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

I saw you in ask, and I thought I'd comment because we seem to have a few things in common. I'm also an American with an affinity for Douglas Adams and writing. I've never attempted anything of novel length (though some people here might say I've written a few entries approaching a hardcover's volume ).

I mostly write non-fiction stuff here on h2g2, but I've been involved in the creative writing side of things too. The Alternative Writing Workshop <./>RF5</.> is a good place to hang around if you're interested in creative writing. And if you have a short story or a piece of experimentation, it's a good place to submit your work and get a bit of feedback.

But enough of that. Who've you been reading? I've been on a bit of an Updike kick lately as far as the fiction goes.

Thanks for commenting. Well, I have been wanting to write something for years now like a novel or at least some short stories. But mainly a novel. I had a lot of success in college on English classes writing formal papers but nothing creative.

It was not until recently that I picked up a copy of a James Patterson book called Maximum Ride: MAX that I felt like writing. He's not even that great of a writer, I read half of this book twice and then returned it to the bookstore because the plot was not believable.

Either way I saw the low quality of his writing and it got me thinking if someone like that can get published that maybe I would have a chance.

Then I started a research to see what is required to piece up a novel. It went well but due to life I stopped for a little while and then recently I came back to it.

I even attempted to write the first few pages of my novel. However, quickly I discovered that I need to be good in such things as writing dialog and having a creative or unique story.

I'm currently working on finding a way to get my characters away from earth in a way that is creative.

The only thing I figured I could do is go to the bookstore and look at the science fiction area and do more reading. I keep looking at the books and often the name of Isaac Asimov was mentioned in the reviews. Shortly after that I found his books and bought "Robot Dreams" to get acquainted with his principles and serious writing style. I've read Douglas Adams and although he's great, he is more focused on comedy. So it is refreshing to finally read a more formal approach to fiction.

I'm going to check out RF5 and I'll see if I can help in some way.

On another topic I live in New Jersey. Where are you located?

I meant to write "dialogue" instead of "dialog" but the spell checker tricked me haha

I live in Ohio.

I've got an uncle that swears by James Patterson. But he's a very hardworking type, so he's more than entitled to read some brainless novels for entertainment, I figure.

h2g2 is a great place to practice writing, incidentally. There are some great writers and great critics here.

Perhaps I will look into doing some writing around here.

Definitely worth doing. h2g2 has taught me more about writing than I could have gotten from a writing course or anything like that. Still a long way to go, of course

Of course, new users tend to get lighter criticism at first, if only because we don't want to "scare" them all away.