Hi All,
I'm working on a user's guide for stick dulcimers and it's turning out to be more of a tech manual. Seems I'm unable to write in simple plain English. I was wondering if there is anyone in this group interested in assisting in reviewing / rewriting it. Or, perhaps we could have a more generic "Open Source" style documentation project where CBN members who need documentation to include with their builds could just come here and print a copy, etc. We could have a User's Guide, a Tech Manual and a Song/Tabs Book. We could do one for the lap dulcimer as well, if there's a need...
-Rand.
Replies
If you would like help with your documents regarding review and formatting grammatical English I would probably be able to help you. I realize the direct literal translation to English is difficult. Send me a PM here and we can discuss.
The problem with the info on the Internet is that it's all fragmented with good bits here and there and all over the place. It's not the kind of well thought out and well written (polished) type of document that I'd like to handout with a product I make.
The Wiki idea is a good one, but it's just another learning curve that I'm not ready for (too burnt out). I also fear that a Wiki will require a server and where will the money come from for that.
All I want is to polish up the documents I have, maybe expand on some areas where I'm weak, and then share that. I think that whoever wants to adapt the documentation to their own product will want to edit the source and change the photos to reflect their product better. For instance, my best seller has dual melody strings, and that's something many other builders are not into and so will want to edit out. I also prefer photos based around my own product rather than generic ones.
Well just my 2 cents worth...
-Rand.
QGolden is right. A better project would be the wiki project, perhaps starting with a list of known information sites and what information each one provides. That is a project that I'd be happy to help write/edit.
That being said a central repository in the form of a Wiki could actually add value. New and relevant information could be there, updated by builders, with links and references to quality existing information.