Yes, there probably are many things a great deal more challenging than reading the slush before it even hits the slush pile, but before you rush out to climb Everest, you might consider that...

• It's a great way to pay-forward. Think of everyone who helped you along the way, and how you always promised you'd repay the favor. Okay, maybe you did it all yourself; still, wouldn't it feel grand to know you'd helped someone take their first steps toward their first Hugo?

• Critiquing others helps your own writing. Nobody's too old to improve, right? Not all great writers are great critiquers: Improving your critical skills by critiquing others certainly can't harm your writing.

• Critiquing improves a piece. We all make stupid mistakes, overlook internal inconsistencies, etc. You need not listen to what critiquers say, but wouldn't you like to get reader opinions before it's in print? (Can't prove causation, but four Critters were nonimated for Nebulas in 2002, including three of five in the short story category...)

• Have your own work instantly critiqued. Think of it like a sort of fast (within one week) peer review, to check your piece for possibly embarrassing gaffes. Critters has a wide variety of readers, who can offer direct feedback on how readers perceive your work (and they're polite about it, too). Not to mention, they can catch mistakes in logic, consistency, science, or believability. Yes, we do both short stories and whole novels.

• Shameless self-promotion. Our hundreds of members are also readers, readers who might want to read your other works. If they go on to become well known too, chances are they'll spread your name around even more out of gratitude. Not a bad reward for writing one critique a month.

So, if you think you can handle the (gosh, awfully stiff :-) requirements we ask (send in one critique a month, for which your own works bypass the queue for immediate review), send email to Ralph the Wonder-Critter (AKA Dr. Andrew Burt :-) saying you'd like to join. To be eligible for the pro perks (non-pros are asked to do one critique a week and must wait in the queue to be reviewed), please list some of your pro publication, in case my memory slips on your name.

If you're wondering whether any other pros have ever been so brave, yes, we count a couple dozen pros among our 500 or so active members. If you're still wavering, perhaps concerned about the security of your stories, or figure it'll take too long to get a novel through the group amidst all those short stories, please see our FAQ. For the full scoop, see the official rules. Or email me with questions.

Still not interested? Ah well. Perhaps I can interest you in a page about llamas? M00ses?