Upload
dru-lavigne
View
998
Download
3
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Presentation from 2009 Writing Open Source conference.
Citation preview
Dru LavigneEditor, OSBR
Writing Open Source, 2009
Fame, Fortune, and Technical Writing (not necessarily in that order)
Outline
I ntroduction
W e (community)
R ecognition
I nspiration
T hem (publishing)
E arn
Introduction
Based on my experience, YMMV
Background info:
● writing awards paid tuition (1980 - 1984)● curriculum developer since 1997● O'Reilly columnist 2000 - 2006● negotiating third book● founder of BSD Certification Group● BSD Guru blog since 2005● launched OSBR e-magazine in 2007
Introduction
● the rules of the writing game are changing, making it a great time to be a tech writer
● opportunities abound: zero barriers to entry, numerous free publicity methods
● how do you get noticed in a sea of info?
● how do you make money, or launch a career, when so much is available for free?
Answer: community
Community
Community? What about fame & fortune?
Common assumptions:
● noone gets paid to write docs for “free” software
● besides, if you're not a developer, you're a nobody in open source
Community Don't forget:● like it or not, writing is a collaborative activity (editors, proofreaders, critics)
● writing is a skill (use it or lose it)
● writing is an art (it needs to be explored)
● cream rises to the top (and gets paid)
Community provides: interaction, mentorship, opportunity, exposure
Community● open source is still a Wild West of missing and incomplete documentation
● enough work to last a life time or two!
● you get to pick your hours, language, what to write about and in what style
● it's all archived and searchable
● honed writing skills are an asset to any employer
Community Help fellow writers:● personal introductions to publishers, editors
● invitation to co-write an article or book chapter
● personal invitation to a docathon
● sponsorship to attend conference as press
● invitation as speaker to community conf
Community
Things I'd love to see:
● “Summer of Documentation”
● more docathons
● writing/marketing students contributing to projects as part of their studies
Recognition
Get your work (and your name) out there!
● vital if you're looking for writing contracts or envision a book in your future
● don't wait til work is “polished”, but always write your best
● be anal with grammar and spelling, even with casual works (email, blog posts)
● do your research (or it will bite you back)
Recognition
Write daily!
This allows you to:
● hone a craft while building a body of work
● define your style
● gain an audience
● find out what you like to write about, and whether you really do like to write
Recognition
No degree required...
● personal decision
● second language is an edge
● cultivate your grammar, spelling, research, and style skills
● the best way to learn to write well is to write (and to read good writing)
Recognition
You know you're out there when:
● work finds you
● you turn down more work than you accept
● you've become the “expert” on ______
RecognitionTools of the trade:
● blogs (personal, work, pet project)
● book reviews (Amazon, publishers)
● articles & how-tos (gratis or paid)
● review board of peer-reviewed journal
● write one chapter of a book
● contribute to online magazine
Inspiration
Writing is diverse--what interests you?
● curriculum development, training materials
● marketing, whitepapers, brochures
● news items, regular column
● product documentation, how-tos
● editing, translating
Inspiration
What do open source projects need?
● doc team members and leaders● man pages, tutorials, guides● articles, news in mainstream publications● whitepapers, brochures, artwork● forum leaders, bloggers● mailing list moderators and posters● press releases, events● website content
Inspiration
Don't have a pet project yet?
● what software do you use?
● what how-to notes have you kept?
● have friends who contribute to a project?
● local community tech-related effort?
Publishing
What publishers want to see:
● the size of your audience
● that your expertise is currently “hot”
● the scope of your work
● a well-thought out proposal
Publishing What you should know beforehand:
● for technical books, 10,000 copies is a “best seller”
● 3 months f/t (50+ hrs/wk) is considered fast
● a very small % of books gets promoted by mainstream publishers and small publishers have less resources
● publishing is a gamble--this is reflected in the contract
Publishing
What you should know beforehand:
● default is still Word template with no revision control--ask to gauge flexibility
● you will learn a lot working with your editor-- aim for daily feedback
● actively help the publisher in continued promotion
Publishing When reviewing that contract:
● who retains copyright?
● do you get distribution rights?
● translation rights and royalties?
● royalties for non-print distribution?
● keep in mind that no contract is ideal and there will be trade-offs
Publishing
Self-publishing:
● IMHO: use a big publisher for your first book, do what you want for the rest
● this establishes your reputation
● if first book is a hit, your bargaining power increases with that publisher
Publishing
Self-publishing may be better when:
● market is small or topic is more esoteric
● you're the expert in that market and your audience is aware of promotion avenues
● you want to cut out middle-man and control revenue cut, promotion, production
Earn
Consider your goals & priorities:
● is writing a hobby, desired career, or a means to an end?
● re-evaluate your volunteer to paid ratio every 6-12 months--is it shifting into your desired direction?
● if you're entering the field, expect to pay your dues (like university, but cheaper)
Earn
Define your version of success:
● expert in chosen niche● respect of peers● contributing back to community● adding to pool of knowledge● paying the bills● becoming a rockstar
Contact
Blog: http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/unix/bsd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsdevents
OSBR: http://www.osbr.ca
Contact: [email protected]