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

Hi and welcome to h2g2! I hope you enjoy your time here! I see you've written a great introduction already - a wonderful start. Next step is to name yourself. If you need help doing this or if there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask me (or any of the other ACEs at http://www.h2g2.com/A214796 ). A professional writer - oh my. I feel all strange. Well, I'll be expecting some great entries from you. Looks like you'll enjoy h2g2 - it's hard not to .

Remember, feel free to ask any questions,

Mr.Cynic

A real live published author!!! *looks nervous and blushes*.

Tell me, how do you go about actually sitting down and WRITING something? I have dreams of writing. I have ideas and characters and stories dancing in my head. But then I sit down at my keyboard and foompf..... nothing. Everythign that flows so gracefully from scene to scene while the characters are in my head stumbles and trips along like a poorly trained stiltwalker when I actually try to write it.

(sigh)

Tell me tell me tell me please tell me tell me.

*realizes she has embarrassed herself and leaves quietly the way she came*

Have you seen someone about these characters dancing in your head?

Well, to answer your question... There are basically two keys - and you seem to have the first - just write (type) the thoughts that come into your mind - don't try and pre-edit. This is one of the joys of word processors, that you can just let thoughts flow from your mind to your fingers. Thus what is fleeting and ephemeral (a thought) becomes real and tangible (writing). From your note, it seems you have this down pat.

Second, and this is most important, write about what you love - the things you feel most passionate about. Writing without passion is like driving a car constantly at the speed limit - unexciting.

But I have to admit writing a book (I'm working on others) is torture. With the main ingredients of solid material, the dish will taste incomplete without a pinch of masochism (was that a pun?) and a dash of self-sacrifice.

But this is child's play compared to trying to get the thing actually published on the manufactured cellulosic remnants of photosynthetic organisms (commonly called "paper"). The writing was a joy, a pleasure, a distraction, escape and delight. Getting it published was a serious grounding in reality. If you're interested I can offer details...

LOL at that last remark.

'Research master'? I hope this guy can live up to his name. I'd check out your book, sir, but I'm not much into geography or jungles, for that matter. Hope you enjoy it here. I've only been here a few days and I think it's great!

"In order to write well, you must write about what you know." A famous quote from someone-or-other.

Writing itself is fun. That's why I like to spend time on H2G2; it's like playing to me. I sit down and words just come to me. Most of it's crap, some of it's decent, and every now and then clever little descriptions just come to me and I feel like perhaps I have a little bit of talent somewhere. But writing a BOOK.... well, that takes discipline.

I wouldn't mind some tips on getting published. I currently have a children's story that's nearly done. Unfortunately, it lacks illustrations.

And to answer your quip, Mr. Cynic, some say that writing is a sign of madness..... Tee-hee. At least it's a socially acceptable one!!

Glad to see you're settling in . Beginning to welcome newcomers is always a good sign .

Sorry, but I had to make that joke. I don't think writing is a sign of madness but it can sure lead to it .

I guess Research Master left, probably off to write something that will knock our socks off! Anyone who's been to the Amazon has probably experienced a lot of interesting things.

We're not talking about the booksite, right? .

, no, that's not usually an interesting experience.

Erm, unless you like books, that is.....

I agree but at least it offers poor, 'umble writers like myself a chance to prove they HAVE actually written something - and hopefully something worthwhile. Who'd want to write a guide to www.amazon.com? That'd surely lead to madness, unless it already had a grip, which it might in order to write such a thing. Well, if you go to the link you shall see my tome in all its glory But it's not that glorious - just a practical travel guide to the Amazon River and rainforest, countries, people and natural history, etc. etc. - well, just go and take a look! Well, even published writers need sleep so this correspondence is closed for tonight. Perhaps we'll meet again, my new-found friends

just saying howdy. howdy

Hey RM, if you put a - in your smileys here, they come out all pretty! In case you didn't know. I look forward to your entries, sleep well.

amazon.com, for all its hellishness, is still far better than «shudders» mp3.com

Do you like books?

Not sure if you directed this question at me, but I'll answer it anyway.

I love books. I live, breathe, eat, and sleep books. I used to read fanatically. I will admit that I don't have the time for it that I used to. But they comfort me just by being around. I spent nearly four years working (for lousy pay) in an independent bookstore, and it was the happiest time in my life.

I love words, and the power they hold. Words have the power to heal, to divide, to unite. Words have moved whole nations. Words can make all our muddled little thoughts suddenly clear, or can cause us to doubt something in which we firmly believed.

Words are the gateway to the heart, to the mind, to the soul. I have books everywhere. On shelves, in boxes, lying about on tables. Once I read a book I want to own it so I can go back to it again and again. (The fact that I may never touch it again is not the issue; the issue is that I could, if I wanted to.)

So yes, I would say I like books.

Yes, this question was directed at you, billypilgrim, from Philadelphia (if I remember correctly), although anyone else can join in this particular conversation. I ask because you asked me about writing... and now I've had time to consider, I would add that as a third criterion - reading lots is the first step to being a good writer, not that I'd necessarily make that claim. (Being a published writer doesn't make one a good writer - a lucky one perhaps!) But I've read and read and read and then some... You see, I grew up in Africa, from the age of four to 18 and the distractions and diversions were few. Dad was a teacher, so we had many books, and we were encouraged to read, so I did. If I have any command of vocabulary, I would attribute it to this. I love books with a rare passion, and agree with your comments about words. Books are our way to access the minds of others, through their words.