Working on Tech-Ed 2008 Content Submissions
I'm closing out my abstracts and submissions for content to Tech-Ed 2008 this weekend (I must be done prior to Dec. 31, 11:59pm). I always find identifying which topics to propose from a list of topics I brainstorm to be the most difficult part. I think it ranks even higher in the difficulty threshold than creating the abstract, which I also wrestle with. I either struggle with thinking the topic is not interesting enough, is for too narrow an audience or is too overdone in other mediums. Sometimes I struggle with feeling the presentation topic is 'old hat' because it is usually in an area I focus a lot of attention in and am thus often on the proverbial bleeding edge of the discussion. I forget that this is not really old hat for most folks or even for myself as the topic ideas can often be on areas that are not yet fully fleshed out. Add to it that I pretty much don't do the same content more than once thus don't get the value of reuse and comfort that the content will come out as I envision. (A conference and then a user group- yes but never two conferences- not that I have spoken at a ton of them)
Sometimes this over analysis throws me into publication/submission paralysis. Okay, often it throws me into that state. If I can find one or two good blog entries on the item with a few ping backs to them then I fear the content may not add value to the community. If I find less than the aforementioned amount of activity then I fear the content is either for too narrow an audience or I'm off base in thinking it has value at all. I can beat myself up in this day and night.
This time I have a nice list of topics I have been accumulating that I think have value and could be engaging to the appropriate number of people. Not overdone. Cross-functional. Not removed from real world use. Definitely not behind these warp-speed times. In fact, I have too many topic ideas this time around. For what may be the first time ever I need to narrow down my topic list and find the gems that will get picked up- and I like them all.
Do you think a topic of "Writing unit tests specifically with Spec# in mind" is too far out there??? ;-)
Don't expect to see that last topic but I do hope the powers that be will pick up one my of my few submissions.