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

Oh ST ... the things you're talking about have nothing to do with this group - don't you see that.

All of Rich's other work hasn't stopped him working for the EG and it isn't your place - or mine - to tell him how to spend his 'free'time.

I was disappointed by his choice of phrase and that's ALL, in context he's not turning his back on the EG - only a skim read would give that impression.

People ... anybody .... putting in efforts to other areas of the guide doesn't detract from what you - or anyone not involved in those things does in the EG and I'm amazed that you think it does.

Please try to take it less seriously people work to their skills and do what they can when they can - that applies to you, me, Rich ... everybody.

Rich is one of the researchers who is most dedicated to the EG. How he does that in between RL, and the Beeblecast I have no idea, but somehow he does.

Fizzy, you're absolutely right. Perhaps I'm missing a word from that sentence. Let's try:

'The conclusion I'm coming to, I think, is that I should forget about writing for the EG *specifically*'.

I can illustrate what I mean by that now that this week's Post is out. My three most recent entries are as follows:

A33848265 The Hawthorn
A33780873 Tracks
A33780756 Toubab Travels - The European Crocodile

None of the three were written for any particular part of the Guide.

I've explained a bit about The Hawthorn already.

'Tracks' could have gone either way; I had in mind a first-hand example of an earthwalk, another entry I'm planning. But the article grew as I wrote it, and it became a lengthier 'experience' piece rather than the sort of section I'd normally try to neutralise and put in a blockquote or a conversation attached to an entry.

T'oubab Travels...' is part of a wider Post series, but it contains lots of elements I originally wanted to add to A19617654. It's interesting to contrast the two, I think - I had to be very careful to maintain a neutral tone in the EG entry, and the more personal stuff had to stay out. In fact, for the EG Entry I had to leave out a lot of the things I really wanted to say, but for the Post I could just write what I thought. I think Toubab Travels would make a good UnderGuide piece with a suitable retitling.

The point I'm making is that in all three cases, I just sat down and wrote rather than thinking 'I'd like to write a Post column/EG Entry/UG entry about x'. The result is that I've kind of written one for each. I doubt very much if I'd written one at all if I'd set out to make a particular subject fit a particular part of the Guide.

The revelation, I guess, is that I've always thought I can write freely and without limitation for The Post, but the idea that some of that writing might fit the Edited Guide never occurred to me. Before we talked last night, I'd have just emailed The Hawthorn to The Post. But the PR reviews so far have been very enthusiastic. In future, I'll have a coffee and a re-read and see where things are going when I get so far through - maybe more of my writing is EG suitable than I thought, and I can edge my thoughts in a particular direction. I've doubted my ability to write for the EG at all recently, so this discussion has been quite important for me.

What I was trying to say was positive, but I worded it very badly. And you're right; it was blunt, and the way it sounded was the opposite of the principles of the group. I apologise for that, unreservedly. But I will write an awful lot more now; most of it will be rubbish, and you'll never read it anywhere - but I think you'll see a steady stream of Entries coming out of me for PR. You'll just see a lot more from me elsewhere as well.

And I think it will be the best writing I've ever done for the site.

As a side-note, I'm delighted that this is a place I can come to when I do have concerns and self-doubts. I didn't expect that at all when I set the group up, but every snippet of advice has been gratefully received.

I knew that.







Seriously, you didn't have to post all that stuff - I knew what you were talking about but just thought you could have voiced it better - the word *specifically* really covered it.

I'll get me glasses 'cause I need them when I'm doing a lot of reading on screen.