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

Hey I just got around to reading last week's and finally saw your after-Easterdinner-minute . How you manage such a mature and clever style without losing the innocence in your own voice is a tribute to you, your family and the education system that has brought you this far into the 'world of letters'. Dinner scenes are often very difficult to write. There are only few among the classics.

Yours is technically and beautifully crafted with all the charm intact. You are a 'Buffy' of words. Even though many years separate me from memories of similar situations I found myself reliving those same moods and reactions. A delight to read. Should be in every grade six reader to prepare young folks for their teenage encounters with the society that bred them.

Keep on keeping on!

~jwf~

wow! Thanks jwf!

I'm really enjoying all the positive feedback I'm getting for my articles...I'm considering majoring in Creative Writing in college and pursuing this more I love it! I wonder of my work here in The Post could be used to my advantage later on...hmmm....have you gotten any outside use out of it? Maybe not, since you're past school age...well, either way...

Thanks so much, dude! I love hearing from you--it's nice to know someone appreciates my humor!

And I want to see more To Whom it May Concern!!!!

DZ

>> ..appreciates my humor! <<

It is a special kind of humor.
A magic combination of your detailed observations of life (any idiot can find fault with the world around them), your skills with words (any idiot can mock the people around them) and your unique humour, hope, patience and love for humanity. Your optimistic inspiration is sorely needed in a callous modern world. But, beware of age and cynicism. Save what you are writing now and never be tempted to revise or edit it when you get older. The one ingredient that I didn't mention is 'youth', the thing that gives energy to all the rest, and it is a fleeting gift, though all the rest will just get better and better if you can keep the smile.

>> And I want to see more To Whom it May Concern!!!! <<

I too wish the muse would return. I had caught myself 'ranting' and 'pontificating'. The 'power' of the pen had gone to my head. And facing a weekly deadline with less and less to say each week I began to preach, a dangerous thing for a humor writer. Then the recent global troubles left me mostly concerned for the state of the world and feeling unqualified to comment on such major issues.

I am however working on (in the concept stages) an essay on the Ten Commandments that ought to give everyone pause.


~jwf~

I'm kinda worried about finding stuff to write about...I have alot to live up to, just because I'm such a perfectionist; I don't like going down in performance. So far I pick something related to me that I think I can spruce up--like, the one coming out Thurs. is on my dog (my personal fave so far) and the next one's on Cafeteria food, and the cafeteria in general. But sooner or later I may need to take a break to work up some topics

This really has been a fun experience for me, it's helped me decide what I'm going to do in my life, it's given me some positive feedback, I FREAKED out when I got my very own Archive, and when I was moved from the "features" column to the "regulars" column...that was a BIG deal to me! I was so excited! But small things amuse me...

DZ

>> ..small things amuse.. <<

Some say god is in the details.
Others say the is in the details.

I say, being aware of the details, finding joy and humour in the details, is proof that one is alive. And maybe proof of god's existence as well. At least they keep the mind alive and the at bay.


~jwf~

Amen! I pride myself in observing detail--it's something I loved about DNA's writing; his descriptions of detail are so vivid...it's amazing

DZ

Amen, sister.

~jwf~

Can I ask a favor? If I ever run out of topics, will you assist me in coming up with one? I can't think of what to do for 2 weeks from now...I have thurs. the 15ths, but not the week after...I may need help! Thanks

DZ

>> Can I ask a favor? <<

Yes, anytime. I don't promise to be able to handle every request but please, always feel free to ask. It also gives me the chance to say yay or nay.

For example:

>> If I ever run out of topics, will you assist me in coming up with one? <<

Here the short answer is nay. I cannot suggest what might or might not be of interest to you. However (this is the long answer) the important things to remember are (1) try to consider how interested other people would be in the subject and (2) always give it that special humourous perspective you have for things. The first requires some research or experience of the topic and the second is how you feel about it.

Some day, no doubt you will try (as we all will) to write about something when you feel like you have nothing to say. This can be a wonderful excercise for the brain, the heart and the writing skills. Sometimes the act of 'starting' opens up a floodgate of thoughts and feelings that couldn't come out until you had the pencil and paper ready for them. And sometimes (this happens to me) you might just go on and on, trying to fill the space, and never really say anything.

Trust your instincts. If, after sharpening your pencil and putting down a sentence or two, nothing more starts pouring out, then simply put it away and allow time to re-fill your cup. Never force yourself to do more, but keep your pencil sharp and your paper handy. It will come of its own accord. Or not.

And please bear in mind that 'all that' is just my opinion based on my experience. Other writers will swear that they have no idea what they will write until they start writing. They force themselves to put something down every day, a paragraph, 500 words, whatever arbitrary quotient they might use as a self-discipline. I am not into self-discipline in anything, especially writing but it does work for others and it's probably worth trying until you find what works for you.

I hope in the long run this answer will prove more helpful than I expect it feels right now.

~jwf~

That helps considerably thanks!

DZ