Critters^TM Workshop

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
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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 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

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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... GALAXY MAGAZINE: THE DARK AND THE LIGHT YEARS by DAVID L. ROSHEIM
A nostalgic look at Galaxy Magazine. 
https://reanimus.com/store/?item=1534
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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
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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

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