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

Well done to Runescribe, Sho and Beatrice for having a go and getting so far.

I'm tempted to have a go at this. I've got various ideas for novels but I always get stuck on the idea of all the research I'd have to do.
Maybe I should just write, knowing that it will be rubbish but it might be a platform on which to build something better.

Just write!

I'm still bashing away at mine - I had an intersting weekend recently so I'm working in the events of it. I'll do a sense check and choronology test later on.

Thanks, Bea. And for the rest of your novel.

Yepp, just write. Write. Write.

Each year when I've done it, I've thought "OK, next year I'm making a plot outline before the end of October" and each year I've switched my computer on during the evening of 1st November and though "holy carp! no plot outline!"

Next time I swear it will be different!

Bea, I'd be really interested to read yours sometime, it sounds fascinating.

Well, it's my first novel so I'm allowed to experiment! I think you'd like the way the female lead always has a song playing in her head at critical moments. Now I just need to work in more smells - isn't that how you get the reader's empathy?

Bea, you might find it useful to subscribe, if you haven't already done so, to Mslexia - see http://www.mslexia.co.uk/
I find it a useful source of advice, information and inspiration.

You could always float a draft chapter on the AWW and get comments.

but beware - if you seriously want to get published they are very very very touchy about anything that has appeared on the net.

Great tips, thanks folks

soooooooo...
since Bel linked to the article (I'd totally forgotten about)

who's up for it again...

I've just started a creative writing course with the University of Sussex.

And am now feeling that I would, perhaps, be better advised to stick to gardening.