[FM Discuss] Conference Sprints

[Edward Cherlin]

On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 01:06, adam hyde <adam at flossmanuals.net> wrote:
> hey
>
> Its a good idea and something close (sans publisher and competitive
> elements since I'm not sure those are so necessary) to what might be
> coming up next year with the help of Minna. Minna is involved in the
> Finnish FM and we discussed the possibility of getting some $ together
> to do an FM event and your ideas would be a good start Ed.
>
> Can I bring you into the preliminary discussions with Minna?

Certainly.

> adam
>
>
>
> On Sat, 2009-12-05 at 15:44 -0800, Edward Cherlin wrote:
>> 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.
>>
>
>
> --
> Adam Hyde
> Founder FLOSS Manuals
> German mobile : + 49 177 4935122
> Email : adam at flossmanuals.net
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>
> "Free manuals for free software"
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-- 
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/