Captain's Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Feb 26
Critter Notices
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.
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)
A Guide to Barsoom
The ultimate, definitive
GUIDE TO BARSOOM from ReAnimus Press.
NOW IN PRINT EDITION TOO. The best guide to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars series.
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 05-Mar-2014...
Fellow Critter member Chet Gottfried did up a video for his fantasy novel,
THE GILDED BASILISK. Check it out just because it's fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmvOFc0YJ_g&feature=youtu.be
And of course I hope you'll check out the book too; I think you'll enjoy it.
ReAnimus Press Store: http://ReAnimus.com/?i=1378
Amazon: http://Amazon.com/dp/B00HYNCZU4/?tag=reanimus-20
Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4553679
As always, a portion of ReAnimus sales benefits the Critters fund drive
to keep the lights on.
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Speaking of which, the network connection to the Critters server has
become saturated over time, so I'm upgrading the capacity. Should have
good news to report on that soon.
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Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Jenny Green, who sold her short story, "Learning to Walk"
to Mad Scientists' Journal.
- Alex Bottle, who sold his (Critter'd) short story, "The Mood
Donation Centre" to Fiction Vortex. {This is my first sale,
so a big and yet a small step.}
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 12 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 600 words each, goes to...
Alexandra Nicu
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.)
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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 5-Mar-2014 (Crits due 12-Mar-2014):
SF April Blizzard [mpc] A.R. Farryn -#23420
SF No-Brainer Richard Zwicker -#23421
F Ugly, Chapters 7-11 Russell Adams -#23422
SF Men of Iron Joe Walker -#23423
F The Last Song Champion - 9 Tony Farnden -#23424
F Cursed Galen Surlak-Ramsey -#23425
F The Archangel of May [@] Rebecca Lyons -#23426
F Only The Whale Stands Between Me and England Douglas Kolacki -#23427
SF The Fourth Law of Robotics Charles Hand -#23428
F Shadow in the Empire of Light, Chapter 1 Jane Routley -#23429
F Ballads of Ealaidh: Resonance Jennie Brass -#23430
H Phase II Frank Oreto -#23431
F The Perilous Path, Chapter 1 Wayne J. Harris -#23432
F Persephone, Prologue, Chapters 1-3 Ben Lacy -#23433
SF The Traveler, Chapter 1 Gregory Sliwoski -#23434
F A Most Unsuitable Match Jason Loch -#23435
H A1Z1: The Turning Chapter 1-2 Cris Holder -#23436
SF The Mechanoid Cries Within Brock T.I. Penner -#23437
F Pawn of the Gods Andrea Franco-Cook -#23438
SF A Simple Line Sean fife -#23439
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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... THE PLANET MASTERS by ALLEN L. WOLD
Best-selling author of nine SF novels
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1286
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L Uncivil Rites Charles Hand -#23417
L Abraham the Eskimo Carlos Mano -#23418
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
AC The Right-Us Shall inherit the Earth, Chapter 1 David Erickson -#23315
M North Country, Chapter 2 John Metz -#23316
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 :
YA I'm a Lie Verena Willkomm -#23397
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 Waiting for Mr. Jack Thompson Wendy Salmon -#23419
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 April Blizzard [mpc] A.R. Farryn -#23420
SF No-Brainer Richard Zwicker -#23421
F Ugly, Chapters 7-11 Russell Adams -#23422
SF Men of Iron Joe Walker -#23423
F The Last Song Champion - 9 Tony Farnden -#23424
F Cursed Galen Surlak-Ramsey -#23425
F The Archangel of May [@] Rebecca Lyons -#23426
F Only The Whale Stands Between Me and England Douglas Kolacki -#23427
SF The Fourth Law of Robotics Charles Hand -#23428
F Shadow in the Empire of Light, Chapter 1 Jane Routley -#23429
F Ballads of Ealaidh: Resonance Jennie Brass -#23430
H Phase II Frank Oreto -#23431
F The Perilous Path, Chapter 1 Wayne J. Harris -#23432
F Persephone, Prologue, Chapters 1-3 Ben Lacy -#23433
SF The Traveler, Chapter 1 Gregory Sliwoski -#23434
F A Most Unsuitable Match Jason Loch -#23435
H A1Z1: The Turning Chapter 1-2 Cris Holder -#23436
SF The Mechanoid Cries Within Brock T.I. Penner -#23437
F Pawn of the Gods Andrea Franco-Cook -#23438
SF A Simple Line Sean fife -#23439
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You might also like... BAD KARMA: A TRUE STORY OF OBSESSION AND MURDER by DEBORAH BLUM
The bestselling true story of a famous murder and Supreme Court case
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1327
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... MEXICA by NORMAN SPINRAD
Montezuma meets Cortez in an acclaimed historical novel
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1309