Planetside: The Online Magazine of SFWA

Planetside: The Online Magazine of SFWA

Planetside: The Online Magazine of SFWA

A Checklist for Critiquing Science Fiction

by David Alexander Smith Theme and meaning. Does the story move us? So we emerge from our fictional journey emotionally engaged, or wiser than we went in? Do we remember the story after we’re done? Along the way, does the story force us to think? Do we re-examine, or see afresh, things we take for […]

Some Notes on Critiquing Method and the CSFW Critiquing Manifesto

by David Alexander Smith Those of us who’ve been in the Cambridge SF Workshop for some time have developed an approach to critiquing that we find serves us well. These principles — our Critiquing Manifesto — help us work together to create the best fiction we can. 1. Why Are We Here? Often workshops founder […]

Being a Glossary of Terms Useful in Critiquing Science Fiction

by David Smith This is only a partial list of the terms we have found most useful in critiquing sf. The glossary is issued now and then … but it is a living document. Amendments are welcome. If you use additional terms, or have better examples than those listed here, please suggest them. Action outline […]

Joan Marie Verba

Joan Marie Verba

Joan Marie Verba has a physics degree, wrote novels Action Alert and Countdown to Action, nonfiction books Boldly Writing and Voyager: Exploring the Outer Planets.

Eileen Gunn

Eileen Gunn

Eileen Gunn is a Nebula-award-winning writer and the editor/publisher of the Infinite Matrix website. She serves on the board of Clarion West.

Full Archives Here

Featured Highlights