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

Hi Jims (I know you'll not be reading this until on or after the 22nd)

Thanks for your previous advice on The Sharpe Entry, it's coming along now, slowly, but surely now I have another question reguarding it.

I've added a couple of historical notes, by using [these] (don't know what they're called) and I'm intending to add some more, before I do so, could you tell me if it's okay to use [these] in Entries intended for the EG?

In case you want to see what I mean A5212874

Emmily

Hi Emmily, good to hear from you again.

On the whole, I'd advise against using square brackets for that kind of thing, simply because it can end up looking a little clumsy. Also, the text might look better simply added to the relevant section as either a fotnote or just as an additional line. For example:

"It was an unusual event for an officer to be raised from the ranks, only around 5% of officers were from the ranks"

... could be added to the previous paragraph by writing it as:

"It's worth noting that it was an unusual event for an officer to rise through the ranks like this; only around 5% of officers were from the ranks."

Cheers Jims

I'll add them to the main text as suggested. They'll be more scope for military facts once I've finished the novels and moved on to the TV Series; they had a military adviser on the set, so I'll save most of the facts for that Entry.

Emmily

Hi Jims,

I'm a little concerned that the Sharpe Entry (A5212874) may be too long, it’s over 5,000 (5,510) words, and I’ve missed out Harper’s wife, can’t have Harper with no woman, so I’ve still a short paragraph to add.

Do I need to shorten it, will it be split into two entries? I can’t see how that can be done.

Emmily

Might it be possible to incorporate Harper's wife into the section on Harper? I don't know the books so i don't know how major she is (ie, even if she's in every story, does she influence the plot in any way?).

It looks great though, and the length doesn't bother me.

Yes, I intend to put Isabella in Harper's section

Harper, along with Sharpe is in every novel and where Sharpe has a woman in every book, sometimes two or more, Harper has just one throughout: Isabella, so I would like to include her.

You say the length doesn't bother you, but I'm not convinced that it won't get chopped in the Editing process, I'll see if I can shorten it.

Emmily