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

Shhh... Author busy resurrecting an old Entry

That's the ticket!

Good - please don't feel insulted, because people very often do. But it's really a question that needs attention for the good of the site.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who hasn't used the site and hasn't heard of it - because they are the people we need. There are a *lot* of fora on the Internet where people write, critique, and edit for free. We aren't unique in that regard. The potential larger readership *would* be an attraction - possibly the main one - but the writer has no way of gauging it by looking at the site.

I guess what I'm saying is this: yes, we all need to write more. But even more than that, we need more writers. How do we get them?

How, for instance, can we give people a glimpse of that big, shiny, large and attractive readership? Because we need new writers even
more than we need the current writers to write more.

Just trying to be constructive. We have selling points that are obvious to all of us - but not necessarily obvious to people who haven't been around the site for years.

Well, I'm working on me Deadly Premonition entry.

It might not fit the 1000 words or less thingummy, but should hopefully be in PR by this time next week, so you've encouraged me to write more.

I know what you mean KB, it's something we're looking at.

What I see has been happening over the last 18 months (ish) that we've had the Guide, is that it's become quicker and easier to get entries into and through Peer Review, to the Guide. Sub Editors are working with the authors, and the final polish is just that, no longer rewriting sentences or even paragraphs, removing the authors "voice".

We've still got a way to go, no doubt about that. But I think that making it a better writing process, makes it a more enjoyable one, one that fun and not a chore. By doing so, it looks like some of the old writers are trying it again, and we are getting a few new people coming along and writing.

What we need to do then, is to raise awareness of the site in general, let people know we're here, and that they can join in the writing side too. And we do have ideas there

Great, Mags. That's the ticket!

1000 words is arbitrary, of course. I'd say a good rule of thumb is whether it passes the 2legs test.

Once, 2legs wrote, 'I didn't mean to read that entry, but I was all the way through before I noticed.' As long as that happens, longer is okay.

KB - Good point. Here, I was preaching to the choir - new h2g2ers seldom read my journal, I suspect.

But I've been trolling the membership - starting with volunteers - to raise awareness of just what you're saying: we want more writers.

So any ideas anybody has? Bring 'em on. We may or may not be able to do them right away, but it's all good.

I'd say, any really cool propsals on that score? Send 'em to Pastey, or Guide Editors.

One way to attract people, though, is just to keep writing. The more exciting the copy looks, the more good writers will want to contribute.

Yes - getting exciting copy is what it's all about.

Very interesting comment here from KB:
"How, for instance, can we give people a glimpse of that big, shiny, large and attractive readership? Because we need new writers even
more than we need the current writers to write more."

I'd really love to be able to give feedback to those whose Entries are being read. We occasionally have done so, because the results are interesting. Surprising, as well. Hopefully there will be some sort of mechanism we can work towards in this respect, in the future.

As far as feedback, a fanfiction site I read on has stats available for everyone. http://www.fimfiction.net/story/6859/memory-pending is the story I'm working through right now. You'll see a "Stats" button under the chapter list. Something like that could work, maybe?

*goes to hide under a rock after admitting to reading pony fanfiction*

Dame Edith Evans is back in PR A13145050

No idea how long/short it is as I don't count the words.

I have added more to the original Entry


lil x

885 words, lil. Perfect! And a lovely subject.

Amy, if I can admit to watching UFO TV films on Youtube, you can admit to reading pony fanfic. To each his own joyous form of absurdity.

Lanza, Great idea, youze. Maybe Pastey can come up with some ways of providing sustaining statistical feedback to those who are casting their bread upon the h2g2 waters.

Thank you!


lil x

Dmitri, I'm not old enough for it to be eccentricity yet

Hm, I know the owner of one of the major tourist attractions here in town. S'pose I could get some info... After all, I'm known to try to get people to come visit, and more bait is always good

Not committing myself, though.

That sounds good. Bait is good - and can be multipurpose.

And I wasn't accusing you of eccentricity or old age, Amy.

After all, isn't John de Lcanie getting involved with those pony people, after he got so much fan mail? I don't think he's had as much fun since his kids were little and he found them playing with his action figure in the sandbox.

Ok, firstly, I promise not to derail Dmitri's call-to-arms after this. Because he's right. We should all write more entries.

But to go back to putting yourself in the other person's shoes, "We're working on it" isn't really much of a recommendation.

So...

I have pinched Dmitri's call to arms for Create, because, well, it's fab. I particularly appreciate the word limit. I ignore it, of course, but hey, it's nice to have something to aim for: A87787444

Anyway, Dmitri has put a list of entries in PR from this there, but I think the credit should actually go here, so I shall return the favour. It's good stuff, especially number 6.

A87787192 How to Smell a Ponderosa Pine
A87787453 Fyvush Finkel - From Second Avenue to Rome (Wisconsin)
A46109856 The Coolest Stars Glow Red
A87787471 Changing the way we listen to Mozart's Clarinet Concerto
A87786391 Fairyland - the internet game
A87786751 Urban Fantasy: Vampire Porn, Feminist Pipe-Dream or Mis...
A28628238 The Surprising Eruption of Comet Holmes
A13145050 Dame Edith Evans - Actress
A87786562 Who Was Rodolphe Toepffer, and Why Did He Draw Like That?