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

(ok.. so I couldn't go back to my flat straight away.. I had to waste some time first.. so I'll reply and then go back to my flat. )

Yeah.. well, it's not quite that simple.. I'll need to find somewhere appropriate to live first, and that isn't easy.

.. groovy!.. so.. do you have any idea what the chances of your being accepted soonish are, or.. is it as touch-and-go a process as it is for factual books? (one of my parents wrote several books about racquet sports and found getting published hard. Mind you, he isn't the most.. ah.. good-a person at getting things done)..

.. you're quite welcome to the floor. I have a tiny, tiny room in southampton, with a kitchen that I hardly ever go near (shared between 6 other people). It's not exactly the most appealing prospect.

How about we rent a house and fill it with society's lost and rejected souls? .. (not to intimate that you constitute the above, but I certainly do..)

.. I don't know what to say, really. I suppose that's my way of implying that I understand. .. what day in july? (*19 in july also*)

- Njan

I am 19 on the 17th of July.

Me = typical Cancerian.

I quite like that idea of a "Lost Souls" house. Have you read the Poppy Z Brite book of that title? It's very good. I certainly AM a Lost Soul. No close family whatsoever, no close friends, forever destined to meander the earth, with books in my pocket and inky fingers...

I have to get an agent first, which is the nerve wracking thing. So far I have a list of six that I would like. The drawback of this is that you can only apply one at a time. I don't even want to touch on publishers yet, mainly because, (if you look at my journal) you'll see I am only about 15 chapters through the final draft (before pro. editing). Therefore I would need an advance to get it finished, and publishers are already dodgy these days with new writers and giving out money...so I need an agent. All one big complicated furore. I kind of know what I'm doing. It's more about creating the perfect impression, and getting the contracts signed. Couldn't care less about the agents fee.

This book has taken SO long to get together. I started it when I was 15, and didn't really know what I was doing. Then about 3 months ago, I purged all my notes into the bin, and started to redraft. I must admit, the synopsis does make it sound pretty darn cool. Although the story seems bland because I've had to see it over and over and over and over...

I'll be happy to see it go, My second will be done SO fast in comparison.

Anyway, that's enough of me babbling on...I hope you get your living stuff sorted out. They sound like abhorrant people. Tell you what. If I get my advance, I'll come and rent a flat near your uni (I should go and look at your userspace properly now to fund out where you are) and you can share with me. I'll make sure you can afford it. That way you can leave those horrible people to their own excreta!

ah.. I'm the 8th. I have a feeling that we may have had the july birthday discussion before.. it sounds familiar. (my dear father was born on the 18th)

I haven't read the book, no.. however, I did just look up the plot synopsis online, and it's been mentally added to the list of books that at some point, I'll have to read.

The word meandering seems operative there; the image it seems to conjour up is rather nice, and represents quite nicely what I'd like to be doing right now. I've just spent an hour doing exactly that - meandering from one side of the city to the other (far be it from a poor student to take the bus, even if he does get bus travel for free) and it's a thought-provoking thing to do. Meandering a planet over the course of a lifetime would almost certainly have interesting results. (Having said that, the results of my having been thought-provoked aren't particularly good; I'm now both loath to go back into my flat (having walked past two of my flatmates on the way, both of whom strategically ignored me) and I.. ah.. well, I'm a strange person, I think strange things. *mental strangeness* . I've ended up going to another university computer room to avoid being alone with myself, because I don't think that it would be a very good idea right now. (I /know/ that it wouldn't, in point of fact).

I see. *nods*.. so you write to agents, or are interviewed, or both? (why only applying to one at the same time?)

.. right now, that's really a rather appealing idea.

- Njan

I reckon you need to move out. Doesn't sound like a healthy atmosphere. Trust me, I give GOOD advice. Had a good read of your userspace, so I will move down to Southampton if I get my advance and save you!
smiley

I had a feeling that we had the birthday conversation before. But I had forgotten, so it didn't much matter to me

I believe the process of agent-ing goes thus. You write a dazzling letter, accompanied by a thrilling synopsis and two-three sample chapters. You then wait approximately three hundred years. They then write back saying "YOU'RE SH*TE" in very large letters. You then move on. If however they send you a letter that starts "We would be happy to..." then I believe a meeting is set up, you travel down to their office (usually in London) and do business things, elaborate on career path, and generally charm them to your wiley ways. They then go off, and talk to publishers, or other people who will publish your work, and send you back a nice cheque with money. Afterwards, all work is sent through agent to other people, and all cash comes back through them (usually about 10% agent charge deducted).

The only-submitting-to-one-at-a-time is basic manners. It's considered rude if you chase more than one at a time. Allegedly. So I'm starting with my second choice, but biggest company, with a 10% fee. My first choice is JK Rowlings agent. Not chosen because of that abismal woman, but because a lesser known writer, Rebbecca Ray (I think I left her out of my Library...eek...) is on their books. She inspired me with the knowledge that you can be young and be published.

What else. Many complications. I just want the cash. I'm actually going to put in a few hours tonight seeng as I haven't done anything today...unfruitful busy-ness.

Don't think of yourself as strange. You strike me as being quite nice actualy!

Ooh ooh. Look. I decided to write a "proper" Guide Entry at A879645 . At least, that's the first draft not-quite-finished one anyway. Havealookandtellmewhatyouthink...

It's 3:30am. I should be in bed.

not bad. *nod*.. though editors tend not to like simple listings of things (unless they're very much a small proportion to the rest of the article), so you may want to write more (I guess that you intend to do this anyway) or incorporate the list into your breakdown of the tracks (assuming that you intend to write about them individually). Yeah. Just a thought. (as a side note, the reason I refuse to participate in peer review is because I don't really feel that it's my place to suggest additions to other peoples work, so forgive me if I'm spouting rubbish. )

.. *envisages flat-hiring superhero and laughs*

Ooh golly. Forgot all about that. Yep, going to add bits and stuff. I was more concerned about how it was coming across, thats all. Once the track breakdown is put in, I'll get rid of the listing at the top.

.. then it has the lookings of a /fine/ article about it. (to be pronounced in the same method as "the remains of a fine woman about her" from the pirates of penzance)

*will most certainly read with relish when done. And maybe some ketchup.*

Well I hope so. I'm trying to make it not too long but detailed enough to get it onto Edited status. I held back for a while in contributing because I wanted it to be really good. In retrospect, I'm glad I did. And my writing isn't half bad either.

What's the difference between relish and ketchup?

relish (in this sense) is either fruity gunk (akin to really cheap mango chutney) or a cheap rip off of pickle. Depending upon whether you're talking about burgers or sandwiches (particularly ploughmans sandwiches), it manifests different. *nods sagely*

.. your writing's good. .. did you see one of my entries made the front page the other day?

Really? Which one?

I think I *did* know what relish was. Thinking about it.

The thing about my writing, is that I am shockingly self-conscious about it. I'm convinced I'm rubbish at it, and then when I do believe it's good, I want it to be the best. Hence why I want it to be Edited, *and* on the Front Page. I blame the English Department at my secondary school for this worrying drive. Have to be the best. Hence why I'm not even *considering* submitting it until I've had temporary opinions and praise and it is perfect...

*pursuit for perfection*

Thankyou for the compliment. I do like them y'know! I work hard on that side of things, so I feel free to expand my ego and get stuck in doorways

for njan

Do you think I should come to the London meet? I've been taking a look at the info. It's a bit of a way for me to go, but I have family to stay with if worst comes to the worst.


*is thinking about it*

Yeah! .. y'never know, if you can pry me away from nyssa, you may even be able to have a conversation with me.

I'm not too sure. Especially as Nyssa is implying that she will seduce me !!

*disturbed*

I'm not sure right now. Shall think about it some more.

well, put it this way.. what's the worse that could happen?

I end up being drugged, and waking up hog-tied and naked in the back of a truck on the way to Czechoslovakia.

That's the Czech Republic, to you. .. and the truck'll be going to Karlovy Vary, for the record.

Czech Republic? Pure semantics my friend...

Who will be driving the truck?

.. tell that to the Slovakians.

Oh, whichever minion we pick for the task. *puts feet up*

Oh...well...I don't think I'll be coming then. If it isn't a skilled driver, I wouldn't feel comfotable.