WTD Ottawa Shopify Meetup

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Write the Docs Ottawa and Shopify are pleased to invite you for an evening of socialization, networking, and talks. Come out to meet your fellow documentation enthusiasts, including developers, technical writers, customer support, and anyone else who cares about supporting great experiences with software.

WRITING DAY ACTIVITY: INTRO TO OPEN SOURCE

For this edition, we'll be presenting a very special writing activity inspired by Google's Season of the Docs, an initiative to help bring the open source and technical writing communities together.

https://developers.google.com/season-of-docs/

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

As part of this edition, we'll have a presentation about Google'sSeason of the Docs. What is the program all about, how can you get involved and how does the stipend work ? All these questions and more will be answered by the lovely Angela Counter. After the presentation, Andrew Johnston will lead on an activity inspired by Write the Docs writing days and lightning talks.

https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/portland/2018/writing-day/

http://www.writethedocs.org/conf/portland/2018/lightning-talks/

Using Tom Johnson's informative blog post about finding an open source project, we'll break into teams and work independently to find interesting projects that need documentation. At the end of this research / fact-finding phase, each team will nominate a presenter to give a brief lightning talk on the projects that were uncovered and any additional relevant information. The goal is to connect individuals with open source projects that they are excited and passionate about.

https://idratherbewriting.com/learnapidoc/docapis_find_open_source_project.html

LOGISTICS

Please bring a computer or some other mechanism with which to create written words. We’ll be creating and editing content, so make sure that you have the tools you need to contribute. If you can't bring a laptop a friendly Shopifolk will assist you using a Shopify laptop.

WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT OPEN SOURCE?

If you're a new technical writer or somebody that is just breaking into the field, it can often be challenging to build up a portfolio with a few solid workpieces that you can use to attract a serious employer. Open source helps to break down these barriers to entry. If your a seasoned technical writer you may have found yourself a bit stuck in your career, documenting similar projects and topics. Signing-up to work on an open source project may be just the shot in the arm that you've been looking for :)

SCHEDULE

6pm: Meet and greet
6:30-7:00: Open source research
7:00-7:30 Lightning talks
7:30-8:00: Socializing / Networking

FOOD AND DRINK

Refreshments will be served.

ATTENDEE LIMIT

Please note that there is a limit of 50 attendees for this meet up. The first 50 people that RSVP will be guaranteed a spot.