[FM Discuss] Conference Sprints

[Edward Cherlin]

I would like to propose an ambitious event to be attached to various
conferences, where FM offers to work with anybody who brings in a
draft manuscript and is willing to put it under Free license. Here is
the outline.

o Publicize the event beforehand. Invite writers and software
developers to submit works in progress related to the subject of the
conference, or bring them to the event on physical media, such as USB
flash drives or CD-ROMS. Invite writers, editors, graphic artists,
etc. to join sprints. Don't forget to invite the geek and media media.

o Set up a virtual assembly line for uploading manuscripts to the FM
server; segmenting into chapters; applying initial formatting of
headers, code, and tables; conversion of graphics to PNGs and SVGs;
pull out keywords into a draft glossary, and whatever else we can do
without the authors. We would operate as needed before those planning
on physical attendance put down their tools to get ready to go to the
conference. Unless you can get WiFi on the plane, of course. ^_^
Remote participants can upload, clean, and start in whenever they
like.

o Set up an assembly line at the conference to accept manuscripts and
prepare them for later sprinting.

o Have Web pages ready for people to choose which sprints they would
like to participate in, populated as drafts become available for work.
Coordinate announcements during the conference.

o Run book sprints during the conference, and continue in parallel
with code sprints at events like Pycon.

o Put out a Web page and a press release about books completed at the
conference, with stats on early downloads and print sales, and a call
for assistance for books started but not ready for readers or
publishers.

o Invite publishers to discuss possible contracts with the authors on site.

o Offer publishers and software developers a conference special rate
on any book they decide they want to publish, to have FM finish it
within two weeks after the conference.

o Set up another assembly line for anybody wanting an ISBN and an
Amazon listing.

In doing this, we would have to be sure that we can supply enough
sprint management. Or we could decide how many sprints we can support,
and offer them on a first-come, first-served basis during the
conference, and figure out what to do with the overflow afterwards. Or
we can announce one or more conference-related themes for the sprint,
and limit participation to books within those themes.

Maybe somebody would be interested in providing a prize for the best
book completed at the conference, according to attendees or an expert
panel. Schedule a panel session of the winners.

We could also discuss with conference organizers the possibility of us
doing their proceedings volume on contract.

-- 
Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin
Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.
The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.
http://www.earthtreasury.org/