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

Yourn point is taken there might be to much information, however to little is as bad.

So where would you prune as unnecessary to the history of the area

You have to consider what use your information is. What exacty are you trying to tell your reader? Are you trying to give them a sense of how the markets developed, how they actually were or what? At the moment you are giving your reader an almost mind-boggling amount of information but having difficulty in attaching it to anything, the whole para I mentioned does not mention the market, or link any information gained to the development of the market. For my mind, good information would be something like (and I'm making this stuff up as a example):

The market in hitchin was first recorded in 958. The area was a prodigious producer of wool and other sheep products, as well as candle wax and jam, which people would travel from around the country to purchase and sell.

Ie, what does the market trade it, what is the produce of the area in question. Relate all of your information to your stated subject and you'll probably loose a lot of stuff that you don't really need. I think you're trying too hard to tell us everything here.

I was ameing at a county history but I take your point so i i combine it with an explanation of the relevance of the market to the area is that what you mean.

Also the market mentioned is the oldest and not the only one in the area, this could lead to the impresson that it was the only or the most important both would be missleading.

That is why I went for the county history.

Your valued opinion please...

I have given the passage a little tweek am I on the right lines

Entry: English Chartered Markets: 3 The South Midlands East Anglia And Wales - A22909917
Author: Bob Stafford (Keeper of The Treacle Shadow) - U3151547

The final sentence is good but I still don't see that the rest of the information benefits the entry. How does it help me understanding this market to know that the the place went backwards and forwards between the Danes and the Britons for 300 years? Why does that information NEED to be in the entry?

Thank you for your ideas, I will give this thought and alter it, and we can pick over the result.
Thank you for your time and effort.

I have had a trim please comment

I think the easiest way for me to get across the extent of cuts I am suggesting is to show you, so I have copied the text from your entry on to my space where I will cut out all the bits I think the entry can do without, then when I'm done I'll post the link here and you can see what you think.

Thanks for going to the trouble I look forward to reading it

I have .......

Ever thought of inventing a diet ... make a fortune ... 800 words trimed ... well I never


Not bad save me a pile of work on the last 2. I like it I must admit, two points for reassurance, not to light on the history and I tend to create entrys that can be read in isolation, do you think it acheives this.


PS thanks for the work.

I haven't finished yet but when I have I certainly intend for it to make total sense in isolation. One point on this subject: I have just finished writing an entry on the Secret Policeman's Ball in which I refer to a lot of people who I haven't bothered to explain about because I have simply linked to the existing entries on them. In your case you can probably explain a lot of roman britain by linking to entries you have already written yourself. Glad you like it so far, hope you'll be happy when I'm done.

Yes Its good stuff

Hello

Have you done yet, and is it A33761063 as the finished article

Not yet finished Bob, still working on it, when I can. Obviously if it's done to your satisfaction then go with it, it's still your entry, but I haven't made all my suggestions yet.

so far so good thanks

Okay Bob, I've done a little bit more and I think I'm pretty well finished now. One thing that you might look at is that in places where you have said 'the roman road to so-and-so' I have been able to cut that out and simply say 'ermine street' or whatever, and link to one of your entries by way of further explanation. I haven't sufficient subject knowledge to do it for all of the raods, so if it is something you think you can extend, that would be an idea. Otherwise, have a read and see what you think.

Well done Thats what I think

I'm glad you're happy with it. I've given you the suggestions I can think of, it's yours now to mkae any further changes you want, or anything anyone else can suggest.

Well the previous enries may need a tidy

Well post me the links and I'll have a look, but it'll take me a bit of time.