Why write a conference paper using a wiki ?
VALA 2008, here I come. Well, if I can write one paper and co-author another one in the next 6 weeks. Ulp.
I’m using a wiki to write both papers – even the one I’m writing by myself. Why? One spot where I can record what I submitted, the acceptance email, upload the files they sent me about submitting the paper and draft each section.
For the co-authored paper, there is a table where we can record deadlines and who is doing what – and then we can read and comment on the separate wiki page for each section. When I’ve done this before, the wiki has been a place where co-authors could upload final, formatted WORD documents for others to download and check/correct.
The wiki I made for my paper is here, VALA – Do we remove all the walls. You can watch it as I write it over the next few weeks if you are really voyeuristic.
Here’s a “how to”
1. Get a free wiki at pbwiki
2. Copy and paste the text of the following to create a new wiki page. Link to them from the main page.
2.1 The abstract you sent
2.2 Author biography
2.3 The acceptance email
3. Upload any files, style guides, forms sent as pdfs or attachments. Link to them on the main page.
4. Create a table outlining each section, number of words, date due, proof read, notes, who will do each section.
5. Stop procrastinating. There is now no excuse. Get writing.
Hi Kathryn
Other people I know use Google Documents for writing their papers. Have you used Google Documents for this purpose and how does it compare with using a wiki?
Sue
I’ve used google docs to write joint emails or promo messages for events and to write joint documentation, and it works well.
The wiki lets me upload files. At some stage, you end up switching to a Word Processor so that you can format correctly for publication. If it’s an edited work, you receive a file of corrections. And then co-authors will be editing little bits of it each. The wiki allows you to upload authoritive versions of works in progress all in the same spot – like a mini catalogue.
And, of course, you can password the wiki so no-one else even knows it’s there.
Hi Kathryn, writing the VALA paper via wiki should be an interesting experience
Yay! I love this idea. It’s neat to see you “removing walls” (so to speak) as your developing a paper on it
CW. I think it will be a great way to practically illustrate what the paper is all about – the easy going way that lint does things.
Helene. I never thought of it that way. Wish I could claim I was deliberately being witty.
A comment about using Google docs: while it is great for word documents or spreadsheets, it does not allow the upload of a pdf. Apparently, a wiki will. After reading about wikis I am interested in starting one myself for my library.