Captain's Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Dec 11
Critter Notices
[It's Freebie Friday in the Critters Store...]
**NOW IN
PRINT EDITION
TOO!** Awesome new book,
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS,
from a Critter member whose unearthed a shard of The Secret
to becoming a pro writer. Really good piece of work.
"...if you're at all concerned about story openings, you'd be nuts not to read what Qualkinbush has to say." —Wil McCarthy, author of BLOOM and THE COLLAPSIUM
Free Web Sites
Free web sites for authors (and others) are available at
www.nyx.net.
The Sigil Trilogy
If you're looking for an amazing, WOW! science fiction story, check out THE SIGIL TRILOGY. This is — literally — one of the best science fiction novels I've ever read.New Book from a Critter Member
**NOW IN
PRINT EDITION
TOO!** Awesome new book,
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS,
from a Critter member whose unearthed a shard of The Secret
to becoming a pro writer. Really good piece of work.
"...if you're at all concerned about story openings, you'd be nuts not to read what Qualkinbush has to say." —Wil McCarthy, author of BLOOM and THE COLLAPSIUM
Critters Server is Dying has been Replaced
See important details here in my blog. Let me know if you find anything that isn't working right. (Manuscripts are now available for this week, FYI.)
Book Recommendation
THE SIGIL TRILOGY:
The universe is dying from within...
"Great stuff... Really enjoyed it." — SFWA Grandmaster Michael Moorcock
Announcing ReAnimus Press
If you need help making ebooks from manuscripts or print copies—or finding great stuff to read—look no further! An ebook publisher started by your very own Critter Captain. (And with a 12% Affiliate program.) [More]
~~~
FEATURED BOOK
~~~
Weekly Notes
Notes for 11-Dec-2013...
Micro-rant: Irritations of Paperless Billing - http://critique.org/c/blog .
(Today's blog entry; too long to fit here) :)
-+-
New from ReAnimus Press -- I'm thrilled to announce that we've released
all 25 books of Star Trek / Twilight Zone writer Jerry Sohl.
http://JerrySohl.com
He wrote all kinds of stuff--about half are science fiction and/or horror,
six are romance (under two pseudonyms), some are mysteries, literary
fiction, and a couple humor (Underhanded Chess & Underhanded Bridge).
All were originally published by the major publishers, and 25 books from the
big houses is not a minor accomplishment, one that attests to how much readers
have enjoyed his work. I hope you enjoy them too!
(All 25 are available in ebook format; paperbacks for them all are in
the pipeline, with several already available.)
-+-
Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Fred Obermeyer, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "The
Value of Silence" to Allegory.
- Fred Obermeyer, whose (Critter'd) short story, "The IUD that
Landed in Grandpa's Backyard" is now out in the current issue
of Electric Spec.
- Carl Slaughter, who reports "Diabolical Plots has posted my
interview with Odyssey founder and director Jeanne Cavelos.
http://www.diabolicalplots.com/?p=3820".
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
-+-
This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 4 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 4900 words each, goes to...
Richard Edwards
And Instant Winner(s) (for 10 MPC-eligible critiques):
Douglas Kolacki
To redeem an MPC, visit: www.critters.org/usempc.ht
Congratulations! To everyone else -- Crit early and often!
(For an explanation of the MPC award, see the www.critters.org/award.ht page.)
-+-
Recommended Reading...
One of the best writing books - Secrets from the 6-time Best Editor
Hugo Award Master, Ben Bova: THE CRAFT OF WRITING SCIENCE FICTION THAT SELLS
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
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Critters Workshop
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This week we have... [get from http://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 11-Dec-2013 (Crits due 18-Dec-2013):
SF Paradise Unwinding [mpc] Levi Jacos -#23183
F Stairs To The Sky: A Fragmentary Retrospective Joanna Hoyt -#23184
F Shrouded Goddess_chapters 2+3 Patricia Moussatche -#23185
SF Pawprints in the Aeolian Dust Eleanor Wood -#23186
H The Host with the Most Nicholas Stella -#23187
SF Eternity in an Hour Jack Calverley -#23188
F Tormented Souls Lee Dailey -#23189
F Monday Blues Valentina Buffetti -#23190
F Kauai - Jared and Kinsley Wayne Halm -#23191
SF Olympus Part I Neal Williams -#23192
SF Hyphae Will Milner -#23193
SF The Anonymous Tran Serum -#23194
SF Recall This Best to Mind Vince Bonasso -#23195
SF Abraham the Eskimo -- Part One Carlos Mano -#23196
SF A Hitch in His Getalong Darin Ramsey -#23197
SF Little Pink Robot Adam vanLangenberg -#23198
SF Coetta's Clay Cody Sisco -#23199
F Between Sea and Shore Vanessa Fogg -#23200
SF Starship Epiphany: First Steps Luke Beahan -#23201
F Silverdirt, Chapters 3-4 Brenna Raney -#23202
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Recommended books on writing:
THE CRAFT OF WRITING AND SELLING SCIENCE FICTION by Ben Bova
ReAnimus Press Store: http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
Amazon: http://Amazon.com/dp/B006MAZPEI
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS By (Critter member) Robert Qualkinbush
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1184 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007O272ZI
STAYIN' ALIVE - A WRITER'S GUIDE by three-time SFWA President Norman Spinrad
How things really work in the art and commerce of publishing
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1179 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007SIC4I8
EXPERIMENT PERILOUS: THE 'BUG JACK BARRON' PAPERS by Norman Spinrad
(A 99cent essay on SF and writing)
http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1180 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007MF3MS8
Suggested reading... UNDERHANDED CHESS by JERRY SOHL
A hilarious handbook of devious diversions and stratagems for winning at chess
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1244
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L Abraham the Eskimo -- Part Two Carlos Mano -#23104
L Dog Soldier Adam vanLangenberg -#23105
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
M North Country, Chapter 1 John Metz -#22897
In the nonfiction workshop - http://critique.org/nonfiction :
NP Holding Down the Fort Chapter 1 Briana -#20954
In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script :
SC Psychelysis Russell Adams -#23124
In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
YL Insecta chapters 1-3 Lawrence Tabak -#22936
In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western :
W The Things a Puncher Does For Money Frank Coombs -#22499
In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance :
R Louisiana People - Chapter 2 - The Halfway Bar Wayne Halm -#22937
In the video workshop - http://critique.org/video :
VS The Gallery of Henri Beauchamp Jay DeTalente -#21424
In the music workshop - http://critique.org/music :
MP The Shade Riders and Nocturnal Ned song Beth Zurkowski -#21675
In the photo workshop - http://critique.org/photo :
PH Dry Mud and Cinder Cone Bill Wight -#19627
In the art workshop - http://critique.org/art :
AO Wild White Horse Fran Eisemann -#21370
In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
WW Powerscript Website Ronald Hurst -#22230
In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
SF Paradise Unwinding [mpc] Levi Jacos -#23183
F Stairs To The Sky: A Fragmentary Retrospective Joanna Hoyt -#23184
F Shrouded Goddess_chapters 2+3 Patricia Moussatche -#23185
SF Pawprints in the Aeolian Dust Eleanor Wood -#23186
H The Host with the Most Nicholas Stella -#23187
SF Eternity in an Hour Jack Calverley -#23188
F Tormented Souls Lee Dailey -#23189
F Monday Blues Valentina Buffetti -#23190
F Kauai - Jared and Kinsley Wayne Halm -#23191
SF Olympus Part I Neal Williams -#23192
SF Hyphae Will Milner -#23193
SF The Anonymous Tran Serum -#23194
SF Recall This Best to Mind Vince Bonasso -#23195
SF Abraham the Eskimo -- Part One Carlos Mano -#23196
SF A Hitch in His Getalong Darin Ramsey -#23197
SF Little Pink Robot Adam vanLangenberg -#23198
SF Coetta's Clay Cody Sisco -#23199
F Between Sea and Shore Vanessa Fogg -#23200
SF Starship Epiphany: First Steps Luke Beahan -#23201
F Silverdirt, Chapters 3-4 Brenna Raney -#23202
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You might also like... NIGHT WIND by ROBERTA JEAN MOUNTJOY
A historical romance
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1293
Standard notes:
HELP:
If you need help with anything, see http://www.critters.org/help -- there
are FAQs and a form to ask questions.
HELPING CRITTERS:
Critters is donation funded & volunteer run, so if you'd like to
help out with our current fund drive or otherwise, please visit
http://www.critters.org/donate.php -- Thanks!!
HOW TO SEND CRITIQUES:
Remember to send the critiques directly to me, critters@critique.org, so
I can forward them to the authors _and_ give you credit for your effort.
Please send only one critique per mail message (makes it easier to
archive). Please make sure the "#" symbol and manuscript number are in
the email Subject: line, like Subject: #1234. (Conversely, if you want
ol' Aburt to personally read the message, i.e., it's _not_ a critique,
don't put a "#" in the subject or I won't see it. Also -- put my current
anti-spam code word in there: see http://www.critters.org/antispam.ht .)
You may also send your critiques via http://www.critters.org/webcrit.ht .
Note that all critiques will be available to everyone to read the next Saturday.
DIPLOMACY:
Remember, authors and critiquers, we're all friends here. Be polite. Be
considerate. Be tactful. You can say you thought a story was drivel in a
courteous way. Try to point out the good and the bad; offer alternatives
if you can. Never, ever, attack the author -- only the story. Authors:
Remember that some reviewers may lack tact. Try to be understanding,
but if you get any that you feel are just plain mean-spirited, too short
to be of any use, or too "feel good," let me know and I'll withhold the
reviewer's "credit" for that story and/or cajole them into something
more insightful. See http://www.critters.org/diplomacy.ht for more...
CRITIQUE LENGTH:
If you want to send a short critique that you know is too short for
credit (200 words or less of your own meaningful content) please put
"NC#" in the Subject (NC=No Credit, like Subject: NC#1234) -and- say
something like "not for credit" inside your critique. (Remember also that
for MPC purposes, a critique must be 300 words or more.)
CHATTING:
Comments -other- than critiques (such as discussion of the critiques,
or Woohoo! announcements, or chit chat) should be posted to one of the
official Critters newsgroups, found on the news server news.sff.net.
(See the http://www.critters.org/newsgroups.ht web page for full info,
guidelines, etc.) Don't post stories or critiques (mail those to
critters@critique.org).
QUOTING:
Please pare the ms. down if critiquing in-line (don't quote the whole ms.!).
Other format rules are at http://www.critters.org/format.ht .
EVERYTHING'S ON THE WEB:
Past reviews are on the web page. The current week's manuscripts are
also there, as are prior mss. and even some rewrites. There's a Master
Page Index (site map) with tons of links to common items.
AUTHORS:
Authors for this week -- if you aren't getting email'd critiques from
me (as they come in) within a couple days -- ask me and we can verify
I'm sending them to the correct address. (Send me a phone# in case I
can't get email to you.) Check the format of your story ASAP to make sure
it's all there and readable.
EMAIL ISSUES:
If you want to change your email address or preferences (# mss. emailed,
SF/F/H type, or whether you get the huge critique batches at week's end),
point your browser to http://www.critters.org/admin.ht . Please don't
ask me to do this by hand, it's quite a chore! (E.g., if you're going
on vacation and want to suspend mail from me -- do this before/after
your trip.)
BACKUP SITE:
If you're unable to reach www.critters.org to get manuscripts, I've set up
an emergency backup site at http://backup.critters.org where you can get the
week's manuscripts (but not much of anything else :-). Speaking of backups --
don't forget to back up your own manuscripts so you don't lose them!
QUITTING:
If you want to quit or go inactive, drop by http://www.critters.org/admin.ht
for your choices.
DONATIONS:
Critters is funded by donations, so visit http://www.critters.org/donate.php
if you'd like to help out.
Suggested reading... MAELSTROM by ROBY JAMES
A great historical romance
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1345