Critters^TM Workshop

Weekly Notes

Notes for 28-Oct-2020...

Vote! Vote! Vote! :)

As you will recall from my prior explanatory notes, I've been making political comments for the past few weeks; this week should be the last. (New members, please see notes from 9/30 et seq. As noted before, if you feel you need to leave because I'm making political statements you disagree with, I understand.)

First, Vote! Vote! Vote! It's likely too late to mail back any ballot that's sitting on your counter, so drop it off or vote in person. It's vital that you vote!

You know I've endorsed Biden, and I hope you "vote blue." I myself am an independent, not registered with any party, and over the years I've voted for lots of members of both major parties. Not that I'm a gigantic fan of the Democratic party -- it's that I strongly feel now that the GOP has lost it's way, and now has adopted the worst aspects of human nature as its platform. (Or, lack of a platform as the case may be.) Complete self-centeredness, selfishness, xenophobia (i.e. hostility toward anybody other than their own core tribe of white/male/straight/selfish), untethered/unregulated/unhinged-ly pro-business and anti-consumer, pro-corruption, anti-science, anti-rationality, pro-voter suppression, anti-democracy -- these are not a platform, these are just nuts. These are a path toward destroying America.

I want to see two healthy parties with a vigorous, logical debate over reasonable policies leading to reasonable horse-trading compromises and moving forward like adults. The GOP has abandoned that. (The Democrats have some small percent of people at the fringes, but the GOP seems to have -everybody- at the fringes. The closest to normal they come seem to be senators who say they are "concerned" -- but then vote straight nutso party line. So, virtually nobody in the GOP seems sane.)

(Sadly, when someone tells me they support Trump or the GOP, these days what that signals to me is that I would be very wary of them. The reputation rubs off on the individual supporters who stand firmly beside a group/person long after they've shown their true colors.)

To get back to a sane GOP, the only path is to show them overwhelmingly that their current stance is absurd, which from a practical standpoint means: Can't win elections and deprives them of power. Plus, Biden is as good a person as you can find in a politician. Thus, please vote "blue" this year. Massively "blue."

And every vote is a necessity to overcome hacking. (Either from e.g. Russia, or from trying to hack the legal code to cheat out a win.) Every vote is vital this year.

So: Please get that ballot in ASAP! Vote! Thanks!

                                   -+-

New release, just in time for Halloween from ReAnimus Press and SFWA Grandmaster James Gunn, in support of the Critters Fund Drive!--

	THE WITCHING HOUR by James Gunn - $3.99

		ReAnimus Press Store: www.ReAnimus.com/1650
		Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B08L5JLW7L/?tag=critters3a-20
		 (available in both ebook and paperback)

	SFWA Grandmaster James Gunn applies the principles of science and science fiction to the realm of the unholy with the Witching Hour, three novelettes of satanic scenery and devilish deceit.
	Not every witch intended to be one; there's more going on with beer than you might imagine; and there's devilish doings at the magicians conference.
	Mischief abounds. Demons, death and disbelief will haunt you at every corner. Macabre rituals of darkness will creep up your spine until your fragile mind tingles with fear.

                                   -+-
Woohoo!  Congratulations to...

	- Jordan Chase-Young, whose (Critter'd) short story, "The Vaulting
	Vandals of Termina Celeste" is now out in the current issue of
	The Colored Lens.

	- Jordan Chase-Young, whose short story, "Ambrose Starkisser
	Encounters That Which Is Locked" is now out in the current issue
	of Unidentified Funny Objects 8.


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


                                   -+-

This week's Most Productive Critter award, for 7 critiques (at time
of judging), averaging almost 800 words each, goes to...

	Joe Belarge

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 https://www.critters.org/private/mss.php ]...
                                                 
     Title                      	Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Week of 28-Oct-2020 (Crits due 4-Nov-2020):
 F   Into Trees                         [mpc] Ray N. Franklin -#29513
 SF  Hand of Tomorrow                   [mpc] Sylas Seabrook -#29514
 F   Deathsight                         [mpc] Jennifer Scott -#29515
 SF  The Light and the Dark             Richard Zwicker -#29516
 F   The Greatest City Chapters 13-17   Clayton Niehaus -#29517
 H   Praying for Sunrise                Jim Keane -#29518
 F   Riding the Midnight Breeze         Joe Olson -#29519
 SF  Mac The Wife                       John Griffin -#29520
 H   Chimney Sweep                      Jude Matulich-Hall -#29521
 H   A Family Recipe for Spice Cake     Madeline Jacobson -#29522
 SF  The Wayfarer, Ch. 1                Zachary Kekac -#29523
 SF  Emotive, Chapter 4                 Jeff Naylor -#29524
 F   Stolen Blade, Chapters 1-2         Samia Hayes -#29525
 SF  The Linking, Chapters 1-5          Jeff Richardson -#29526
 SF  Forever Grey Chapters 2-3          Greg Tracii -#29527
 SF  Empire                             Emilio Serrano -#29528

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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... SECRETS OF THE SANDS by LEONA WISOKER
On the sands the harsh sun reveals more about the world -  and themselves - than they ever wanted to know.
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1449
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Pieces up for critique in other workshops...

In the lit workshop - https://critique.org/lit :
 L   An Account between a Landlord and a Tenant  Annie Bashaw -#29412

In the mystery workshop - https://critique.org/mystery :
 M   Snakes and Leaders, Chapters 1-8   Michael Benjamin -#29362

In the nonfiction workshop - https://critique.org/nonfiction :
 NH  That Woman                         Wanda Little Fenimore -#29130

In the script workshop - https://critique.org/script :
 SC  Emergency                          Joe Latessa -#29381

In the kids workshop - https://critique.org/kids :
 BK  Monarchs of Greenwood - Fly With Me, CH. 1-3  Emmanuel Agyei-Boatey -#29197

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

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

In the romance workshop - https://critique.org/romance :
 R   Love and Other Experiments: First 3 Chapters  Tabitha Hapeman -#29363
 R   First 10 pages-- The Last Prince   Brandi Cote -#29364

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 :
 F   Into Trees                         [mpc] Ray N. Franklin -#29513
 SF  Hand of Tomorrow                   [mpc] Sylas Seabrook -#29514
 F   Deathsight                         [mpc] Jennifer Scott -#29515
 SF  The Light and the Dark             Richard Zwicker -#29516
 F   The Greatest City Chapters 13-17   Clayton Niehaus -#29517
 H   Praying for Sunrise                Jim Keane -#29518
 F   Riding the Midnight Breeze         Joe Olson -#29519
 SF  Mac The Wife                       John Griffin -#29520
 H   Chimney Sweep                      Jude Matulich-Hall -#29521
 H   A Family Recipe for Spice Cake     Madeline Jacobson -#29522
 SF  The Wayfarer, Ch. 1                Zachary Kekac -#29523
 SF  Emotive, Chapter 4                 Jeff Naylor -#29524
 F   Stolen Blade, Chapters 1-2         Samia Hayes -#29525
 SF  The Linking, Chapters 1-5          Jeff Richardson -#29526
 SF  Forever Grey Chapters 2-3          Greg Tracii -#29527
 SF  Empire                             Emilio Serrano -#29528
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You might also like... THE EYE IN THE STONE by ALLEN L. WOLD
A quick family visit turns into a magical battle between good and evil
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1391

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... THE JOY MAKERS by JAMES GUNN
Earth is in love with pleasure-seeking, or is it enslaved?
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1637

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