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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I am “I.”<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I wrote in that tone to give the
intended audience (beginners, as I was at the time) more of a feeling that they
can do it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As for the “style
guide.” Be aware that Drupal’s style guide is in contradiction with most
business style guides that I have experience with.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Originally,
I argued with and convinced Steven Peck to put the Cookbook as a top level book
where beginners could actually find it. I got many unsolicited thank you notes
as a result. At some point people started mucking with the organization and the
Cookbook has been moved several times resulting in the people who needed it not
being able to find it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Then
handbooks are public property so I cannot stop you from editing it, even if I
had the mind to try. I would ask you, please, to remember that it is for
beginners, not those who already know Drupal well. Frankly, I think anyone with
more than about 9 months of Drupal experience should stay out of it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Some
feedback:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I see several typos and
grammatical errors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The tone I
read in the first screen of the book is pretty close to exactly what I talked
about above – pedantic and unencouraging. I wrote this book when I was into Drupal
less than 3 months; having succeeded in developing two sites at that point, I
wanted other newbies to see that they too can do it. Don’t overwhelm them with
strict definitions and technical details.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I see what
you are trying to do and applaud you for the effort. Now step back and remember
what it felt like to put that first site up. Forget PHP and Drupal internals –
they don’t mean anything to the audience for this book. They look at most of
the stuff on DO and go, “Huh?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If
you don’t believe that, I’ll try to dig up some of the many emails I got saying
that. Keep it simple, build a little bit at a time. Allow yourself to be a bit
loose with definitions so they are better understood.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><!--[if supportFields]><span class=EmailStyle18><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>AUTOTEXTLIST \s "E-mail
Signature" <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span></span></font></span><![endif]--><font
color=fuchsia face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:fuchsia'>Nancy E. Wichmann, PMP<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. - Martin L.
King, Jr.</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><!--[if supportFields]><span class=EmailStyle18><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span></font></span><![endif]--><span
class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>-----Original
Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
documentation-bounces@drupal.org [mailto:documentation-bounces@drupal.org]<b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Shai Gluskin<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, March 30, 2009 9:57
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> A list for documentation
writers<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [documentation] Some
Background/Strategy Help Needed re: "DrupalCookbook"</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Hi gang,<br>
<br>
I did some work on the "title" page of the Drupal Cookbook today...<br>
<br>
<a href="http://drupal.org/handbook/customization/tutorials/beginners-cookbook">http://drupal.org/handbook/customization/tutorials/beginners-cookbook</a><br>
<br>
I just jumped in, but now I'm seeing some questions I'd like to ask the group.<br>
<br>
The book is written in a very strong "I" voice. Who is it? I couldn't
quite tell from the revisions. I'd respectfully like to tell that person that
I'd like to put some editing work in.<br>
<br>
Also, it seems to me like the "I" voice should be removed. That
doesn't fit the style guide and it seems kind of weird, especially since those
pages don't have authors anyway.<br>
<br>
Another thing that is weird... the Cookbook is nested under "Beyond the
Basics" but it is also specifically referred to as "For
beginners."<br>
<br>
If there were plans to retire or replace the "Cookbook" -- I don't
want to waste time. But otherwise, I'd be happy to put some more work into it.<br>
<br>
I'd be interested to feedback on the work that I did today on the first page. <br>
<a href="http://drupal.org/handbook/customization/tutorials/beginners-cookbook">http://drupal.org/handbook/customization/tutorials/beginners-cookbook</a><br>
<br>
I left pretty good notes in the log, and of course you could dif it. I changed
the order of things, mostly took stuff out. The place where I added the most
was in the terms definition section. I think giving some meet there is helpful,
especially for beginners, in lays an important foundation.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
shai</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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