h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've got it too. Looking back, I blame my junior school head, when we had to write a poem. With some budding idea of of 'Give 'em what they want', I did a sentimental one about birds, which won me a paint box.

The bug reappeared, like malaria, about 15 years ago. In my innocence, 'writer' equalled 'novel writer'. Having read everywhere 'First novels are always autobiographical', and being suspicious of received wisdom, I thought 'Oh yeah?'. I embarked on some memoirs/social history/anecdotes about childhood & growing up, in order to get the autobiography out of the way. Then the Novel would be free of it. I'm still getting the autobiography out of the way, and it's grown (in planning I mean)to 3 volumes.

Meanwhile, no novel; but stories, articles, poems, essays, talks; no paid publication yet, with 1 exception; but a lot of fun and satisfaction and meeting interesting people.

The exception? 2 brief, businesslike pieces about local writers groups, with pen drawings of the areas, printed in - Writers News! And one of them paid. I suspect there's some nice irony there, but haven't quite worked it out.

I've subscribed to the above for years, as I find it very useful, especially since moving to the country. Articles, news about markets for various kinds of writing, competitions (a great exercise) etc.

Looking at the other posts, I think I've been lucky in my writers' groups. When they're good, they're very good.

Reachable groups in my current area are sparse (as is the population). A friend and I swop & criticise stories, which is very helpful. Das Mouldy Sandwich's writers' group sounds good.

I like the Writer's Handbook, a competitor of the Writers & Artists Year Book. They're both good; it's mainly just a matter of taste.

D'you think I could get that Writers' News sent to America? I need all the help I can get.