Captain's Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Dec 13
Critter Notices
ReAnimus Acquires Advent!
ReAnimus Press is pleased to announce the acquisition of the legendary Advent Publishers! Advent is now a subsidiary of ReAnimus Press, and we will continue to publish Advent's titles under the Advent name. Advent was founded in 1956 by Earl Kemp and others, and has published the likes of James Blish, Hal Clement, Robert Heinlein, Damon Knight, E.E. "Doc" Smith, and many others. Advent's high quality titles have won and been finalists for several Hugo Awards, such as The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy and Heinlein's Children. Watch this space for ebook and print editions of all of Advent's current titles!
Free Web Sites
Free web sites for authors (and others) are available at www.nyx.net.
How to Write SF
The Craft of Writing Science Fiction that Sells by Ben Bova, best-selling author and six-time Hugo Award winner for Best Editor. (This is one of the books your ol' Critter Captain learned from himself, and I highly recommend it.)
(Also via Amazon)
Space Travel for SF Writers
Hot off the presses from ReAnimus Press! Space Travel - A Science Fiction Writer's Guide— An indispensible tool for all SF writers that explains the science you need to help you make your fiction plausible. (Also via Amazon)
Network speeding up
I'm switching the connection over to a new, shiny 10X faster network because of all the load. There might be bits of downtime as your boxes learn new addresses and things. Should be brief. Let me know of any prolonged outages you see.
Preditors & Editors Changeover
With the very sad passing of Dave Kuzminski, who ran P&E, I've taken over the P&E duties. Lots of what I hope are improvements; check it out at pred-ed.com.
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 21-Jan-2015...
Worth noting for new members...
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS, 2ND ED.
by (Critter member) Robert Qualkinbush - $5.99
The secret that separates pro fiction from beginners', and how
to capitalize on it. 2nd edition - revised and nearly doubled
in size, with an extensive analysis of opening hooks! If you
want to be a professional writer, you have to read this.
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1184
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B007O272ZI/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in both ebook and paperback)
(Proceeds benefitting the Critters Fund drive)
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FYI from the inbox...
ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP ANNOUNCES ITS 20th SUMMER SESSION!
Each summer, writers of the fantastic come from all over the
world to attend the Odyssey Writing Workshop. Odyssey is one
of the most highly respected programs for writers of fantasy,
science fiction, and horror. Only fifteen are admitted.
Fifty-nine percent of graduates go on to professional publication.
This summer's workshop runs from JUNE 8 to JULY 17, 2015. Class
meets for at least four hours each morning, five days a week.
That time is split between workshopping sessions and lectures.
While feedback reveals the weaknesses in students' manuscripts,
lectures teach the techniques necessary to strengthen them.
Intensive lectures cover the elements of fiction writing in
depth. Students spend about eight hours more per day writing
and critiquing each other's work.
The program is held on Saint Anselm College's beautiful campus in
Manchester, NH. Saint Anselm is one of the finest small liberal
arts colleges in the country, and its campus provides a peaceful
setting and state-of-the-art facilities for Odyssey students.
College credit is available upon request.
www.odysseyworkshop.org
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IN MEMORIAM - Eugie Foster - Critter Member since 2000
Eugie Foster, author, editor, wife, died on September 27th of
respiratory failure at Emory University in Atlanta.
In her forty-two years, Eugie lived three lifetimes. She won the
Nebula award, the highest award for science fiction literature,
and had over one hundred of her stories published. She was an
editor for the Georgia General Assembly. She was the director of
the Daily Dragon at Dragon Con, and was a regular speaker at
genre conventions. She was a model, dancer, and psychologist.
She also made my life worth living.
Memorial service will be announced soon.
We do not need flowers. In lieu of flowers, please buy her books
and read them. Buy them for others to read until everyone on the
planet knows how amazing she was.
--Matthew M. Foster (husband)
-+-
Thanks for the donations, folks! We are 55.7% of the way to the fund
drive goal with contributions from 94 donors, leaving about $2000 to go.
Thanks especially to
Deborah Kaminski
Terrance Crow
for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!
[See http://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]
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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Michael Andre-Driussi, whose (Critter'd) short story, "It's
a Long Road to the Sky Train" is now out in the current issue
of Perihelion SF. {Thanks to the baker's dozen of critters who
critiqued this piece!}
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
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This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 10 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 1700 words each, goes to...
Amber Butler
And Instant Winner(s) (for 10 MPC-eligible critiques):
Jeff Cates
Fred Obermeyer
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 21-Jan-2015 (Crits due 28-Jan-2015):
H Visions of Death thru Indigo Eyes Jeff Cates -#24476
F God's Gumshoe Draft 2 Chapters 4-6 _RFDR_ Russell Adams -#24477
SF Tarendra at the Orion Wall Michael Andre-Driussi -#24478
H Funicular Fare Rayne Hall -#24479
F Techmare Justin R. Lawfer -#24480
SF Lemonade for the Dead Robert Harpold -#24481
SF Detached Retina Christian Roberts -#24482
F Starlight: Book 1 of the Earth-Dark Elf War Stacey Schebel -#24483
F Mother Night Martha Burns -#24484
SF Rachna Resurgence Deborah Patt -#24485
SF The Protius Pretension Christoher J. Piatti -#24486
SF The Panjandrum's Ball Game C. John Griffin -#24487
SF Tree of Life Christoph Weber -#24488
F The Ivory Mask, revised Margaret Moller -#24489
F Hymns, for the Amusement of Children Gabriel Blay -#24490
SF The Boys Room Fraser Hannah -#24491
F The First Actuary Melvyn Windham -#24492
H Z.I. Frank Chambers -#24493
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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
Because you might enjoy it... IN SEARCH OF THE BIG BANG by JOHN GRIBBIN
`A remarkably readable guide to the mysteries of cosmic creation' - Nature
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1454
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L The Phosphorus Nation Nessma A. Elsawy -#24396
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
M Mirror Man - Chapter 9-10 Jay Sauls -#24372
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 Bounty Hunters Avant Hall -#23842
In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
YA My Name Is..., Chapter 1 Rachelle Faulkner -#24415
In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western :
W God's Children in the Western Frontier Mike Ackerman -#24475
In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance :
R The Truth in Harmony: What's Wrong with Harry? Molly Layton -#24373
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 :
AI Extinction by Proxy Cover Eric Vargas -#24267
In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
WW Powerscript Website Ronald Hurst -#22230
In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
H Visions of Death thru Indigo Eyes Jeff Cates -#24476
F God's Gumshoe Draft 2 Chapters 4-6 _RFDR_ Russell Adams -#24477
SF Tarendra at the Orion Wall Michael Andre-Driussi -#24478
H Funicular Fare Rayne Hall -#24479
F Techmare Justin R. Lawfer -#24480
SF Lemonade for the Dead Robert Harpold -#24481
SF Detached Retina Christian Roberts -#24482
F Starlight: Book 1 of the Earth-Dark Elf War Stacey Schebel -#24483
F Mother Night Martha Burns -#24484
SF Rachna Resurgence Deborah Patt -#24485
SF The Protius Pretension Christoher J. Piatti -#24486
SF The Panjandrum's Ball Game C. John Griffin -#24487
SF Tree of Life Christoph Weber -#24488
F The Ivory Mask, revised Margaret Moller -#24489
F Hymns, for the Amusement of Children Gabriel Blay -#24490
SF The Boys Room Fraser Hannah -#24491
F The First Actuary Melvyn Windham -#24492
H Z.I. Frank Chambers -#24493
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You might also like... THE ALTERED EGO by JERRY SOHL
Why would anyone murder a man marked for full body and brain restoration?
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1360
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.
Because you might enjoy it... COLOURS OF THE SOUL by SEAN MCMULLEN
Why are cheetas the most perfect of creatures? Mind-blowing stories from an award winning master
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1352