Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Nov 01
Critter Notices
Critters is 21!
Yes, 21 years ago Critters was born. Wow! Thanks so much to all of you, who've made it such a resounding success!
Books from Critters!
Check out Books by Critters for books by your fellow Critterfolk, as well as my list of recommended books for writers.
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)
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.
P&E Seeks New Caretaker
Unfortunately, much of the data on the P&E site has become stale and outdated, and needs a new caretaker with the time required to update the site. The listings are being removed until they can be updated by a new caretaker.
Note that the P&E/Critters Annual Readers Poll will run as usual in January.
If you are interested in taking the reins of P&E, and possess what's needed — at least 20hrs/week to volunteer, excellent investigative skills, in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry, ability to detect scams from not-scams, thick skin, good web site skills, good writing ability — please get in touch. Thanks for your interest!
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 16-Aug-2017...
Congratulations on winning a Hugo award to Critters amici N. K. Jemison!
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Helping out Critters Fund drive this week, the ebook edition of a great book on writing by a master -- make that a (SFWA) Grand Master -- and SFWA founder -- and founder of Critters' "grandparent" workshop -- Damon Knight:
CREATING SHORT FICTION by Damon Knight - $5.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1548
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9JGSYU/?tag=critters3a-20
The classic guide to writing short fiction -- Revised & Expanded 3rd ed.
"What Knight doesn't know about writing the short story cannot be put into expository prose anyway."
--Algis Budrys
"To those who hunger to be writers I commend this book without reservation."
--Harlan Ellison
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Thanks for the donations, folks! Thanks especially to
Devon Byers
Bill Leonard
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...
- Carl Slaughter, who reports "File 770 posted my interview
with newly appointed Escape Pod co-editors Mur Lafferty Divya
Breed". {http://file770.com/?p=36835}
- Kat Day, who sold her (Critter'd) short story, "The In-between
Place" to Daily Science Fiction. {(I kept missing the "human"
check - it's appearing waaaaay down the bottom of the page,
after a lot of blank space.)}
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 6 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging over 600 words each, goes to...
Syl Dinada
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 16-Aug-2017 (Crits due 23-Aug-2017):
F Cursed Jeff Cates -#27009
F Love Hurts Darla Jackson -#27010
F My Human Twin Mary Makarova -#27011
F The Land of Maja, Chapter 3 Chris Turner -#27012
SF Astera Vol1 - Episode 5: Stand Up Part 1 Joy Landa -#27013
SF Scattered Bret Parent -#27014
SF Bread Crumbs Brian Zayas -#27015
F Lest Ye Become Tim Mudie -#27016
F Wings chapters 8 & 9 Robert Plowman -#27017
SF Quantum Transporter Fred McLeod -#27018
SF National Identity Morgan Broadhead -#27019
SF 4 <= Induction <= E3 <= Orb Charles Gull -#27020
F The Contractor, Chapters 1-5 Mike Graulich -#27021
SF The Mind's Door Cassandra Morphy -#27022
F Blabbermouth NM Whitley -#27023
F Implements and Elements: A Very Peculiar Tale Sylva Florence -#27024
F Queensmen, prologue Bethany Rae Salway -#27025
F An Inward Spirit Aaron Wilson -#27026
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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... TIMESHARE: SECOND TIME AROUND by JOSHUA DANN
Timeshare series #2 - John Surrey has to drag a customer back from the Roaring '20s.
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1518
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
T Blessed Silence, Chapter 1 Scott Downey -#26991
In the nonfiction workshop - http://critique.org/nonfiction :
NT The Significance of the Fronting of the Prepositional Phrase in the Text of Genesis 01 01 Rebecca Miller -#26818
In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script :
SC Sarah and Thomas Fred McLeod -#26932
In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
YA Life After Rouge- Prologue Candice M Yamnitz -#27008
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 Beauty and the Werebeast Charmaine Seifts -#26692
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 The Dark Jester in an Archway Joy Landa -#25620
In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
WW Powerscript Website Ronald Hurst -#22230
In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
F Cursed Jeff Cates -#27009
F Love Hurts Darla Jackson -#27010
F My Human Twin Mary Makarova -#27011
F The Land of Maja, Chapter 3 Chris Turner -#27012
SF Astera Vol1 - Episode 5: Stand Up Part 1 Joy Landa -#27013
SF Scattered Bret Parent -#27014
SF Bread Crumbs Brian Zayas -#27015
F Lest Ye Become Tim Mudie -#27016
F Wings chapters 8 & 9 Robert Plowman -#27017
SF Quantum Transporter Fred McLeod -#27018
SF National Identity Morgan Broadhead -#27019
SF 4 <= Induction <= E3 <= Orb Charles Gull -#27020
F The Contractor, Chapters 1-5 Mike Graulich -#27021
SF The Mind's Door Cassandra Morphy -#27022
F Blabbermouth NM Whitley -#27023
F Implements and Elements: A Very Peculiar Tale Sylva Florence -#27024
F Queensmen, prologue Bethany Rae Salway -#27025
F An Inward Spirit Aaron Wilson -#27026
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You might also like... A MOTHER'S TRIAL by NANCY WRIGHT
Was it the perfect murder? A bestselling true story
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1328
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... THE SCIENCE OF MIDDLE-EARTH by HENRY GEE
NATURE Editor Dr. Henry Gee explains the science behind the greatest epic ever told
http://reanimus.com/store/?item=1383
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