Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Dec 07
Critter Notices
Critters no longer accepting European Union members :(
It's with a heavy heart that I have to announce Critters can no longer accept people in the European Union as members. This is a result of the "GDPR" privacy laws going into effect. I'm a big fan of privacy, and applaud the general idea behind the GDPR, but the way it's implemented forces me to close the door to EU writers. [read more why...]Books from Critters!
Check out Books by Critters for books by your fellow Critterfolk, as well as my list of recommended books for writers.
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)
P&E Has a New Caretaker!
I'm very happy to announce that P&E has been handed off to a new caretaker! Check out the site for news and such. Hurrah!
Interviewed!
I'm being interviewed live on public radio for Critters 20th birthday. For those who want to listen, it's on the 10am (Mountain time) show on Thursday, 11/19/16, on Colorado Public Radio - www.cpr.org has streaming on the site or it's 90.1 FM in the Denver area. [Interview is done, you can listen on the site]
Free Web Sites
Free web sites for authors (and others) are available at www.nyx.net.
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!
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 19-Sep-2018...
Helping out the Critters Fund Drive this week are sales of Craig Strete's many books. He's set up a bunch of Amazon giveaways (instant drawing for free ebook copy), so give his work a spin...
The Bleeding Man and Other Science Fiction Stories
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/58d991f20a00e4af
The Game of Cat and Eagle
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/cbace1e7e8c8cbf5
The Angry Dead
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/79af4c6857324690
My Gun Is Not So Quick
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/9ca5790c24d8acd6
Dreams That Burn in the Night (including collaborations with Jim Morrison of The Doors)
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/abba6eeed8baa3c3
Burn Down the Night (semi-autobiographical about him and friend Jim Morrison)
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/702033f3a030a525
A Knife In The Mind
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/08f0245e53cdf799
The Star Killer
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/154d524477de81f7
Death Chants
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/19556f94bb8f16e0
The World in Grandfather's Hands
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/104b7c04be541666
When Grandfather Journeys Into Winter
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/38943f263be8c7b9
-+-
Thanks for the donations, folks! Thanks especially to
Mariam Melikadze
Bill Leonard
Terrance Crow
for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!
[See http://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]
-+-
Woohoo! Congratulations to...
- Richard Zwicker, who sold his (Critter'd) short story,
"Dead Stop" to On the Premises. {This story was critiqued as
"Dead End." Thanks to all who gave feedback.}
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
-+-
This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 11 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 1100 words each, goes to...
Hannah Azok
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Critters Workshop
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This week we have... [get from http://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 19-Sep-2018 (Crits due 26-Sep-2018):
SF Wizards Don't Fly Kevin P. Hallett -#27990
H Against the Wall Adam Knight -#27991
SF 4 Futures Mary Makarova -#27992
F Dragon Mage, Uprising, Chapter 5-7 Chris Turner -#27993
SF What Am I But What You Say I Am Dan Reade -#27994
F Shadow and Anima 2 Joel Schroeder -#27995
F The Wide Road Home, Chapters 1-3 Morgan Beard -#27996
SF Anticipation of Hollowness Renan Bernardo -#27997
F The Alphabetician Jesse Caedington -#27998
SF The Dryad Project Terry Volkirch -#27999
F A Tangle Of Strings Francisco Velasquez -#28000
SF The Pioneers of Mars Gary Goodson -#28001
SF The Old Block and Chain Steven Fritz -#28002
SF From Two Sides of a Looking Glass Alex Halimou -#28003
F Impatient Patient Andres Fonseca -#28004
F Tightrope, Sample, RFDR Allison Estry -#28005
F The Dicers _Chapter 1_ Mitko Grgiorov -#28006
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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... THE PERSEUS BREED by KEVIN EGAN
Every 30 years, beautiful women mysteriously vanish from the Earth
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1414
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
L A Dangerous Thing Craig McEwan -#27907
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
T The Man Next Door Chapter 3 and part of 4 Michelle Richer -#27632
In the nonfiction workshop - http://critique.org/nonfiction :
NH Hume and Hutton Ch. 2 This Terrestrial System Jim Parry -#27970
In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script :
SC Johnny Lucid Gets a New Muse Jerry Sexton -#27889
In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
YA The Lost Heir, Chapter 1 Kaitlyn Price -#27929
In the comics workshop - http://critique.org/comics :
CG Metropolise, Chapter 1 Carina Mchardy -#26473
In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western :
W A Message to Santa Fe, Chap 1-3 Frank Coombs -#25375
In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance :
R Blurred Lines Part Two Michelle Richer -#27476
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 :
AH Art Man, a portrait Robert J Cleary -#27847
In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
WW Ax-yZ The Creative Projects Platform Charles Gull -#27088
In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
SF Wizards Don't Fly Kevin P. Hallett -#27990
H Against the Wall Adam Knight -#27991
SF 4 Futures Mary Makarova -#27992
F Dragon Mage, Uprising, Chapter 5-7 Chris Turner -#27993
SF What Am I But What You Say I Am Dan Reade -#27994
F Shadow and Anima 2 Joel Schroeder -#27995
F The Wide Road Home, Chapters 1-3 Morgan Beard -#27996
SF Anticipation of Hollowness Renan Bernardo -#27997
F The Alphabetician Jesse Caedington -#27998
SF The Dryad Project Terry Volkirch -#27999
F A Tangle Of Strings Francisco Velasquez -#28000
SF The Pioneers of Mars Gary Goodson -#28001
SF The Old Block and Chain Steven Fritz -#28002
SF From Two Sides of a Looking Glass Alex Halimou -#28003
F Impatient Patient Andres Fonseca -#28004
F Tightrope, Sample, RFDR Allison Estry -#28005
F The Dicers _Chapter 1_ Mitko Grgiorov -#28006
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You might also like... THE IRON DREAM by NORMAN SPINRAD
Norman Spinrad presents Adolf Hitler's Hugo Award winning novel
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1291
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 discussion forums (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 .
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... WORLD-BUILDING by STEPHEN L. GILLETT
The blueprint for SF writers to create amazing, realistic fictional worlds.
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1482
--
You received this email message because you signed up for the Critters
Writers Workshop. If you want to stop getting these emails, please visit
http://www.critters.org/email.ht .