Critters Writers Workshop

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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.

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 COLLAPSIUM

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]

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MORE NEWS & NOTICES >>

CRITTERS STORE >>

FEATURED BOOK

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CRITTERS STORE >>

Weekly Notes

Notes for 08-Jan-2025...

Announcing the 27th Annual Critters Readers Poll!

I just wanted to let you know this year's poll is underway! It's at

https://critters.org/predpoll

as usual.

Enter and vote for your favorite book, short story, author, artwork, artist, forum, workshop...-- there are over 40 categories honoring all genres and all aspects of writing and publishing:

As in past years, every voter is registered in a drawing for gifts donated by our sponsors.

So please come share with us what great works you've read this year, what authors, publishers, editors, artists and the like you feel are worth recognition!

Happy voting, and please help us spread the word that the Poll is open!

Critter members... don't forget to vote for Critters as the best workshop! :)

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Another cool title from ReAnimus Press, helping the Critters Fund Drive...

CHILD OF FORTUNE by Norman Spinrad

ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1322
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp//?tag=critters3a-20
(available in paperback)

In the exotic interstellar civilization of the Second Starfaring Age, youthful wanderers are known as Children of Fortune. This is the tale of one such wanderer, who seeks her destiny on an odyssey of self-discovery amid humanity's many worlds. Arresting and visionary, Child of Fortune is a science-fictional On the Road.

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

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Thanks for the donations, folks! Thanks especially to

Brian Sellnow
Vincent Bonasso

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

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

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(No Woohoo!s this week, be sure to report your sales/publications/etc. via the www.critters.org/telldaworld.ht web page.)

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This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 2 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 900 words each, goes to...

Tim Nall

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
https://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1144
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Critters Workshop
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This week we have... [get from https://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...

Title Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 8-Jan-2025 (Crits due 15-Jan-2025):
F Shrimp Girl [mpc] Tim Nall -#31701
SF Steppin' Razor [mpc] Patrick Tibbits -#31702
SF Gilgamesh, a Travelogue, Chapters 1-2 synopsis Charles Botsford -#31703
SF Moon of Discovery, Chapter 1 Mike Bristol -#31704
SF The Missing Final Page of Parker Peabody [@] Larry Hodges -#31705
SF Mew World Order Arthur Sankey -#31706
SF A Quantum Basilisk, Prologue Nick Codignotto -#31707

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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... IN BETWEEN by KATE WILHELM

https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1430
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...

In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
L The Great Divide Ethan Cunningham -#31654

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 Haven Tonya Washington -#31596

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 website workshop - https://critique.org/website :
WW Franklin's Palindromedary Ray N. Franklin -#29498

In the critters workshop - https://critique.org/critters :
F Shrimp Girl [mpc] Tim Nall -#31701
SF Steppin' Razor [mpc] Patrick Tibbits -#31702
SF Gilgamesh, a Travelogue, Chapters 1-2 synopsis Charles Botsford -#31703
SF Moon of Discovery, Chapter 1 Mike Bristol -#31704
SF The Missing Final Page of Parker Peabody [@] Larry Hodges -#31705
SF Mew World Order Arthur Sankey -#31706
SF A Quantum Basilisk, Prologue Nick Codignotto -#31707
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You might also like... THE IRON DREAM by NORMAN SPINRAD
Norman Spinrad presents Adolf Hitler's Hugo Award winning novel
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1291

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... 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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Writers Workshop. If you want to stop getting these emails, please visit
https://www.critters.org/email.ht .

Critters^{^{^TM}} Workshop

Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror

Est.1995 ~ First workshop on the web ~ 15,000 Members ~ Over 300,000 critiques served

Blog

Critter Notices

Books from Critters!

The Sigil Trilogy

New Book from a Critter Member

Interviewed!

Free Web Sites

ReAnimus Acquires Advent!

Book Recommendation

Announcing ReAnimus Press

~~~

FEATURED BOOK

~~~

Weekly Notes

CrittersTM Workshop

Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror

Est.1995 ~ First workshop on the web ~ 15,000 Members ~ Over 300,000 critiques served

Blog

Critter Notices

Books from Critters!

The Sigil Trilogy

New Book from a Critter Member

Interviewed!

Free Web Sites

ReAnimus Acquires Advent!

Book Recommendation

Announcing ReAnimus Press

~~~

FEATURED BOOK

~~~

Weekly Notes

Critters^{^{^TM}} Workshop