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

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A561205

Hey, I'm not expecting too much - it's my first 'real' attempt for the guide, I'd be grateful for any critism - thanks.

When I said I wasn't expecting too much I didn't mean for people to ignore me, ah well. Anyone ??? Or am I alone, all alone? (sniff, I wish someone would help me, sniff)

Hi S_P,

First of all - don't be so impatient! The cycle time for things to get approved is quite long, normally a couple of weeks at least, so there's no need to panic if you haven't been read in 24 hours. We do look back through old postings - in fact, most Scouts start at the oldest and work forward until they run out of time. What's more, many are busy working people who are more likely to give you feedback at the weekends.

Okay, let's move on to your article.

One major point: although the site was inspired by a SciFi story about intergalactic travel, it is firmly rooted here on Earth: aiming your article at an alien audience is one of the best ways *not* to get picked.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/Writing-Guidelines

Next, though, I'd like to say that it's a really nicely-written, entertaining article. You do clearly have the ability to write very good contributions, so please take the following comments constructively.

FOOTNOTES. The technical team have worked hard to produce a really easy way to create footnotes using the tags - see http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/GuideML-Clinic if you're unsure. Trying to do them for yourself is harder work and will never look as good. Sorry.

FIRST PERSON. In an Edited entry, you should speak with the Voice of the Guide, not your own voice - so all the "I" references should be taken out. This will also make you sound more authoritative by taking out the "I suppose"s.

SUBJECT MATTER. There's already an awful lot of entries in the Guide about drinks, drinking, getting drunk, and hangovers. Strangely, a lot of our contributors consider themselves experts in this field . You'll have more chance of getting recommended if you can find a topic - a hobby, place, favourite band or whatever - on which you're better-informed than most people.

COMEDY vs INFORMATION. Being funny is good - but difficult. And it isn't enough, on its own, to make an Edited entry. It is better for your reader to think "Oh, I didn't know that!" than "Yes, that's true, isn't it?". Again, see the Writing Guidelines.

Finally, one omission: in your list of drinks, probably the world's favourite alcoholic drink - wine - fails to get a mention.

Please don't be disheartened. You certainly have the ability to write well. You're clearly willing to put in effort to making your entries look nice (and hopefully also to Researching them). All that helps to impress the Scouts. Your time will come - but perhaps not with this article.

GVI

Thanks for your help/advice, It will be useful for future articles.

- funny entry - I wonder if you've considered submitting it to "The Post" at http://www.h2g2.com/thepost ?

Anywho, as GVI said, this isn't really suitable - perhaps this thread could be moved to the sin bin while we wait for your next masterpiece (hopefully slightly more in touch with the aims of the site )? What do you think?

Silent_potato seems to have gone completely silent now...

Any scout seconding a move to the sinbin (for lack of a h2g2 humour review page) ?


Bossel (Scout)

once again late, but Seconded!

how about the alternative writing workshop?

Oh yes, there *is* such a place now!

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to 'The Alternative Writing Workshop, powered by Whoami?'.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'The Alternative Writing Workshop, powered by Whoami?' to 'The Alternative Writing Workshop'.

This thread has been moved to the 'real' AWW - sorry about that!

This isn't great, but it isn't actually bad either.

Note to Miners: I am trawling through AWW starting at the bottom, and looking for threads and entries that should be moved.

I personally don't think this one could be moved or could stay.

The author's last post was in August 2002, so in my opinion it is a candidate for removal on that basis, rather than on the basis of quality.

I am not proposing it for removal, though some other miners might think it should go.

B

I had the same thought.

It's not bad, it's witty and engagingly written, but the subject matter is not incredibly unique.

It's a pity Silent Potato isn't around to work on it, I think the style shows enough potential to suggest that it could have been shaped into something pretty good.

Congratulations - this entry has been added to the Spaced Out Guide at A1167293 !