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

Hello, hope you had an enjoyable Xmas Day. I have just finished reading your entry concerning people who care for others in the community. It's an extremely well structured piece of work and covers the whole role of the carer very well. Carers are often very dedicated individuals who are required to make an enormous amount of sacrifices, on both physical and emotional levels. It’s a demanding role, sometimes chosen but often thrust upon people unexpectedly, and still under valued and forgotten about in our society. I'm glad you are bringing this subject to people’s attention.

Well done for getting this entry into the guide.

Hi Foggy

I hope you had a good Xmas Day too . I'm so pleased you liked the entry about carers. I haven't written too many entries so far and each one has been something of a learning curve. This one seemed to generate a little emotion in some people and for that reason I thought of deleting it at one point. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.

Its always a little surprising to come across someone who has some understanding of this subject, so I was wondering if you have any experience in this area? This can be a personal area of someone's life so of course you don't need to respond if you prefer not to.

I hope the festive season is going well for you and look forward to reading some new entries of yours on GW soon.

Hi back,

Snap. I had thought exactly the same thing about you. I have no personal experience in this area but I've known a few people who have. I expect my thoughts are based on their experiences, things I've seen and read and just my own assumptions of what I believe it would be like.

Yes, it would bring out a lot of feelings in people, but you write well, so don't ever lose confidence and delete your work. Stay with it! There are lots of folk around here you can turn to for advise or help, and that of course includes me.

Look forward to reading more of your work too.

Foggy

You have found me out Foggy, yes I am a carer . I don't think I would write on this subject for the guide if I didn't have any personal experience.

My motivation for writing this entry came from another carer's space here on H2G2. A 17 year old lad had written apologising for his conduct on H2G2 explaining it was due to the stress of taking care of his mother, as well as the limitations it placed on his personal life. I hope if he is still around on H2G2 he has read this entry and realises he is not the only person facing his predicament and there are others he can talk to, especially through the links in the entry.

Thanks for saying I write well BTW . I've always found it easier to write in an essay type style, but I'm also attempting to get one or two creative pieces together for GW. So, you may find me taking you up on that offer of help and advice some time

Have a good day

Incatatus

Hi again. Well I don't know if your knowledge of this subject is based on personal or professional experience, but whichever, it's certainly a worthy one to cover. Often we are motivated to write about the things which either affect or interest us. Caring must evoke a whole range of powerful emotions and I also hope the young lad you mentioned comes back. Maybe if he reads your entry he will realize there is a support frame there willing to help him work through some of his feelings.

Really looking forward to reading your fictional entries. Don't ever feel that just because you are writing in an essay type style for the EG it isn't creative. The EG is a much more rigid forum to write for, but I still felt your were able to inject your own creative style into the basic facts.

As well as posting in GW you can also post fictional work in the AWW on h2g2 - which is where most of my work is written. Anyway, that's something you might wish to consider.

Foggy

I read 'Out of the Darkness' yesterday. A very sobering and poignant story especially knowing it was based on facts. I remember the events well and how the West was heavily criticised for doing nothing. Thankfully there was your other tale to brighten my mood, 'The Emporer's New Clothes'. It has to be a classic piece of satire . It was so funny! I'd really like to see that published somewhere, I think almost everybody would enjoy reading it. A great,great fun story! Thanks for writing it and making me laugh!

I'm glad you mentioned AWW in your last message. The Underguide perhaps interests me more than the EG as it seems to offer more potential. I will be thinking how I can utilise this.

Hello Thanks for reading through more of my work. I really enjoy writing the work with some humour in it. I do have another fairy tale story you might enjoy reading sometime if you need a bit of a laugh. It is A27535525 and it's a story based on Snow White.

How long have you been writing? I started stringing a few sentences together in March and I'm really enjoying the experience.

I think you would enjoy writing for the AWW. It doesn't work in quite the same way as GW (I expect you have followed the thread on that subject) but it has plenty to offer for creative writers. I believe you would fit in very well there - and would soon feel at home.

Foggy

Sorry, blonde moment! If you ever did want to read the Snow White entry it is A2735525

Foogy

Hello! Happy New Year
Hope you have a great one!

Foggy

Happy New Year to you too I hope it will be a very happy and fulfilling one for you

I haven't got round to reading your other story yet but with luck I'll find time for that later this evening. I'll let you know what I think a little later.I may even find time to have a good look around AWW. First though back to scribbling! See you later

Incatatus101

Ah so thats what really happened to Snow White! I'll never believe what I read in those cheap tabloid fairy story books again . I'm off for some fuit and nut so if you don't hear from me for a while you'll know why.

If you've wondered where almost everyone on GW have disappeared to this link is my best bet. http://groups.msn.com/GetWriting/_homepage.msnw?&pps=k
I thought I'd mention it because I'm sure you and your writing would get a warm reception there.

That was a great story BTW, hilarious! I can't imagine where you get the ideas from.

Incatatus101

Hello Incatatus > Glad you enjoyed the story. I have no idea where I get my ideas from either; I guess my unconscious is busy working overtime at the moment. I was originally inspired to write by a painting I saw in a gallery, and although it was only a few short months ago I seem to have moved a long way along the creative path since then.

Thanks for mentioning the new GW link, I'll check it out very soon.

Keep the scribbling up.

Foggy

Hi Foggy

How have you been these last few days? I thought I'd let you know my entry on Carers is on the Front Page today. Its the first time I've been there so I'm a little pleased with myself

I was interested to learn you had inspiration from a painting in a gallery, it fascinates me where ideas spring from. I was also fascinated to hear you've been writing for less than a year. I think this goes to show it must be a natural ability of yours. I've been working on a piece for a while and its been like pulling out teeth , and I suspect its very 6th form stuff if you know what I mean.

Hope the ideas keep coming for you and I'll be checking out your space for a good read

Incatatus101

Hi back! Congratulations!!! It's great to see you on the front page. It really is a well written entry, I'm sure a lot of blood, sweat and tears went in to producing such a high standard piece of work, and you have every reason to feel proud of yourself. I've left a little comment there for you also.

Yes, it's funny how the painting inspired me. I was just sitting on a bus one afternoon thinking about it - and kind of felt compelled to sit down and write about my feelings as soon as I got home. I hardly had time to get my coat off, lol. Then a couple of weeks later I found h2g2 and submitted it as my first entry.....

I know what you mean about pulling teeth. Sometimes I sit for ages and struggle to find the right words to express myself or nothing comes at all. Even so, I believe even when you are struggling and feel you are getting nowhere the process is still working inside of you. What you need to say will eventually come to you.

It can be a bit scary putting out creative stuff for others eyes to see - but keep working on your piece of writing. I'm sure you have the ability - just build on that belief..........

Foggy

Just a quick hello! Haven't seen you around for a few days. Hope everything is well with you. How's the writing coming along?

Hi Foggy

Sorry its taken me so long to reply, as you said I haven't been around H2G2 for a little while. So much to do and so little time to do it in . Things are fine here and I hope you can say the same.

The writing is coming along ok-ish . I was working on a fictional piece based around chaos magick until it became very obvious I don't have enough knowledge of the subject! I've put that aside for now and I'm working on something else at the moment. It will take me a while to complete but I may post a section of it soon to see what people think.

How is your writing coming along? Are you working on more fairy stories or have you diversified a little? I came across a French author sometime ago who wrote in a kind of fairy story way and your work reminded me of this. Unfortuantely I can't remember his name which is really frustrating because I think you might enjoy reading some of his stuff.

I will have to go and rack my brains now, and will tell you his name if it comes to mind.

Bye for now

Incatatus101

Hello Incatatus Good to see you here! I don't know anything about chaos magick but I see there are plenty of web sites on the subject. Maybe you can find the information there to give you the confidence to finish your story. I tend to do a bit of research - even for fiction. I just had a quick look at one of the chaos magick sites, it appears a very interesting subject - so hopefully you'll go back to it.

I've just finished a story called The Witness - it was quite a sensitive subject to portray. I'm currently working on another fiction, it will probably take a little while to finish, but so far, so good.

Would love to know who the French writer is. I haven't written any more fairy tales but The Emperor's New Clothes has made it into the UG - so its all polished and ready for the front page. (UG entries are usually on a Friday, but not sure when mine will be there).

I've also joined the first two para's group over at GW - run by The Fat Gardener - so all in all I've been quite busy.

Any more thoughts about writing for AWW?

Foggy,

Hi Foggy

I've just finished reading The Witness. A very powerful piece of writing. As a male I felt distinctly uneasy reading how grotesque some men's actions can be,their abuse of women and their need to impose power over others. (Apparently, as you may know, rape is about that power thing and not about sex). All this is part of the compulsion of the piece though.

Years ago I took a course in literary theory and remember something about resistance reading. This is when a male author creates a work of fiction with a male central character, and how a woman reads this kind of story, ie she has to place herself in this male world. In The Witness you have completely turned this round and forced the male reader to be placed firmly in a female world. Perhaps for instance a little like Alice Walker does in 'The Color Purple'.

I don't really want to say this is a good or poor piece of writing because it goes beyond that, but it is the kind of piece that dwells in the readers thoughts. Its fascinating actually how you can go from this kind of writing to the fairy story based pieces with that edge they have and their tongue in cheek humour. I think in some ways this work could be given even greater potency if it was given a particular context, perhaps within a wider story or setting. In the book 'Leaving Las Vegas' for example there's a brutal attack on the main female character and because the reader knows so much about her its that much more brutal.

I hope you don't mind me saying so much about this piece (or sounding like a know all!) but I suspect its just the nature of the story and you may have to wade through lots of similar stuff after more people have read it. Sorry about the references to books too . I'm slightly obsessed with them though

Well, I'm off for a nice cuppa tea and will be back with more meanderings in a mo. See you then.

Hello again Foggy

Just thought I'd Whet my whistle before replying a bit more to your last message.

The choas magick sites have been very helpful and I've learnt a lot. Its quite a diverse subject though and I'm trying to get to grips with the mindset of it all too. I'll get there in the end I expect

I've been trying to remember the name of the French author I mentioned but it just won't come to me I'm afraid. I've looked through Amazon.com to see if I could find the book there but with no luck. Its was a bit stupid giving you half the info and not being able to provide the rest!

I'm glad you've joined the two paras group. By coincidence I've joined the 60 word challenge which is a bit more my style as I try to be concise with my use of words (unlike these postings I'm afraid). Good luck and it will be interesting to know what the seasoned GW-ers make of your contributions. They're usually quite constructive with their help and support though I believe. Have you noticed there are a number of members setting up other sites elsewhere now that GW is closing? I hope they don't spread themselves out too thinly and lose touch.

I was really pleased to hear The Emporers New Clothes is making its way to the front page of H2G2. It deserves to be there and I'm looking forward to hearing what people make of it. It really made me laugh so I want others to read it too .

Time to get on with some more creative writing whilst my brain has some life in it this evening . The Witness is a very potent piece of writing, and once again congrats on The Emporers New Clothes heading for the Front Page . I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing it there.

Incatatus101

Hi Foggy

Just a quick hello after my last two lengthy messages

I'm a little concerned I may have made an indelicate remark or two about your story The Witness, possibly because it is such a sensitive subject matter to write about and respond to. I feel it would be very easy to say something out of place about it, so I hope I haven't upset or offended you. I find this such a sensitive area that I don't think it would be wise to say too much more about it.

I hope all is well and your writing is coming along as you'd like it to. Good luck with the 2 para challenge, and hope you're having a good weekend