<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">In the interest of starting discussions, here goes:<div><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt">I
think articulating the goal is really important, as is defining our audience.
This is going to drive everything.</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"> </p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt">I've
briefly reviewed the excellent resources that already exist that people are
pointing us to and my first reaction is that:</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"> </p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-left:0.375in;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in">
<li style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt">We should start with the
assumption that good docs are good. We don't need to bend over backwards
articulating why.</span></li>
<li style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt">We don't need to train people
*how* to write good docs.</span></li>
<li style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt">We just provide really
excellent templates and guidance on how to apply them.</span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt">That
is going to be the most useful and the TL;DR option for folks who have a messy
open source project and want to bring it up to scratch. They're already
motivated to improve their docs.</p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"><br></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt">We could point people to other resources if they want to dive deeper into the whys and hows.</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"> </p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt">Things
like clarity, consistency, etc (the 5 C's) is something that most good tech
writers know, so why do we need to articulate this again? Are we teaching
folk to write? Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but teach a man
to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Are we teaching people to fish? I
wouldn't have thought so... I think we're just giving people fish templates.
OR, to strangle the metaphor further, giving people a baited<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt">line in a barrel full of fish. So they are far
more likely to succeed without having to learn to fish in the first place. </span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"><span style="font-size:11pt"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"><span style="font-size:11pt">So that's my first reaction. Happy to discuss further and I can't wait to see what everyone else thinks!</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"><span style="font-size:11pt"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"><span style="font-size:11pt">Cheers</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.375in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt"><span style="font-size:11pt">Felicity</span></p></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 10:22 PM Cameron Shorter <<a href="mailto:cameron.shorter@gmail.com">cameron.shorter@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<p>I'm feeling pretty special to be amongst a bunch smart tech
writers who are keen create a "writing templates" project (and a
quite a bit more).</p>
<p>Here is what I suggest we do next:</p>
<p>1. Over the next few weeks, lets start discussions on this
<a class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:SeasonOfDocs@lists.osgeo.org" target="_blank">SeasonOfDocs@lists.osgeo.org</a> email list.</p>
<p>2. Between us, lets articulate our vision. I suggest we bounce
ideas around on this list, and start collecting them into a Google
doc that we collectively edit. I've been getting inspired by each
of you on what this vision might be. We should think big, but make
sure our first goals are very achievable.<br>
</p>
<p>3. Are there any existing projects which we should join instead
of starting our own? <br>
</p>
<p>* Riona pointed to this project: <a href="https://github.com/kylelobo/The-Documentation-Compendium" target="_blank">https://github.com/kylelobo/The-Documentation-Compendium<br>
</a></p>
<p>* Stephanie pointed to:
<a class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://github.com/San-Francisco-Write-The-Docs/lone-writers-guide" target="_blank">https://github.com/San-Francisco-Write-The-Docs/lone-writers-guide</a> </p>
<p>Does anyone know the people behind these projects? We should
reach out to them. I'll be interested to hear thoughts on these
projects.</p>
<p>Lets discuss on email over the upcoming week. Next week, lets aim
to decide if we are to join an existing project or start our own.<br>
</p>
<p>4. I suggest we set up a meeting next week with those of us who
can make it. Maybe:</p>
<table class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442xpad gmail-m_3584686751867454442border2" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background:rgb(255,255,255);text-align:left;border:1px solid rgb(221,221,221);color:rgb(69,69,69);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">
<thead style="box-sizing:border-box;text-align:left"><tr class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442head" style="box-sizing:border-box">
<th style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:5px 9px;text-align:left">Location</th>
<th class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442sep" style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:5px 9px;text-align:left;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204)">Local Time</th>
<th class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442sep" style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:5px 9px;text-align:left;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204)">Time Zone</th>
<th class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442sep" style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:5px 9px;text-align:left;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204)">UTC Offset</th>
</tr>
</thead><tbody style="box-sizing:border-box">
<tr class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442c0" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:rgb(255,255,255)">
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/australia/sydney" title="Current local time in Sydney" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Sydney</a><span> </span><span class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442small" style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:12.6px">(Australia - New South Wales)</span></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">Tuesday, 2 July 2019 at
8:00:00 am</td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/aest" title="Australian Eastern Standard Time" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">AEST</a></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">UTC+10 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442c1" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:rgb(243,243,243);border-top:1px solid rgb(221,221,221);border-bottom:1px solid rgb(221,221,221)">
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/usa/austin" title="Current local time in Austin" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Austin</a><span> </span><span class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442small" style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:12.6px">(USA - Texas)</span></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">Monday, 1 July 2019 at
5:00:00 pm</td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/cdt" title="Central Daylight Time" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">CDT</a></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">UTC-5 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442c0" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:rgb(255,255,255)">
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/usa/new-york" title="Current local time in New York" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">New York</a><span> </span><span class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442small" style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:12.6px">(USA - New York)</span></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">Monday, 1 July 2019 at
6:00:00 pm</td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/edt" title="Eastern Daylight Time" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">EDT</a></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">UTC-4 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442c1" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:rgb(243,243,243);border-top:1px solid rgb(221,221,221);border-bottom:1px solid rgb(221,221,221)">
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/uk/london" title="Current local time in London" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">London</a><span> </span><span class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442small" style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:12.6px">(United Kingdom - England)</span></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">Monday, 1 July 2019 at
11:00:00 pm</td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/bst" title="British Summer Time" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">BST</a></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">UTC+1 hour</td>
</tr>
<tr class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442c0" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:rgb(255,255,255)">
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/france/paris" title="Current local time in Paris" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Paris</a><span> </span><span class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442small" style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:12.6px">(France - Île-de-France)</span></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">Tuesday, 2 July 2019 at
12:00:00 midnight</td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none"><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/cest" title="Central European Summer Time" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(85,107,181);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">CEST</a></td>
<td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.4em;vertical-align:top;border:none">UTC+2 hours</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>(I can do earlier or later.)<br>
</p>
<p>5. A few of you were wanting to get clarifications from your
organisations about open sourcing material. I suggest letting us
know how that progresses. This might help <a href="http://cameronshorter.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-open-business-business-case.html" target="_blank">http://cameronshorter.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-open-business-business-case.html</a></p>
<p>6. If we decide to start our own project, we will need to set up
web pages, project structure and so on. If we join an existing
project, we will likely need to help them do some of these things.
We can start in a week or two.</p>
<p>Okay, over to you. Please don't be shy - share your ideas and
suggestions, and lets get this vision nailed down.<br>
</p>
<div class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442moz-cite-prefix">On 25/6/19 9:09 am, Riona Macnamara
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Have you seen this? </div>
<br>
</blockquote>
<pre class="gmail-m_3584686751867454442moz-signature" cols="72">Cameron Shorter
Technology Demystifier
Open Technologies and Geospatial Consultant
M +61 (0) 419 142 254</pre>
</div>
</blockquote></div></div>