Critters^TM Workshop

Weekly Notes

Notes for 04-Jun-2025...

Also, benefitting the Fund Drive, are purchases of ReAnimus Press books, such as...

	BLOOD TELLS ME ABOUT THE NIGHT by Craig Strete and R. Wright Campbell - $5.99

		ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1748
		Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHHFWBFR/?tag=critters3a-20
		 (available in ebook + hardcover + paperback)

	 My name is Charon. I have other names but they are nearly lost, even to my own memory. I am the owner of a small tent show. Honesty should prevent me from calling it a circus. But I call it Circus Charon because no hungry man is honest. That title implies a vaster collection of curiosities and attractions than I have to offer.
 I am a dealer in the strange and unusual. Perhaps it is not surprising that it is so. I am a member of an ancient clan as old as time itself. I am reformed in some senses of the world and unlike others of my kind.
 I am a vampire. There, I have said it. But forget all the myths and stories built up about them. Many of them are not true. Some are but it is a delusion to think you know what a vampire is. In any case, my way is not their way. I do drink human blood of course, but not to maim or kill. I buy it wholesale. I have never killed a human being. It has never been my way to do so, though I confess, humans die easily. And for one such as me, death would not be difficult to arrange. But this is not my story, it is the story of my little circus and its troupe. Keep that in mind. It is all about Circus Charon.
 But enough of that. Let me tell the story that I have contrived to put before you.




[Disclaimer: Ye Olde Critter Captain also runs ReAnimus Press, sales from which help him keep Critters going as a free site.]


                                   -+-

Thanks for the donations, folks!  We are 31.4% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 73 donors, leaving about $4800 to go.
Thanks especially to

	Holly Hefner
	Carla Hennes
	Justine Lombardi

for their recent donations to help keep Critters going. Much appreciated!

Stats by month...
Jan: $564.88 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $18.12 for the month
Feb: $206.50 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $376.5 for the month
Mar: $320.92 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $262.08 for the month
Apr: $142.18 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $440.82 for the month
May: $839.87 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, exceeded by $256.87 for the month
Jun: $126.72 received toward $583 monthly fund drive goal, short by $456.28 for the month

=> short by $1296.93 of annual fund drive goal to date


[See https://www.critters.org/donate.php for more information.]


                                   -+-
Woohoo!  Congratulations to...

	- Stephen Shewmake, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Callus Wage"
	is now out in the current issue of The Worlds Within. {This is
	the first short story I ever wrote. After two passes through
	Critters and numerous submissions, it's out there. Thanks to
	all who had and hand in making it better.}

	- FB Hughes, whose (Critter'd) short story, "The Oneiromantic
	Sheep" is now out in the current issue of Radon Journal. {Thanks
	to all who commented!}


Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.


                                   -+-

This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 2 critiques (at time of judging), averaging almost 1200 words each, goes to...

	Frances Sterne

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 
https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Critters Workshop
----------------------------------------------------------------------

This week we have... [get from https://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
                                                 
     Title                      	Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 4-Jun-2025 (Crits due 11-Jun-2025):
 SF  Ascension Chapter 1                [@] Julia Nolan -#31856
 F   Evangeline, Chapter 11 and 12      Brian Sellnow -#31857
 SF  Not Only Violence                  Natassia Dudack -#31858
 F   Wolf Warrior Chapter 2             Erin Tunney -#31859
 F   Galal                              Ryan Twombly -#31860
 F   The Duke of Tooth - Chapter 1-2    John Rhea -#31861

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended books on writing:

THE CRAFT OF WRITING AND SELLING SCIENCE FICTION by Ben Bova
	ReAnimus Press Store: https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
	Amazon: https://Amazon.com/dp/B006MAZPEI

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPECULATIVE FICTION OPENINGS By (Critter member) Robert Qualkinbush
	https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1184 | https://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
	https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1179 | https://Amazon.com/dp/B007SIC4I8

EXPERIMENT PERILOUS: THE 'BUG JACK BARRON' PAPERS by Norman Spinrad
	(A 99cent essay on SF and writing)
	https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1180 | https://Amazon.com/dp/B007MF3MS8
 
Because you might enjoy it... CROWN OF THE SERPENT by ALLEN L. WOLD
Rikard Braeth - think Indiana Jones in space
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1389
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...

In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
 L   A Home on Neem Street              Duaa -#31825

In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
 M   The Library Club chapters 1, 2     Don Oestreicher -#31726

In the nonfiction workshop - https://critique.org/nonfiction :
 NP  I *Experience*, Therefore I Am     Robin niCathain -#30061

In the script workshop - https://critique.org/script :
 SC  It Happened One Christmas          Robert W. Ross -#31694

In the kids workshop - https://critique.org/kids :
 YS  The Adventures of Jack, The Rabbit  Emmanuel Agyei-Boatey -#31578

In the comics workshop - https://critique.org/comics :
 CG  Magna. logline/ synopsis           Brent Claridge -#28885

In the western workshop - https://critique.org/western :
 W   Currently Untitled                 Aleksandr Vincente Hoang -#30472

In the romance workshop - https://critique.org/romance :
 R   Where the Music Finds Us: Chapter 1  Kiera J. Gerety -#31862

In the video workshop - https://critique.org/video :
 VS  The Gallery of Henri Beauchamp     Jay DeTalente -#21424

In the music workshop - https://critique.org/music :
 MP  The Shade Riders and Nocturnal Ned song  Beth Zurkowski -#21675

In the photo workshop - https://critique.org/photo :
 PH  Tea and Gossip                     Sandy Kulhavy -#30875

In the art workshop - https://critique.org/art :
 AH  Peppermint Girls                   Brian Sellnow -#31527

In the apps workshop - https://critique.org/apps :
 GM  Uptown Valkyries                   Arthur Sankey -#31757

In the website workshop - https://critique.org/website :
 WW  Charles Gull creative projects blog and website  Charles Gull -#31783

In the critters workshop - https://critique.org/critters :
 SF  Ascension Chapter 1                [@] Julia Nolan -#31856
 F   Evangeline, Chapter 11 and 12      Brian Sellnow -#31857
 SF  Not Only Violence                  Natassia Dudack -#31858
 F   Wolf Warrior Chapter 2             Erin Tunney -#31859
 F   Galal                              Ryan Twombly -#31860
 F   The Duke of Tooth - Chapter 1-2    John Rhea -#31861
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You might also like... THE STORY OF LIGHT by BEN BOVA
'glimpse the majesty of the infinite worlds of light in the universe.'  - Buzz Aldrin
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1233

Standard notes:

HELP:
If you need help with anything, see https://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
https://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 https://www.critters.org/antispam.ht .)

You may also send your critiques via https://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 https://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 https://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 https://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 https://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 https://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 https://www.critters.org/admin.ht .

DONATIONS:
Critters is funded by donations, so visit https://www.critters.org/donate.php
if you'd like to help out.

Because you might enjoy it... OF WORLDS BEYOND by LLOYD ARTHUR ESHBACH, ED.
Heinlein, Campbell, 'Doc' Smith, Williamson, de Camp, van Vogt, & Taine offer some of the best explanations ever on how to write SF.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1462

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