transphobic is not at all okay either but,

Anti-Semitism is not talked about enough.

She basically just compared Holocaust victims to being a Republican. Do you realize how fucked up that is?!

I’m Jewish. I really don’t like when someone compares the genocide of 6 million of my people to being a Republican. When was the last time 6 million Republicans were murdered via gas chambers?

People need to know that this was why she got fired. Don’t you dare just like this post!

REBLOG IT

[running-red-book]

Huffpost article about the fight for Oak Flat

apache-stronghold.com

[running-red-book]

Chapter Seven: Think Later - Jimena

I'm still in the tree when the sun starts setting. I'm still in the tree when it starts raining. I'm still in the tree when the first bolts of lighting hit the ground. But I still have no idea where to go. I guess it's safe to come down for now. No one in their right mind would be out at this time.

I carefully clamber back down the tree, throwing my backpack down to the ground below me. Right as I'm about the reach the ground, lighting strikes right outside of the forest, and I lose my grip as it comes down with a crash. I don't fall so much as drop down. The second my feet hit the ground, another crash sounds. This one sounds different- it's loud, more of a clang than a crash. No lightning appeared before it, none follows it. That wasn't thunder then...

I sling my backpack across my back again, stretching out my arms. I can't explain this feeling, a sudden sort of dread, but I think something happened. Is it in any way reasonable to go check it out? No, but I fight through the heaviness in my legs and start to run to it. The rain is starting to pound harder, heavy drops soaking my hair, plastering my clothes to my skin. My feet are starting to slide in the mud too, while stray branches whip across my face, leaving stinging lines against cold flesh. As I see something shine in the distance, I feel something yank me back and onto the ground. I feel around me, heart stammering. There's a warmth oozing down my side. It's no one, it's no one, it can't be. My hand falls where a sharp branch pierced a hole in my cloak. I'm stuck. This is where I would give up if I had any real sense in me, but something urges me to keep going. I fumble with my cloak for a while, as exhaustion starts to set in. I can't give up here, I'm vulnerable anyways so might as well fight it. It's starting to feel like this stupid front isn't worth it, my face is out there anyways, what good is a hooded cloak that keeps getting fucking stuck on everything? Knife in hand I twist my arm back and saw. Fabric rips... but I tug and I’m still stuck. Wrong hole then, I twist back, saw... and I fall forward, the tension releasing. Standing now is even more of a challenge. I'm realizing now that I haven't slept in hours, and I can't even remember the last time I ate. I’m so tired. So much changed so soon...

The rain isn’t letting up, dripping into my eyes now, stinging slightly, plastering my hood low over my forehead. I'm running faster, faster, keeping my eyes straight ahead, straining to see the shining again, but the ground beneath me is shifting too fast, I’m gonna misstep, I’m falling, the ground’s too close to my face. Oh no...

Return to Table Of Contents

[running-red-book]

The Provinces

Requai

Out of four provinces, Requai is known as the poorest of them all, with a majority of its residents, over 75%, living in poverty. As a result, crime is rampant. In terms of the economy, Faden has few resources to trade, but has worked in specializing one field: mining. Following the almost complete depletion of resources such as gold, iron, and copper, Requai declared a state of Near Depletion. As a result, mining had to take a new form, and new priority was placed on finding or creating metal substitutes. Scavengers specialize in recycling, while chemists and geologists have worked to mass produce lab-created metals. Some small towns still mine traditionally, however the work is grueling and hardly rewarding. The rich residing in Fiord are the only ones to purchase “natural” gold, being the only ones able to afford it in its scarcity. Jewelers, mechanics, technicians, and other metal workers are more likely to thrive in Requai than anywhere else.

Requai has no official capital, though the central city of Baetal could be considered the center of commerce. It’s a small town only twice as big as Faden, but due to Requai’s lack of trade resources, the town is sufficient to house trade warehouses, research facilities and a small community of scientists.

Rodania

Rodania is a province residing west of Requai. The European Inquisition of 2100 sought to reclaim what is modern-day Oregon, Washington, and parts of California, Idaho, and Nevada. This new territory became Rodania, and was later reclaimed during the Territory Wars. It’s considered second-poorest, and though many residents there live just above the poverty line, they can only maintain that stability by working endless hours in fields, farms, ranches, production lines for food products, or in education programs. The wealthier residents own their own land to produce livestock or tend to agriculture, or they own businesses similar to mom-and-pop shops, family restaurants and small-stays. Small-stays are like what we know as Bed and Breakfast’s. Typically, small-stays may also have shops or cafes on the first floor, tenant’s rooms on a second floor and the owner’s family’s rooms on a third floor or small attached building. The biggest small-stays have up to ten rooms, the smallest have down to three. AirBnB like services are also normal.

Rodania also doesn’t have a capital, however, the city of Aden is considered the biggest trade port, with the Intranational Docking Company (IDC) basing operations there to transport products from Rodania straight to Fiord, and the cross-country railroad system’s (CCRS) biggest train depot standing about five miles from the city. The city itself is also considered a big tourist’s destination, the biggest for about three hundred miles. The country’s second-biggest amusement park is also within city limits.

Hades

Hades is the biggest province in Dimark, and also considered the best province to reside in. Over fifty percent of its population makes up the middle class, with another forty-seven percent falling under the poverty line, and three-percent sharing the upper class. Its history is largely unknown to the general public other than through second-hand knowledge from veterans of the Settlement War. From what is known, Requai and Rodania were originally part of Hades until the territory that would become Rodania was seized, while Requai split off into its own state. At present, Hades’ economy revolves around paper, plastic, and recycled products. While residents often opt for recycled products for themselves, new paper and plastic products are manufactured for Fiord. In places that are very agriculturally based in present day (think Texas), large farms for hemp, bamboo and other wood replacements for paper thrive. Food packaging plants line the border between Hades and Rodania, with aluminum packaging plants also resting at the section of the border where corners of Rodania, Hades, and Requai meet.

The capital of Hades—the city of Genoa—is a historical landmark. The document signifying the end of the Settlement War was signed in the old capital building, and a new one was erected a mile away to house the new governing board of the four provinces. Their commerce, however, mainly occurs in the city of Jayne, a smaller city about two hundred miles northwest of Genoa.

Fiord

Fiord, being the richest province, is the most technologically advanced. Though it’s the richest province, the divide between the upper class and lower class is massive, with ninety percent of residents resting within upper-class income levels and the other ten percent far below the poverty line. The brutal technology industry and cutthroat government are the only two fields in which most residents work. Government officials other than board members all live in Fiord, which includes every province’s elected officials. Some residents maintain chains of restaurants, stores and other corporations, while an even smaller amount maintain the dying entertainment industry. Despite having the smallest population, Fiord has the most control on the board with eleven officials as part of the Settlement Agreement.

Fiord’s capital, Havenford, is where the National Committee Building resides. Here, every government official of every province meet every two years to hold elections, pass new laws and settle all court cases brought within the past two years. This event takes the last two weeks of every year, starting December 16th. Trade mostly happens through the border towns of Jack and Terseville, and the city of Kyos, where the largest port is located. Fiord consumes more than it produces, so its sole export location is in Terseville. Kyos receives shipments exclusively from Rodania.

(Back to Table of Contents)

[running-red-book]

Running Red - Table Of Contents

[Will be updated as needed]

Note: Scrolling through my page will not give you these posts in order, so please refer back to the table of contents and links at the bottom of the chapters if you would like to view everything in order :)

New 2nd Note: Due to the clunkiness of this format, I’ve decided to delete the whole chapters off of Tumblr, however, everything is still up on Quotev and Wattpad! Please view my recent post for more information :)

Foreword/Trigger Warning / (Information Post) Re-labeling Red

(Index) The Provinces

(Accidentally deleted the character index, sorry about that folks! It’ll be back up soon.)

Chapter Seven: Think Later - Jimena

[running-red-book]

What To Expect from Running Red

My outline of three entries to the series has since grown to five for the entire “main” series, which centers around Jimena, James, Lauren, and the people in their lives as they go through a period in time full of political and social turmoil, stemming from the failing infrastructure of their government, which is falling under the influence of an extremist group known as the Blue Masks. I’m finishing the first novel now, and intend on publishing to Wattpad, Tumblr, and Quotev only, at least for the time being. I plan on looking into a “legitimite” form of publishing for the following entries. Due to the fact that Running Red has been out on the internet pretty much since its Red Hood days, it’ll be difficult for me to get any interest from traditional publishers for the first novel. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and self-publishing is still a viable option!

As for the series itself, it prominently features themes of family, conditional morality, generational patterns, love and hate, war and peace, and the power of choice. Along with that, the books feature heavy themes such as child abuse, addiction, war, sexual assault, mental illness and resulting self-harm, suicide, death, and potentially more that I may have missed. I only intend to inform, especially when relating these topics back to things such as the armed forces, broken families, and circumstances mostly out of the characters’ control, along with the experiences of myself and people around me. Beyond that, Running Red, at its heart, has been and will always be about found family, and the fact that you’re not alone out in this world. Hope, pushing through the darkness, and burning your own light, is also central to this story.

(Content Warning/Trigger Warning)

Violence and profanity are pretty frequent, so it would be near impossible to sort out every instance of either. Other potential triggers are listed below, with a bit of specificity on when they first appear (this list will be updated as needed:

- Alcoholism/Addiction, depicted starting in chapter four

- Child abuse + generally abusive relationships, depicted starting in chapter four

- Sexual assault (specifically, sexual assault in the work place or the armed forces), vaguely referenced/implied starting in chapter twenty-three

- Depression/Depressive episodes, depicted starting in chapter three

- Self-harm/Suicidal thoughts and tendencies, referenced vaguely starting in chapter one through survivor’s guilt, discussed starting in chapter twenty-one with reference to a recent attempt by a main/narrating character

- Drug abuse, referenced starting in chapter twenty-one

Are you ready? Click here for chapter one, or head back to the table of contents for more information in the index!