No Mongoose in the Mimosa

After I discovered how difficult it is to get anyone to read a novel manuscript from someone whose publishing credentials only included textbooks, I knew I had to get some experience in the following: 1. Writing a query letter with the ever dreaded pitch. 2. Writing a synopsis. 3. Fiction publishing credits. I decided that the best way to get some fiction credits was genre short stories, and that is what eventually led me to Baen's Universe Annex section of Baen's Bar. When I first joined Baen's Bar as DrCrispy in May of 2009, I wasn't sure exactly how it worked. It took me a while to find the rhythm, but basically here's what a member does now: 0. There is a Universe Slush forum and an associated Universe Slush Comment forum under Baen's Bar. 1. A barfly (member) reads stories posted on the Baen Universe Slush and offer critiques or comments if so inclined on the Universe Slush Comments forum. 2. A barfly may also submit his own stories for consider...