Any feedback from MadWorld?

[wclass]

So did anyone get to the MadWorld conference? Some of the sessions looked great, but being in Australia we are just a bit too far away to get to all these interesting sessions. Would love to hear what people learnt.

[Msquared]

A couple of blog posts here which I've devoured eagerly: http://kaiweber.wordpress.com/

No, I wasn't there either.

[wclass]

Thanks for the link - good to read up on some feedback.

[Nita Beck]

I am still recovering! As I fully expected, it was a marvelous two and half days. There was an incredible amount of energy, enthusiasm, and expertise in the joint.

Being in the same place with the MadCap personnel is the most wonderful feeling. They clearly value all of us -- their users -- and they clearly are listening to the stories of how we use their products, including how we get frustrated with their products. I attended one session on localization given by a non-MadCap employee, but at the back of the room there was not only Jose Sermeno (MadCap Jose), who leads training courses on Lingo, but also (I think it was) three MadCap developers listening to the questions, listening to the requests for feature enhancements, and furiously taking notes. And the MadCap folks mingled with us freely outside of the session rooms, too. Breakfast Monday morning at my table was a hoot, and the CEO of MadCap, who sat down with us for quite a while, added a lot to the mirth at the table. (I lost track of how many times I snorted, I was laughing so hard.) But I digress...

The time between sessions was also marvelous. So often, the learning, the exchange of knowledge, would just continue outside the conference rooms. After one of my sessions, I invited six or so attendees to follow me over to the Hospitality Lounge where we sat down together and looked at Flare and Subversion. I could just see the light bulbs going on over their heads. Finally, a MadCap person had to come and remind us that lunch had started 20 minutes earlier, just in case any of us were hungry!

This being only the second MadWorld conference, there are still some bugs to be worked out. Sometimes, during some of the networking events (aka parties!), it was a bit too loud (but maybe that's just me, who has middle-aged ears). But I definitely saw that a lot of the logistical suggestions that attendees made last year had been followed up on this year, something as simple as putting full descriptions of the sessions into the program booklet and, really nice, having a mobile app of the agenda so one didn't even have to carry around the booklet. And instead of the big portfolio with a legal-pad size pad of paper, they gave us a nice little "Moleskin" like notebook that was easy to carry around.

Anyway, I realize that the little notebook (oh, and the pen with the integrated flash drive with the presentations on it) is a small touch, but the overall conference is just a joy to attend. MadWorld and MadCap are not perfect -- none of us are -- but the conference is well worth the effort and price to attend.

And let me add one last thing: Being in the same place with so many of my fellow users is the BEST PART! I spent two and a half days with people who totally get what I do for a living and who have the same passion that I do. I enjoyed meeting each and every one of the attendees that I had a chance to meet: Jeff from Nashville; Dave from Vancouver; Cheryl from Detroit; Joy from 90 minutes north of San Diego; Tana from (oh dear, I've forgotten); Monte from California (Culpertino?); Ruth from Calgary; Paula (my breakfast buddy) from Dallas; Doug also from Dallas; Collin from Salt Lake City; Greg from Australia; Jeanie from Boulder; Gina from (oh dear, forgot that, too); Renee from Portland, OR; Andrew from Nova Scotia; Matt from Kansas City (he's desperately seeking other KC Flare users, BTW); Pat and Leo from Ottawa; Charlie and Mario; my dinner dates Tracie and Debi from Columbia, SC, and Linda from Atlanta; Nancy from Toronto (let's meet up in Hamilton sometime, Nancy!); Kai from Germany; the fellow (your name will come to me!) from the Netherlands; and even Ken (whose name I finally cemented into my brain as he was checking out of the Hard Rock)... and on and on. (Please, to those I didn't list, don't be offended. I have not forgotten you!) I cannot express enough how much I treasure the MadWorld community plus my little local user group community plus the LinkedIn community plus this forum community.

All right. I'm done gushing now... I already can't wait to go back next year.

p.s. Here's a great shot of MadCap trainer Scott DeLoach, MadCap Conrad, moi, and MadCap Marvin at the farewell party (at which there was a live rock band): https://twitter.com/mallarimc__/status/ ... 13/photo/1. You guys (and all you gals there, too) are the best!

[atomdocs]

Thanks for the great write-up Nita, and for conveying some of the atmosphere of the event. I appreciate it when attendees like Kai and yourself write up your experiences for those of us who cannot attend. Although it sounds like there is no substitute for being there, it would be great if there could be more online involvement. Like many others, I hope to make it there one day...

[pcalnan]

Just thought that I'd chime in with my own thoughts about MadWorld 2014 ("Hi, Nita!" /me waving furiously).

Nita's spot on with her observation that while the presentations are the "main course" of the conference, the opportunities to network and learn from one another between the sessions and at the social events are also a huge bonus. I've been to several conferences in the past including a technical writing one that was "platform-neutral" but MadWorld is still the biggest and best bang for your buck if you're a tech writer who uses Madcap software.

Nita's session on "Turbocharging Your Authoring" was an excellent one and my prized possession of the conference is her keyboard shortcuts reference that she was generous enough to send me. They were so popular during the session that she ran out and the tips and tricks that she offered are invaluable.

I also really liked Kai Weber's presentation on "Addicted to Meaning: Mental Models for Technical Communicators" which really opened my eyes to some new ways of approaching how I write technical documentation.

I'm also a big fan of Neil Perlin's and his presentation on "Down In the Weeds — Working With Topics in Code" was his usual excellent performance as well as some really useful tricks for troubleshooting and editing at the code level.

Unfortunately I don't get too many opportunities for professional development and the MadWorld conferences have been the highlight of my year where that's concerned. In learning and growing with this particular set of tools as well as interacting with fellow Flare users, I'm finding that the conferences are definitely worthwhile and make me a better technical writer.

And here's another bonus... it's fun! Between putting faces to names and discovering just how rewarding this community of like-minded professionals can be, I had a blast all while improving myself at the same time. What could be better than that?

My only complaint is that the conference is over before you know it and there were so many presentations that I wanted to see, I couldn't go to all of them.

Looking forward to talking with you again, Nita, and if you have even the remotest chance of going to MadWorld 2015, go for it. You won't regret it, not even for a microsecond.

Patrick

[clturner222]

I am still recovering! As I fully expected, it was a marvelous two and half days. There was an incredible amount of energy, enthusiasm, and expertise in the joint.

And let me add one last thing: Being in the same place with so many of my fellow users is the BEST PART! I spent two and a half days with people who totally get what I do for a living and who have the same passion that I do. I enjoyed meeting each and every one of the attendees that I had a chance to meet: Jeff from Nashville; Dave from Vancouver; Cheryl from Detroit; Joy from 90 minutes north of San Diego; Tana from (oh dear, I've forgotten); Monte from California (Culpertino?); Ruth from Calgary; Paula (my breakfast buddy) from Dallas; Doug also from Dallas; Collin from Salt Lake City; Greg from Australia; Jeanie from Boulder; Gina from (oh dear, forgot that, too); Renee from Portland, OR; Andrew from Nova Scotia; Matt from Kansas City (he's desperately seeking other KC Flare users, BTW); Pat and Leo from Ottawa; Charlie and Mario; my dinner dates Tracie and Debi from Columbia, SC, and Linda from Atlanta; Nancy from Toronto (let's meet up in Hamilton sometime, Nancy!); Kai from Germany; the fellow (your name will come to me!) from the Netherlands; and even Ken (whose name I finally cemented into my brain as he was checking out of the Hard Rock)... and on and on. (Please, to those I didn't list, don't be offended. I have not forgotten you!) I cannot express enough how much I treasure the MadWorld community plus my little local user group community plus the LinkedIn community plus this forum community.

Nita,

Your ability to put names with faces and remember them is always amazing.

Thoughts--

This was my 2nd MadWorld (have there been only two?) and it was enjoyable. It did seem a little more restrained than last year, but the sessions were very informative and the MadCap team did a great job putting the whole thing together. I passed Jose on the street as he was headed home the final night and he looked TIRED! I can't say I blame him for being exhausted.

This year, though, I really have to give a hand to the Tech Lounge people. I threw some tough requests at them and a couple of difficult questions. They've responded and I look forward to seeing what they come up with! My team already has a few more for next year (Native Maven support anyone?)

Great job MadCap, and thank you!

-Collin

[Nita Beck]

Collin ("with two L's, from Salt Lake"). Welcome to the forums, buddy! I'm glad we enticed you out of the shadows.
Cheers