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.
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.
Stayin' Alive
If you want to make a career of SF writing, STAYING ALIVE - A WRITER'S GUIDE by three-time SFWA President Norman Spinrad, published by your Critter Captain's ReAnimus Press, is an indispensable guide to the inside workings of the SF publishing industry by an expert.
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
~~~
Internet SF/F/H Writing Workshops
Here is a list of known electronic workshops on the Internet that handle SF/F/H. If you know of or run one you'd like to add, just email me the data for it.
Name: Critters Workshop
Cost: free URL: http://www.critique.org/users/critters
Email: critters@critique.org
Genres: SF/F/H
Established: 1995
Synopsis of membership requirements: Anyone can join, but to get your own work critiqued you must be in good standing with respect to # of critiques you've sent in. "Good standing" is doing roughly one critique a week. Voting SFFWA/HWA members (aka "professional SF/Horror writers") are only required to do one critique a month. Special provisions to handle novels quickly.
Number of members: 1000+
Max # members: none
Has pro writers among members: Yes
Ballpark time from submission of ms. to when it gets reviewed: 3-4 weeks (1 week for pro authors)
Ballpark number of critiques you'll receive: 15-20
Name: Online Writing Workshop
Cost: has a monthly fee
URL: http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/
Email:
support@sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com
Genres: Horror
Established: 2001
Synopsis of membership requirements: Valid e-mail address, agreement
with member terms
Number of members: 100+
Max # members: none
Has pro writers among members: Yes (see Hall of Fame page)
Ballpark time from submission of ms. to when it gets reviewed: 1-2
days for first review, 1-2 weeks for full complement of reviews
Ballpark number of critiques you'll receive: average is currently
around 4, with almost all receiving 2 or more, and some receiving up
to 20 (average word count of reviews ranges between 300 and 400 words)
Name: SFnovelist Writing Workshop
URL: www.sfnovelist.com
Email: See web site.
Genres: SF (hard science)
Established: 1997
Synopsis of membership requirements: Anyone can join for a free six-month
trial period. After that, you must pay dues to continue membership. This
helps ensure that only serious writers continue. Submissions are restricted
to "hard science" SF novels. You must critique three times as many words as
you wish to submit before you can submit.
Number of members: 40+
Max # members: none
Has pro writers among members: Yes
Ballpark time from submission of ms. to when it gets reviewed: a few days
Ballpark number of critiques you'll receive: 5
Name: Gotham Writers Workshop
Cost: has a fee
URL: http://www.writingclasses.com/scifi
Email: office@write.org
Genres: SF
Established: 1992
Description: Gotham Writers' Workshop, New York City's largest creative
writing school, offers comprehensive writing classes in NYC and online at
WritingClasses.com. Classes include Science Fiction Writing Online, Also:
Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Business, Screenwriting, Poetry, Children's
Books, & more. 10-Week, One-Day classes in NYC and Online, for adults/teens.
Call 212-WRITERS or visit www.WritingClasses.com
Name: Critique Circle
URL:
http://www.critiquecircle.com
Email: info@critiquecircle.com
Genres: All
Established: October 2003
Synopsis of membership requirements: Anyone can join, but we work on a
credit-system -- You earn credits by critiquing the works of others and
spend credits when submitting your own work
Number of members: 40+(and growing rapidly)
Max # members: none
Has pro writers among members: Yes
Ballpark time from submission of ms. to when it gets reviewed: 2-4 weeks
Ballpark number of critiques you'll receive: 5-10
Name: Carnival of Wicked Writers
Cost: Free
URL:
http://freezenerve.proboards32.com/index.cgi
Email: Contact Critter James Swingle at jswingle@noneuclideancafe.com with
any questions.
Genres: H
Established: 2004
Synopsis of membership requirements: Anyone can join. Members are expected
to post a minimum of two critiques for every story they post.
Number of members: 50
Max # members: None
Has pro writers among members: Yes
Ballpark time from submission of ms. to when it gets reviewed: 1-3 days
Ballpark number of critiques you'll receive: 3-6
Some on-line workshops for which I have less information:
There's one run on Orson Scott Card's Hatrack River site, but I have no experience with it.
Critter member Fraser Ronald runs a fantasy oriented workshop, The Fantasy Writers' Workshop.
Critter member Sigrún Erna Geirsdóttir runs a Critters-like workshop in Iceland (in Icelandic) at http://www.rithringur.is (rithringur means "writing circle").
Other Worlds Writers' Workshop, http://www.otherworlds.net
Off-line SF/F/H workshops that I know about:
- Clarion and Clarion West, the grand-daddies of SF workshops
- Odyssey, a newer Clarion-like workshop
- Viable Paradise, a one-week intensive SF/F workshop held on Martha's Vineyard each fall.
- The Dalton-Woodbury SF&F Workshop
SFWA's list of workshops (online, in-person, etc.) is at: http://sfwa.org/links/workshops.htm
Multi-genre workshops that I know about:
- Preditors & Editors also has a nice list of workshops on it
- Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope magazine has an on-line workshop used primarily as slush for their magazine, but also serves as a workshop for fiction of any genre
- Internet Writing Workshop has workshops for various other genres
- Writers Write has a list of workshops on it for various other genres, etc.
- SFSite has a list of workshops on it and other writing stuff, etc.
- Litique - abyrnes@litique.com
