Thanks for the reply, Rachel, and all others who wrote back offline and
through the list. Basically, here was my idea:
Most DBA topics have been beaten to death, and I would have nothing new to
contribute. There is one area, however, that I see could be explored...
Here goes...
"Tips, Tricks, and Epiphanies" by various authors.
I was thinking about putting all those neat little tricks and tips I've
learned over the last few years down in writing. Examples would be
everything from dynamic SQL to connecting as a user without knowing their
password via the encrypted string. Also, I've had epiphanies where about 8
things all the sudden come together at once in a moment of shining
brilliance. One such thing happened a few weeks ago courtesy of Rachel
herself in describing the recovery using a backup controlfile (open-ended
SCN). These are the things I think could be useful - things not normally
included in a DBA 101 book.
So here's what we do: I think of 5 or 10 things like this, Jared thinks of
his, Rachel of hers, Ross of his, April of hers, and anyone else. We then
make sure there's no overlap. We then organize these into the following 5
sections: Administration, Backup/Recover, Tuning, SQL or PL/SQL,
Miscellaneous. If we get 10 experts to contribute 10 unique tips, tricks,
or epiphanies, then we have a book. Someone (me or Jonathan Gennick from
O'Reilly) compiles them all and writes some wrapper material, and
voila!....a book! Easy, right? I do have a writing background, so this is
why I became interested.
Having said all this, having 3 kids under the age of 4 and a wife, I also
have taken what Rachel said to heart. Right now, I think it would just be
something to think about.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jim Hawkins
Lead SAPR/3 Oracle Database Administrator
MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
501 Pearl Drive
St. Louis, MO 63376
(636) 474-7832
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (work)
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (personal)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
-----Original Message-----
Carmichael
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 4:40 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
Literary background is meaningless in writing a technical book... I don't
have one and I managed :)
Developmental editor if you can't write? Not hardly likely. That's what I've
done on both Marlene Theriault's Networking 101 and Gaja's Tuning 101 books.
You need to be able to write to make the books interesting and at the same
time technical enough.
Technical editor has to know Oracle very well, because you are responsible
for ensuring that the scripts and statements in the book are absolutely
accurate.
Neither is a trivial job. Nor are they ones that can be done in a spare
moment or two.
How did I get started? I was asked by people I knew to do the technical
edit on a book. Do I recommend that you do this? NO!
Understand that writing a book is NOT something you do in your spare time.
It does not matter how well you think you can write, or if you know Oracle
backwards and forwards. You have a full-time job while you are doing this,
you have (one hopes) a life that you want to keep as well.
You can't slack off on the job, that's what pays the bills. You have
deadlines to meet. You can't slack off on those, or the publisher takes the
book away (yes, they can do that). So your life disappears.
Jim, if you really truly think you can do this.... stop and think again. I
spent 6 months of no life writing 101 and this was with co-authors! Yes it
is worth the end product but understand that while you are going through it,
it's hell.
As for how to get started..... Oracle Press has a submission form on their
website for people who are interested in writing a book. They really do read
the submissions.
Am I trying to scare you? You betcha. Because if you STILL want to do a book
after this, then I know that you really will get it done.
Rachel
>From: "Mohan, Ross" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: RE: Serious Question (believe it or not)...
>Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 18:30:46 -0800
>
> Alex,
>
>The answer to your question is: get several certifications
>and become a consultant! <grin, duck, and run like hell>
>
>Ross
>
>p.s. anyone certified (or certifiable) who is deeply
>wounded by this senseless attack is encouraged to contact
>me offlist, where I will supply a heartfelt apology, a few
>hugs, and an autographed picture of my Hannibal Lecter in
>a speedo with a ponytail impersonation.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>Sent: 6/6/2001 4:58 PM
>
>If you do not know Oracle you will get from technical editor. If you
>cannot
>write - there is a development editor available. The problem is - what
>if
>one don't know Oracle and cannot write.
>
>Alex Hillman
>
>PS. This has nothing to do with Jim
>
>-----Original Message-----
>Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2001 4:30 PM
>To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>
>
>All,
>
>I am very interested in collaborating with others in the writing of an
>Oracle technical book (DBA subject matter). I am interested in how
>those of
>
>you who have done this (ala Rachel), got started or made the right
>connections. I do have a somewhat literary background, so I know I can
>do
>this.
>
>Jim
>
>Jim Hawkins
>Lead SAPR/3 Oracle Database Administrator
>MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
>600 Pearl Drive
>St. Louis, MO 633376
>9636) 474-7832
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] (work)
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] (home)
>
>--
>Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
>--
>Author: Jim Hawkins
> INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051
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