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

Hello Sadi,

It's your friendly Miner from the UnderGuide Spynxxx here, though today it is in another capacity.

I don't know if you're aware of the pending h2g2 Presidential election but I wanted to drop by and ask for your support. Not for me mind you, but instead for The Ozark Party and our candidates for office.

As the party has the full and official endorsement of The UnderGuide, it's miners and eds, it behoves writers such as yourself to stand behind this most worthy campaign. I am specifically targeting those writers that I feel have a real force, folks such as yourself who's writing is the lifeblood of this site.

Our nominees to the office of President are Hypatia, a fine writer and poet and an altogether beautiful human being. And as her running mate we have Jodan, our own Chief Editer and as fine a fellow as can be found here.

Please, take a moment to view the Ozark Party Platform here at A1341109. You will quickly see that this is a serious endeaver and one which merits serious consideration.

If these values are in tune with your own, please, drop by the Hypatia for President Campaign Headquarters located at A5645531 and pledge your support. Thank you for your time and consideration.

And on an off note, I'm looking forward to reading some more of your work down in the AWW soon. You have such style and grace in your work and it is always a pleasure to read. And please, don't become discouraged if it looks like a lack of commenting going on. You are being read, and as you've already found the fast lane to the UG, that Front Page exposure puts you in front of a lot of folks.

Spynxxx
Deputy Campaign Director/Hypatia for President

Just an update on the political scene. Voting has officially begun and will last till October 8th.

Ballots will be cast via email, information as to how and where can be found at A5889261.

As this is an instant runoff, I ask that you please make Hypatia your #1 selection, though you needn't vote for more than one person if you so choose. Besides, if you vote Hypatia you can't go wrong.

Thank you for your time and consideration as this is a most important process and well worthy of your attention.

Spynxxx

Hi Spynxx:

I'd be happy to lend my support: sorry not to respond sooner. I was away in France, but yes, you have my full support for the project any and all editors. I will go to the link to lend my full support.

As to your other comments on my work well, gosh, i'm so happy to hear that. I do get a bit discouraged since i don't feel my pieces have gotten so far; a lot seem to have fallen by the wayside, but perhaps i'm wrong or missed something, but i'm still trying... Must just keep doing my best. Do you think it's time to submit something new or is it too soon?

Off i go, but do advise...

be well, and i'll go to the link and lend my support. Also, feel free to use this as well.

Cheers,

Sade

Nothing to be sorry about Sade. If anything I'm sorry I wasn't in France as well if for no other reason than to have coffee and croissants at a Parisian street corner cafe. A little slice on paradise that, one of life's simple pleasures

Thanks for your support. You've been added to the list of loyal supporters on the headquarters page and glad we are to have you. Don't forget, voting ends this Friday so please, submit your vote via email if you haven't already done so.

On the submissions front, please, don't be discouraged. We are few of number and high of standard in the UnderGuide and with only four entrys on the front page in a month things do seem slow at times. I will say this, 'Waltz XO' holds the honor of going from submission to being chosen in record time, a record that most likely will remain forever as rules were bent just to assure that it got in on that rounds picks!

Why just last round a piece was chosen after being around for almost two years. Obviously it seems that the wait is sometimes interminable but their are guidelines that must be followed but rest assured, my eye is on every piece that comes through bearing your mark and I do have my eye on one you've already submitted...it just takes time.

Off I go for today, but I'll pop back tommorrow to post a bit more and bounce a couple ideas around with you. Till then.

Spynxxx
(or simply Brad)

hey Spynxxx...

send me the email address and i'll submit my vote right away and thanks for the other encouraging words... i'm doing my best and delighted that Waltz XO was chosen. Should i still submit poetry? just curious. none has been taken yet and i'm never sure of when/how much to submit. i don't want to seem like i'm overwhemling people but i have newer pieces etc.

My one issue is that i often write in the first person, so i need to make adjustments in my style...

send me email and i'll send my vote! OR, if you need my private email let me know. we'll sort out a way to get this to you...

thx....

sade...

never mind. voted and sorted it out (durr, so stupid of me to not see the obvious... typical, though new specs help me to see better ... terrible vision).

Thanks again and my vote is off!

Cheers and thanks again for all the good words of encouragement!

rock on... and let me know if there is anything you are interested in using. i'd be thrilled.

off i go!

And I'm back

OK, as far as letting you know if we're 'interested' in a particular piece that is something you will find out only if said piece is chosen.

And there's the ticklish part, the choosing. So many fine submissions and only so many miners to do the choosing, coupled with the fact that we only pick for one week out of each month it can sometimes be a long time for entries to achieve full UnderGuide status.

Have you done any reading yourself in the Alternative Writing Workshop? Comments on some of the works there by someone with your talent and background would be greatly appreciated, by the authors as well as the miners. Don't worry, it's an open playing field and everyone benefits from good crit or even just a "hey, I liked your story/poem/etc..."

Of course there is the option of becoming a miner yourself, though it is not something entered into lightly. Not that we're hardcore or snobbish in any way, shape or form. We simply try to do the very best for both the UnderGuide and the authers who submit their efforts at all times. Something to consider if you're so inclined.

As to the 'when to submit' question, thats really up to you. Personally, I'd pop something new in every week if I had that much material though I'd save my best stuff for entry at the end of the month. As we start the picking process beginning with the first Friday of each month this puts its right under the miners noses at the optimal time, sort of like what the networks do for sweeps week

Well that's enough for today. Try a bit of commenting if you feel like it and think about the possibilities and I'll chat with you a bit later.

Spynxxx

Hi Spynxxx..

'Sorry it's taken me so long to get back; i've been away and then pulling sixty hour work weeks and the like so not much time leftover!

i WILL visit the UG and leave comments. It's really been an issue of time. Being a miner would be fun but i don't think i would have the time and it might defeat the purpose of my joining, which is to find a home for my own work and to discourse/talk/chat with other writers and read their stuff, but i fear if i were a miner, i would not be able to do my own writing. I already am editor for several poetry journals and then i work for teleread.org as well and blogcritics, so things are pretty hectic between all of that and a day job too... it's almost too much (plus my own site, etc etc)

Life is busy: i'd love to be a miner or a scout though - how many hours a week is it and does it preclude my own work from getting published? i'm more on the writerly end than on the publisher end of things just now, having played both sides, so let me know.

Anyway, do be in touch; i've been out of touch for too long and have missed regular contact with various people, you included.

Paris, though, was and is lovely as ever.

sade

All work and no play as the saying goes

Glad to see you back sade. I know how work can swallow whole days at a time, you wake up on Monay morning and by the time you get to lay your head back down it's Friday night!

Let me answer your questions about mining up front. There is no limits on how or when you comment in the AWW. Period. It's a come as you are, when ever the mood strikes kind of gig, totally low key and no pressure in nature. The only thing which is sort of required is to cast your votes begining with the first Friday of each month for whichever two pieces you feel are of high enough calibre to be included in the UnderGuide.

If you feel like commenting then you do, if you don't you don't, simple as can be. Personally I have not been active in commenting for a bit as my muse has seemingly gone on strike and I'm negotiating for a return to duty even now. Nobody is fretting it as its just the way we are, easy going.

And there is NO preclution to your own work being published if you become a miner. As a matter of fact some of the best stuff in the UnderGuide comes from the ranks of the miners, and that only makes sense when you consider that we try to recruit only the best and brightest to join our ranks. Who knows quality better than those capable of producing such themselves. I myself have chosen many such works by my bothers and sisters in arms, and each was fully deserving of that honor.

Oh, and all of our 'official' miner work is done offsite so as to keep it legite and out of the public eye. Lots of room to express opinions in such an enviroment without stepping on toes don't you know.

Like I siad, if the thought of joining intriques you give the commenting a try, and check out the commenting on other threads in the AWW just to see how it works. Pinniped is a top notch miner (well he's really part of the editorial staff now) and the UnderGuide archievist as well not to mention one of the sites finest writers. Peek at a few of his posts and you'll get the idea of what we're looking for in a hurry.

Internet Explorer locked up on me so I was forced in to sending or losing. Anyways, I think you'll get the general idea from what I've written already.

Please, remember that this is all about enjoyment and I certainly wouldn't want you to take on anything like this if you've already got a full plate, the fact that you contribute such beautiful pieces already is enough to earn our gratitude. And this is not a limited time offer, no need to rush a decision on that account, I just wanted to put it out there for you to consider.

I'll look forward to chatting agin soon. Till then take care and try not to work so many hours, lifes to short

Spy