Critter Notices

Critters is 30!

Last November, Critters turned 30 years old! Wow! Thanks so much to all of you, who've made it such a resounding success!

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Welcome to aburt.com, home to Andrew Burt. Aburt wears many hats, including computer science professor, writer, publisher, early Internet pioneer, founder of the first Internet service provider, former VP of SFWA, and founder of Critique.org / Critters, the first writers' workshop on the web.


My new novel is out! Hurrah!

[Amazon]

[B&N]

[Apple]

(ebook, paperback, & hardcover)

About Andrew Burt

Aburt's blog is here.

Projects

Various projects, new and old:

Tools and Web Sites

  • Critique.org / Critters Writers' Workshop, for writers and creators in all genres (of which I'm Founder & moderator). Critters was the first writers' workshop on the web and is free to use.

  • ReAnimus Press — a publisher, and offering ebook/print book production services. We work with leading names such as Ben Bova and Ursula K. Le Guin, offering the highest royalty rates of any publisher (for professional authors) and cost-effective services such as scanning, OCRing, ebook creation, cover art, etc. (free for professional authors).

  • Nyx.net, the world's first Internet service provider, which I founded many moons ago (free, donation funded) — offers free web hosting / email / linux shell access / etc.

  • Best Ever Written Readers' Poll — reading list of best works ever written — vote for your favorites

  • TechSoft -- if you need a custom web site or custom software for Windows or Linux (or non-custom, of course). We specialize in making computers do the (nearly) impossible.

Musings

For Writers

  • Critique.org / Critters Writers' Workshop, for writers and creators in all genres (of which I'm Founder & moderator). Critters was the first writers' workshop on the web and is free to use.

  • ReAnimus Press — a publisher, and offering ebook/print book production services. We work with leading names such as Ben Bova and Ursula K. Le Guin, offering the highest royalty rates of any publisher (for professional authors) and cost-effective services such as scanning, OCRing, ebook creation, cover art, etc. (free for professional authors).

  • General Guidelines & Tips on Avoiding Scams -- tips how to avoid getting taken by "publishers" who don't have your best interests at heart.

  • Nyx.net, the world's first Internet service provider, which I founded many moons ago (free, donation funded) — offers free web hosting / email etc., may be of interest to writers wanting a site to promote books and whatnot.

  • Tools for Smashwords' authors:
    • Check for possible Smashwords problems — Looks for things that might upset Smashwords so you can fix them.
    • Smashwords "Nuclear Option" Assistant for authors — A tool to help Smashwords authors avoid the pain of the so-called "Nuclear Option" for reformatting a troublesome document
    • Smartlinks — Allows links in books that honors Apple's demand that links go to your titles in iBooks when clicked inside the Apple ecosystem, else links go to Smashwords for other channels.

  • Making an Ebook for Kindles and iPads and Nooks, Oh My! A quick guide to turning print books/manuscripts into ebooks with minimal pain, maximum gain

  • The Secret to writing found! Film at 11! :) Or a sliver of it anyway... here's an article I wrote for the SFWA Bulletin on some interesting statistical correlations I found between the amount of interpersonal relationships in "well regarded" vs. "ordinary" SF/F stories. Add books to the reading list.

  • The CritFinder, for those looking for a local, in-person workshop.

  • "Time Limited" variant of the Creative Commons license (In beta mode; contact me if you'd like one.)

  • "Axioms in the Future of Publishing — Planning Tools for Writers"

  • Thoughts on Copyright

  • CopyHunter, a tool to identify plagiarism or unauthorized copies of your work

  • The PublishAmerica Sting operation that resulted in the creation of Atlanta Nights by "Travis Tea," One of (if not the) absolutely worst books ever written (by design!) (I was a co-author, writing two chapters. One I wrote, the other I wrote AI software to write. Possibly there's no difference...)

  • Bonsai Tree Story Generator -- the aforementioned AI software used to write that chapter of Atlanta Nights. You can use it on your own text. Have fun blowing your mind...

Aburt's Photo Gallery

DONATIONS

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[via ►PayPal or: Square]
Happy minion   Happy minion — last donation was recent. About $5000 to go. A big Thank You! to Vincent Bonasso, Paul Sasser, Brian Sellnow, and lots of other Critterfolk for their contributions!

Critters is entirely funded by donations from Critterfolk like you, so yours is most appreciated. Click here to make the minions happy. Every dollar helps. Thanks for your support!

COOL BOOK

WHERE TO?

Manuscripts / Submissions
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Member Woohoo!s
Member Bios
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LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO READ?

(Or want to collect money for other people reading your stories?) Check out Aburt's ReAnimus Press.

CRITTERS DIPLOMACY

Fundamental to Critters' success is how people deliver criticisms. Start by reading Critiquing the Wild Writer: It's Not What You Say, But How You Say It. and The Diplomatic Critiquer.

NOVELS

Critters has a special program to get whole novels critiqued. Read about it here.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Please follow these guidelines for formatting and submitting manuscripts to Critters.

WHAT'S IN THE QUEUE

Critters keeps a queue of manuscripts out or to be sent. See the Queue.

WEEKLY MPC AWARD

Want to jump to the head of the Critters queue? The Most Productive Critter or MPC is Awarded weekly to encourage mo' better critting. How to win...

AVOID SCAMS

General Guidelines & Tips on Avoiding Publishing Scams

FAQ

Critters has an extensive FAQ to answer your every question.

CHECK OUT ABURT'S OTHER PROJECTS

Visit the Critter Captain on Facebook:
Andrew Burt