Pop a Top.

I've been in both good critique groups and bad, but I gotta say the one I'm in now is just dang near perfect for my needs. We talk about the books we've read, discuss a bit of life and then settle down to our stuff. Each of us reads up to twenty pages from our current project and then we tear into each other. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Actually, there is very little ugly since every member has a good deal of talent, but every once in while some things just doesn't work, and this group will point that out if need be. But there isn't a shred of jealousy or competition among the four of us, which is great.

Last night we had reason to break out some champagne since Alice, had news that she had sold a short story. I'll wait until the contract is signed and she knows which edition before I tout the magazine and urge all of you to rush out and purchase a copy.

Now I'm not ordinarily a fan of the ol' bubbly, but last nights serving tasted great. Whether because Vicki isn't a cheapskate like me, and therefor buys higher quality booze, or because we were toasting the sweetness of success I can't say, but I did partake in two servings.

I'm, also happy to report the first twenty pages of Plundered Booty the novel were met with positive reviews. Oh sure, they picked on my notorious bad grammar and punctuation, but character wise and plot wise most of the comments were of the favorable variety.

And Alice's success has motivated me to send out a few of my short fiction pieces. I have done a horrendous job of marketing any of my short stories and I've promised myself to do better. So come on fellow writers help me out. Where do you find out about markets? I know about duotrope, webdelsol, but what are some other resources that y'all use?