Blog
Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Sep 16
Critter Notices
Critters is 25!
This November, Critters is 25 years old! 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.
A Guide to Barsoom
The ultimate, definitive
GUIDE TO BARSOOM from ReAnimus Press.
NOW IN PRINT EDITION TOO. The best guide to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars series.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)
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
~~~
Weekly Notes
Notes for 14-Apr-2021...
New release! Helping the Critters Fund Drive, this week we have...
THE ROCKIN' SKYHORSE BLUES by Bruce Taylor - $3.99
ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1701
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B08XK15XCJ/?tag=critters3a-20
(available in both ebook and paperback)
These stories from "Mr. Magical Realism" represent a wide variety of style and content, but most of them are explorations of self-expression that fit the definition of surrealism, and later, magic realism and then a blending of magic realist writing techniques and perspective with the three main branches of Imaginative Literature, science fiction, horror and fantasy. That being said, not all these stories in this collection are of magic realist persuasion; several are science fiction, or stories with unusual perspectives on the craft of writing.
But, no matter what Bruce writes, there is a theme that runs through much of his work: We don't see reality as bizarre, because we've all come to agree that the bizarre is "normal reality." Of course it isn't. What reality is--is incomprehensible, never mind life itself. But let's not let that get in the way of loving it, loving our fellow creatures who inhabit this world with us, loving the planet from whence we come and love being the mortal mammals that we are on this third planet--around a star.
"Works that are fascinating, insightful and downright fun to read"
--Ben Bova
"A writer of imagination and insight."
--Terry Brooks
"As rich and poetic as Bradbury at his finest."
--William F. Nolan, author, Logan's Run
"A very gifted, short fiction writer."
-- Jeff VanderMeer, author, The Southern Reach Trilogy
-+-
Thanks for the donations, folks! Thanks especially to
Juliana Rew
Larry Hodges
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,
"Reflections on a Magic Mirror" to Page & Spine.
- Richard Zwicker, whose (Critter'd) short story, "Reflections on
a Magic Mirror" is now out in the current issue of Page & Spine.
- Richard Zwicker, who sold his (Critter'd) short story,
"Mission to Clarity" to Martian Wave.
Please report your Woohoo!s via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.
-+-
This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 5 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging over 700 words each, goes to...
Victor Jimenez
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 https://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 14-Apr-2021 (Crits due 21-Apr-2021):
SF Praise the-- Adam Pitts -#29863
F Homecoming Charles Botsford -#29864
F Chaoticum : Prelude - Chapter 8 Charles Gull -#29865
SF Her Desher scottt godfrey -#29866
F The Departed Chapter 1 Laura Mortensen -#29867
F The Japanese Fairy In American Park Anne Hansell -#29868
SF Duty to Society Eric Honour -#29869
F Hope is Phoenix Paul Leser -#29870
H Skunk, Grease, and Ghost Justin Wu -#29871
SF Sleeping Sickness Gary Gillen -#29872
F The HeCorp Dollhouse: Prologue Joel D. Young -#29873
SF Shadows of the Roarsi, Chapter 1 Stephen Martin -#29874
H From Dust Thou Art babu prakash -#29875
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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... GALAXY MAGAZINE: THE DARK AND THE LIGHT YEARS by DAVID L. ROSHEIM
A nostalgic look at Galaxy Magazine.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1534
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pieces up for critique in other workshops...
In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L They Sang of Green Pastures Chapters 1-3 Stephen Secor -#29841
In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
M The Missing, Chapters 1-2 Leanna Zimmerman -#29559
In the nonfiction workshop - https://critique.org/nonfiction :
NP A Big Problem With The Big Bang Glenn Turner -#29794
In the script workshop - https://critique.org/script :
SC Emergency Joe Latessa -#29381
In the kids workshop - https://critique.org/kids :
YL Baxter Baumgardner and The Circles of Dantore, Chapters 1-3 Alan Vitberg -#29827
In the comics workshop - https://critique.org/comics :
CG Magna. logline/ synopsis Brent Claridge -#28885
In the western workshop - https://critique.org/western :
W Black Dust Trails, Chapters 0-2 Michael ANDRE -#29724
In the romance workshop - https://critique.org/romance :
R Romance-WIP Roxanne (Roxi) Rowan -#29876
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 Hawk Sandy Kulhavy -#29426
In the art workshop - https://critique.org/art :
AH Art Man, a portrait Robert J Cleary -#27847
In the website workshop - https://critique.org/website :
WW Franklin's Palindromedary Ray N. Franklin -#29498
In the critters workshop - https://critique.org/critters :
SF Praise the-- Adam Pitts -#29863
F Homecoming Charles Botsford -#29864
F Chaoticum : Prelude - Chapter 8 Charles Gull -#29865
SF Her Desher scottt godfrey -#29866
F The Departed Chapter 1 Laura Mortensen -#29867
F The Japanese Fairy In American Park Anne Hansell -#29868
SF Duty to Society Eric Honour -#29869
F Hope is Phoenix Paul Leser -#29870
H Skunk, Grease, and Ghost Justin Wu -#29871
SF Sleeping Sickness Gary Gillen -#29872
F The HeCorp Dollhouse: Prologue Joel D. Young -#29873
SF Shadows of the Roarsi, Chapter 1 Stephen Martin -#29874
H From Dust Thou Art babu prakash -#29875
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You might also like... BY STONE, BY BLADE, BY FIRE by KATE WILHELM
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1437
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... CREATING SHORT FICTION by DAMON KNIGHT
The classic guide to writing short fiction - Revised & Expanded 3rd ed.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1548
--
You received this email message because you signed up for the Critters
Writers Workshop. If you want to stop getting these emails, please visit
https://www.critters.org/email.ht .