trainings, mentoring, conference organiser etc. [https://thom4.net]() • [@thom4parisot](https://twitter.com/thom4parisot) {.footer} @@@ ## dtc innovation a small **social innovation co-op**
we use web technologies for the greater good
Bordeaux • London • Montréal [dtc-innovation.org](https://dtc-innovation.org/) {.footer}
in 2017 September 12th 2017 • [Write the Docs][] {.footer} [Write the Docs]: http://writethedocs.org/conf/eu/2017/ @@@ # Writing a _technical_
book in 2017 September 12th 2017 • [Write the Docs][] {.footer} [Write the Docs]: http://writethedocs.org/conf/eu/2017/ @@@ # A _developer_
_writing_ a book
printed on _paper_ in an open source way @@@ ## A journey about
a *web developer* and
a *book publisher*. Not so much about how painful it is to write an actual 300 pages book.
Watch [What I learned writing a lousy tech book][] (WTD 2014). {.footer} [What I learned writing a lousy tech book]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1L2SgQuv6Q @@@ ## Context • Writer Experience •
Community Engagement •
Modular Tooling •
Publisher
Fancy a book about Node.js?## Publisher:
Sure, send me an ODT in 6 months!@@@  ~~~~ At that stage, we have a publisher, a working title. @@@ ## What does it mean,
to “write a book”? @@@ ~~~~ Back in 2009… @@@  @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ ## Me:
Okay but…… can I do it the **developer way**? (like on GitHub and everything?) ## Publisher:
Sure, send me an ODT in 6 months!
Community Engagement •
Modular Tooling •
Publisher @@@ ## **Playful** Learning by doing, fully working examples. @@@ ## **Friendly** No assumption on who the reader is, close to the common language. @@@ ## **Open** To read online, to contribute, to review. @@@ ## What does it mean,
to “write text as code”? @@@ ```sh git clone https://github.com/thom4parisot/nodebook ``` @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ ## _Comfortable_ writing editor @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ ## ~~Developing~~ Writing in the open @@@ @@@ @@@
**Community Engagement** •
Modular Tooling •
Publisher @@@ ## _Failed_ attempts Nights + week-ends, part time, etc. ~~~~ Reminder: writing long form is strenuous (at least for me). @@@ ## Nomadic writing residency _Writing_ in trains, _visiting_ friends and _learning_ from peers. @@@  @@@  @@@  @@@ ## _Meetups_ Reality Checks Each crowd as their own problems, own culture, own focuses. @@@  @@@ ## _Energy_ management Writing is strenuous. Being alone helps. Being with friends helps too. @@@ 
Community Engagement •
**Modular Tooling** •
Publisher @@@ ## Writing Code @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ ## Code _quality_ for free @@@ @@@ ## GitHub view is not enough @@@ @@@ ## _Building_ the book Publisher:
Where is my ODT file?
Me: Wait, building it in HTML first!
Community Engagement •
Modular Tooling •
**Publisher** @@@ ## Publishers are good at _publishing_ Sourcing authors • Styling ODT files • Sending to printer • Shipping to stores • Payroll and taxes @@@ ## Editors can be good at GitHub @@@ @@@ @@@ ## Good at _books_ @@@ @@@ ## Less good at _dealing with content_ @@@ @@@ @@@ ## Old-school publishers _sucks_?