And yeah, Critters is indeed a time commitment. But if you can swing it, it’s worth it.

Cassie, do you want it also?

I’ve spent quite some time on the Critters website and will evaluate my calendar in hopes of fitting it in after my revised website and a new project launch.

Yes, I’ll be more than happy to offer you a critique. I’ll send you my personal email address so you can send me the draft.

I have yet to rework ‘Slug Bait’, the short story that has been through it’s first round of Critters. Being Xmas and all, I may not get to it until some time in the New Year.

Once I’ve done that, how do you feel about offering me a critique in return? I’d be interested in your opinion as another cross-genre writer who taps into the personal.

After all, writers helping other writers get published is what it’s all about.

This short story is long (5900 words or close) and a bit of horror, a bit of suspense, a bit of supernatural….and none of them, I think. It only has a working title and getting help with a real title would be nice. Two people have read it, neither of them writers. I think about 1500 words should come out, but they say don’t cut.

Let me get through what’s on my plate today and I might be able to get it out to a couple folks tomorrow if you are still interested.

Off to check out Critters and thank you for the info!

I have some even more personal posts I could write but they involve the living, so it’s a bit trickier for me, ethically. I’m still mulling it over.

As for Critters, see http://www.critters.org

Essentially, the way it works is that you sign up and receive other writer’s stories to offer critiques of. And provided you meet your minimum quota (roughly a minimum of one a week), you can submit your stories into the Queue to be critiqued in exchange.

The writers have all different skill levels and backgrounds but it includes many who are published short story authors. There is nothing like getting other writers to look over your work – they see things (and are more honest about them) than non-writer friends and relations

Ostensibly, it’s intended for stories in the speculative fiction genres, i.e. SF, fantasy, and horror but I expect pretty much any piece of short fiction would receive critiques.

What genre (if any) is your short story in?

And I’d be happy to exchange critiques with you, via Critters or not, if you’d like.

I just had a 2,500 word horror short story go through the process and received 18 very insightful critiques to help me with rewriting.

It’s a wonderful learning experience – I’ve learned as much (if not more) from critiquing that I have in being critiqued!

I can’t recommend it enough.

That’s why I write. The telling and being heard…

Thank you for your honesty to self and willingness to share something so personal. It is a touching piece and well written.

Would you two tell me more about critters? I’m intrigued and I have a short story….

That means a lot to me.

My experience of support groups is that it’s the telling and the being heard by others that seems to help the most.

And yes, Critters is proving to be pretty cool. And I recommend the newsgroup as well if you’ve not ventured there yet.