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

I've had the chance for the first time to really look at your Personal Space, Paul, and it's brilliant - it made me laugh out loud! Have you never tried to publish anything - except your Christmas Special? I think you should, but I've said it before. And I know, of course, that it's none of my beeswax.

Jab

I sent a children's book manuscript to 54 publishers. 53 rejected it. The one that accepted it was bankrupt within a year, and they never got far enough to actually publish it.

Some day, after I've retired and can devote more time to getting published, I'll try again. Getting your foot in the door takes a level of obsession that I'm too tired for right now. Sorry....

Such a shame, Paul. Foot in the door (easier if you know the right person or people) is the name of the game all right. I'd love to see a children's book by you...ah well, I'm in roughly the same boat, though I do manage to get some poetry published now and again, (mostly for no fee of course).

Jab

I keep all my writings (prose, poetry, drama, and lots of music) in a file cabinet. The other night, I dreamed that I went to Hollywood, and pushed *all* my files off the side of a mountain. I figured that some stray wind might blow my stuff into the hands of someone who might appreciate it. If not, at least it had a better chance than if it stayed in my file cabinet.

Sounds like a very logical dream to me, although there are other ways when you're awake...

Jab

That Hollywood dream had some wild and crazy stuff, even apart from the file cabinet caper. For instance, I dreamed about an actress who had incurred the wrath of critics for her last few movies. I dreamed I was watching her film her latest one (heck, I was so close, I was probably in the cast ), and admiring her good work.

Critics can really be unfair sometimes.

True, but that's a given which creative people have to try to overcome. It's in life's contract.

Jab

I'm a kindhearted soul who would stick with a performer I liked, regardless of the critics. Can you blame me?

Absolutely not, Paul. What's best for you is best for you. End of story - except for the critics who act like gatekeepers, deciding who (music or word, art or design) gets to the public, or gets into the shops, in the first place.

Jab