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

Are you interested in the craft of writing? Would you like to write Edited Guide articles that grab the reader's attention? Do you want to invent interesting characters and possible plots? Do you yearn to write poetry but don't like to admit it? Why not amble down to the Writer's Meeting Place to exchange views, experience and gossip?

The idea of such a meeting place came from Dmitri's Writing Right with Dmitri on 25 May 2015, when he said "I'm gettting kind of beat up when it comes to this 'writing advice business'. I mean we need to have a forum for discussing our ideas, needs and frustrations when it comes to writing." I agreed and rashly suggested that I might kick it off.

I don't claim to be any kind of expert, but I'll put occasional questions and ideas here and ask for feedback. Come and join me.

Cool old Guy on a
"Well I can vent some frustrations if required . . ."

Well, I suppose my current frustration is about publication. Or rather, lack of publication.

I've got a novel, Dreaming in Stone, finished and am contemplating putting it on Amazon's Create Space. In addition, I've got a pile of poetry, which I could send out to small magazines. But, so often, you get a rejection notice, or you don't hear at all. And I've got a short story, called Road Rage, which I thought was rather different, but no-one seems to want it. At 4,000 words it's a bit long for most magazines.

Crude odd Guy currently not writing nor commenting
"My frustration lies in the Review aspect of the dedicated forums.
Has nothing to do with The Post as there any artistic freedom is welcome and even appreciated. This is about the 'Encyclopedic' nature of The Guide (Edited Guide).

I concider a request for comment as a request to read the w**k.
Also if a request for comment is stated repeatedly I concider it not unappropriate to give comment on any level.


A) There is no basic level ? Even the Guidelines concidering style are ignored, this could be one for the Guide Editors to threat with their wisdom and respect.

B) There are many ways to read an Entry. One can have much knowledge on the topic and point to omissions/ flaws. Another one is just a laymans view not being able to comprehend what it is about .

C) Syntactical comment; incomplete sentences or missing basic but required elements to make any full writtne language. I concider comments in this line may be the responsibilty of Sub Editors and Scouts. As far as I know they should have to handle these issues anyway. By removing/ handling them in the review state others are able to comment on the meaning rather then on the spelling.

D) Misinterpretation possibilities, as English is not my mother tongue I have to concider any alternative meaning of anything.
This is completely impossible if A) B) and C) may be the case. "

These days, I pick and choose which Edited Guide entries I read. I look for ones on subjects in which I might be interested and which are written fluently. In this, I'm like most readers.

In my view, any writer must have some respect for their potential audience. So anyone writing for the Edited Guide should ask himself (or herself) 'are other people likely to be interested in this?' He might have detailed descriptions of every pylon in Britain, but most people won't want to read them.

It's good advice to begin with an opening paragraph that persuades readers to read on. Also remember that readers are likely to give up if an entry drags on too long, and includes complicated lists.

Personally, if I'm reviewing, I read the article a couple of times and ask myself if there's anything I don't understand, or anything I feel can be usefully added. I ask questions and make suggestions about content first. I might go back and make detailed comments on grammar later.

However, there are some writers whose grammar and sentence construction is so poor, their Edited Guide articles are difficult to read. I would tell those writers to take every care to get their Edited Guide articles right. I was a Scout for a while and one of the reasons I gave up was because I was tired of trying to teach some writers sentence construction.

I am posting a piece about the sources of ideas A87854719

I would live to hear your answers to my question -where do you get your ideas?

I'm always trying to practice and hope that if I keep trying and writing stuff I'll improve and get better.

<BB<

Yes, practice is vital.

Many of the books and tutors I know of say writers should write something every day. I keep a journal and try to write something every day. Most of it is boring stuff, but it's a possible source of detailed descriptions, bits of conversation and ideas. And it gets you into the habit of regular writing.

Hi mvp. Have they done away with the alternative writing workshop, or why do you think you want to create a new forum to discuss ideas?

Hi Bel.

The Alternative Writing Workshop is still there, but hardly anyone posts to it. Some of the links to it are broken in Pliny.I would be glad to see it active again.

If it wasn't for a few friendly people, I might decide there's nothing much for me here and sneak away.

You wouldn't be the first. I very rarely come here; usually only when I am looking for guide entry I know is here.

Surely there must be writers forums on the web?

I tried a couple but didn't much like them. They're as time-consuming as peer review!