Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry May 28
Critter Notices
Books from Critters!
Check out Books by Critters for books by your fellow Critterfolk, as well as my list of recommended books for writers.
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 who's 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 COLLAPSIUMSpace 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)
Interviewed!
I was interviewed live on public radio for Critters' birthday, for those who want to listen.
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!
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're looking for great stuff to read from bestselling and award-winning authors—look no further! ReAnimus Press was founded by your very own Critter Captain. (And with a 12% Affiliate program.) [More]
~~~
FEATURED BOOK
~~~
Why Pro SF/F/H Authors Would Want to Join Critters
Yes, there probably are many things a great deal more challenging than reading the slush before it even hits the slush pile, but before you rush out to climb Everest, you might consider that...
- It's a great way to pay-forward. Think of everyone who helped you
along the way, and how you always promised you'd repay the favor.
Okay, maybe you did it all yourself; still, wouldn't it feel grand
to know you'd helped someone take their first steps toward their
first Hugo?
- Critiquing others helps your own writing. Nobody's too old to
improve, right? Not all great writers are great critiquers: Improving
your critical skills by critiquing others certainly can't harm your writing.
- Critiquing improves a piece. We all make stupid mistakes,
overlook internal inconsistencies, etc. You need not listen to what critiquers
say, but wouldn't you like to get reader opinions before it's in print?
(Can't prove causation, but four Critters were nonimated for Nebulas in
2002, including three of five in the short story category...)
- Have your own work instantly critiqued. Think of it like a sort of fast
(within one week) peer review, to check your piece for possibly
embarrassing gaffes. Critters has a wide variety of readers, who can
offer direct feedback on how readers perceive your work (and they're
polite about it, too). Not to mention, they can catch mistakes in logic,
consistency, science, or believability. Yes, we do both short stories
and whole novels.
- Shameless self-promotion. Our hundreds of members are also readers, readers who might want to read your other works. If they go on to become well known too, chances are they'll spread your name around even more out of gratitude. Not a bad reward for writing one critique a month.
So, if you think you can handle the (gosh, awfully stiff :-) requirements we ask (send in one critique a month, for which your own works bypass the queue for immediate review), send email to Ralph the Wonder-Critter (AKA Dr. Andrew Burt :-) saying you'd like to join. To be eligible for the pro perks (non-pros are asked to do one critique a week and must wait in the queue to be reviewed), please list some of your pro publication, in case my memory slips on your name.
If you're wondering whether any other pros have ever been so brave, yes, we count a couple dozen pros among our 500 or so active members. If you're still wavering, perhaps concerned about the security of your stories, or figure it'll take too long to get a novel through the group amidst all those short stories, please see our FAQ. For the full scoop, see the official rules. Or email me with questions.
Still not interested? Ah well. Perhaps I can interest you in a page about llamas? M00ses?
