Critters^TM Workshop

Weekly Notes

Notes for 01-Apr-2020...

I hope everyone is staying healthy! For those looking for good stuff to read, here's a new item (benefiting the Critters Fund Drive as usual):

	TRIAX by Robert Silverberg, James Gunn, Keith Roberts, Jack Vance - $3.99

		ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1627
		Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B086JF6LKS/?tag=critters3a-20
		 (available in both ebook and paperback [$12.99, 212 pages])

Three original short science fiction novels by legends in the genre: Jack Vance, James Gunn, and Keith Roberts, edited by Robert Silverberg.
 Freitzke's Turn by Jack Vance: A classic Vance tale with beautifully imagined worlds, tracing the exploits of a future detective's inter-galactic search for evil. Miro Hetzel is an Effectuator -- a high end private investigator --hired to find one of his ex-classmates, Faurence Dacre, known for his dangerous temper and wanted for having done monstrous things on many worlds.
 If I Forget Thee by James Gunn:  A beautiful and haunting tale of a man seeking love and forgiveness. Jeri, a world-class surgeon, has lost his nerve -- and his memory. He keeps having dreams where he is tortured. But by whom, and why? And are they dreams?
 Molly Zero by Keith Roberts: The harrowing story of two young lovers coming of age in a sinister, totalitarian, Orwellian, cyberpunk-esque future. Molly Zero feels different than the others, and tries to navigate her way in a bleak, rigid life: to conform and be safe, or to escape, to unknown danger?



                                   -+-

Thanks for the donations, folks!  We are 92.2% of the way to the fund drive goal with contributions from 164 donors, leaving about $300 to go.

	(No donations this past week, sad minion face.)  :[

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


                                   -+-
Woohoo!  Congratulations to...

	- Jordan Chase-Young, who sold	(Critter'd) short story, ""Shards"
	(Originally "An Inheritance of Sky and Stone")" to Metaphorosis.


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


                                   -+-

This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 11 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 900 words each, goes to...


And Instant Winner(s) (for 10 MPC-eligible critiques):

36187/therachelmeza@gmail.com

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
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Critters Workshop
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This week we have... [get from http://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
                                                 
     Title                      	Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 1-Apr-2020 (Crits due 8-Apr-2020):
 SF  Biomechanical Detective Agency     Jeff Cates -#29049
 F   Magarac Rhodes and the Dimple of Tombs  Joel E. Roosa -#29050
 SF  Mirror Imager                      Amanda H. Geard -#29051
 F   Wintermint _expansion of First Contact_  Amy Hammack Turner -#29052
 SF  The Sky Helmet: revised prologue   Joel Schroeder -#29053
 F   God in His Cubicle                 [@] Larry Hodges -#29054
 SF  Us and Now                         Janet Martin -#29055
 H   Olympus Hath no Fury               Christopher Henderson -#29056
 F   Bleeder's Wages                    Lauren Banka -#29057
 SF  Chapter 3                          Jeremy Zentner -#29058
 F   Ethan Chase's Deadhead Ride        Joe Follansbee -#29059
 SF  Whispers Within                    Matthew J Olson -#29060
 F   Zaemes, Chapter 2                  Shanna Neumiller -#29061
 SF  Bondi Cultural Reserve             Colin Cortie -#29062
 F   Ink Adept                          TatiAnna Tibbitts -#29063
 SF  Lunar's Doorstep                   Bas Kempen -#29064

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Recommended books on writing:

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

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

EXPERIMENT PERILOUS: THE 'BUG JACK BARRON' PAPERS by Norman Spinrad
	(A 99cent essay on SF and writing)
	http://ReAnimus.com/store?item=1180 | http://Amazon.com/dp/B007MF3MS8
 
Because you might enjoy it... IN SEARCH OF WONDER by DAMON KNIGHT
The premier book of SF insight for all SF readers and writers.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1412
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...

In the lit workshop - http://critique.org/lit :
 L   Unlikely Helpers                   E.V. Zukowski -#28966

In the mystery workshop - http://critique.org/mystery :
 M   Blood Relatives                    Jay Path -#29048

In the nonfiction workshop - http://critique.org/nonfiction :
 NO  Belief in Proportion to the Evidence, Cha. 7 Without any Loss or Dishonour  Jim Parry -#28884

In the script workshop - http://critique.org/script :
 SC  Loose Lips                         Robert Qualkinbush -#28625

In the kids workshop - http://critique.org/kids :
 YP  Saul T. Unyon: The Short End of a Tall Tale  Michelle Henrie -#28566

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

In the western workshop - http://critique.org/western :
 W   A Message to Santa Fe, Chap 1-3    Frank Coombs -#25375

In the romance workshop - http://critique.org/romance :
 R   Pack Chapters 1-3                  Anastasia Bromberg -#28384

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

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

In the photo workshop - http://critique.org/photo :
 PH  Dry Mud and Cinder Cone            Bill Wight -#19627

In the art workshop - http://critique.org/art :
 AH  Art Man, a portrait                Robert J Cleary -#27847

In the website workshop - http://critique.org/website :
 WW  Ax-yZ The Creative Projects Platform  Charles Gull -#27088

In the critters workshop - http://critique.org/critters :
 SF  Biomechanical Detective Agency     Jeff Cates -#29049
 F   Magarac Rhodes and the Dimple of Tombs  Joel E. Roosa -#29050
 SF  Mirror Imager                      Amanda H. Geard -#29051
 F   Wintermint _expansion of First Contact_  Amy Hammack Turner -#29052
 SF  The Sky Helmet: revised prologue   Joel Schroeder -#29053
 F   God in His Cubicle                 [@] Larry Hodges -#29054
 SF  Us and Now                         Janet Martin -#29055
 H   Olympus Hath no Fury               Christopher Henderson -#29056
 F   Bleeder's Wages                    Lauren Banka -#29057
 SF  Chapter 3                          Jeremy Zentner -#29058
 F   Ethan Chase's Deadhead Ride        Joe Follansbee -#29059
 SF  Whispers Within                    Matthew J Olson -#29060
 F   Zaemes, Chapter 2                  Shanna Neumiller -#29061
 SF  Bondi Cultural Reserve             Colin Cortie -#29062
 F   Ink Adept                          TatiAnna Tibbitts -#29063
 SF  Lunar's Doorstep                   Bas Kempen -#29064
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You might also like... CHALLENGE FOR A THRONE by ROBERT SILVERBERG
The real life Game of Thrones & basis George R.R. Martin used for the GoT series.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1615

Standard notes:

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

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

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

Because you might enjoy it... BEING GARDNER DOZOIS by MICHAEL SWANWICK
Insights into the mind of the winningest Hugo award-award editor
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1588

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