Update: Over 80 people have offered their help with this project. Thank you so much, everyone! It really makes me proud to be a member of the dev.to community. The book is scheduled to publish in July 2019, so head over to the LeanPub page and get your pre-order in!
I'm writing a book: a complete guide to your first year as a developer. And I'm looking for co-authors.
It's not a technical manual about Python or Kubernetes or Angular. And it's not a deep-dive about refactoring or craftsmanship. It's a guide to the other stuff: resume writing, getting that first job, ethics, career progression, what to do when you're stuck.
The book will be pay-what-you-want (minimum price of free).
Here's the table of contents so far:
If you follow my posts, you might recognize some of these chapters from posts I've written on dev.to and Medium.
The goal of the book is to help all junior developers, no matter how they entered the field, to start their careers a year ahead of where I was when I started. It's a tall order, and that's why I need your help.
How can you help?
If you want to be a part of this book in any of the ways below, please email me.
Be a co-author! You can write a guest chapter on any topic that answers the question, "what do I wish I had known before my first year as a developer?" If I include it in the book, you'll get your name on the cover as well as a percentage of the profits from the book. Your content will be under a non-exclusive license, which means it still belongs to you and you can publish it elsewhere.
Tell your story! The chapter titled "Do I fit in?" is still unwritten, and I'm not the right person to write it. Instead, I want to know your stories about impostor syndrome, wondering if you fit in, dealing with gatekeeping and harrassment, and finding your worth as a programmer. I'll compile those stories together in the chapter and provide a space in the Acknowledgments for you to promote yourself, your current project, or your favorite charity.
Be a beta reader! If you're willing to read at least part of the book before it's released and give some honest, specific feedback about it, I'd welcome the help. In return, I'll put your name in the Acknowledgments along with a short message of your choice--feel free to promote whatever you're working on at the moment.
Sign up on the pre-release page! The book's landing page on Leanpub has a form for your name, email address, and what you're willing to pay for the book when it's released. If you fill it out, you'll be notified when the book is published.
Build the hype! Share the Leanpub page on social media, send it to your friends, mention it at work. When the book comes out, send it to someone who could use it. Use it to make a difference for the junior developer in your life.
What happens next?
Once it's finished, I'll publish the first version of the book and celebrate it on dev.to. With your help, tens of thousands of people will learn about it. And life will get just a little easier for our junior developer friends.
Are you in? I'd love to have as many people as possible be a part of this project. Just send me an email and we'll make it happen.
Latest comments (50)
Nice! mailed you
ATTENTION CONTRIBUTORS
If you've emailed me to participate in this project, there is an email in your inbox right now with more details! If it's gone to your Spam box, please mark it Not Spam. I'm excited to work with all of you!
I’d be interested in contributing as a writer!
That sounds great! Send me an email and we'll make it happen.
I sent an email (and got a response!) last night, but just want to reiterate again how awesome and exciting this project is!
Great one, but your question depend on the idea of the writter because i believe you have something in mind about the question but if so it will be a team idea so that they can come up with a great answer
Hi Isaac, this is a great initiative thanks!
I'm in progress to enter the SW Dev arena again and would love to help as a Beta reader!
Hi John! Send me an email and I'll sign you up.
This looks awesome! I would love to be a beta reader. Let me know how I can help :)
Great! Email me at book@isaaclyman.com and I'll add you to my list.
Intresting..but how soon you want the content?
First drafts by end of March, I think. Send me an email and we'll go from there.
Also from the many books that I have read I have learned that all of them include a practical experience.
I guess it would be good to provide a chapter of how to make the simplest application on every language and tech.
It would be good that the same use case is described first and then the experts on every contribute with their implementation. So that learners can have a template bootstrap app according to the topic they are interested.
Every of those templates can be a repo in github.
I guess a section for selecting the tools is needed. How to choose your operating system, the editors, version control, code comparison, comunication tools, etc.
Can I read it free? :)
Of course! You'll set whatever price you can afford.
I'm in for beta reader!
Are you considering translating it? I could also help with a Spanish version if you're interested.
Yeah! I'll DM you on Twitter.
I would be interested in contributing to the “Do I fit in?” chapter. Specifically I’d like to address anyone who identifies as LGBT and maybe how to go about including these things in a portfolio. Lmk 🙂
Awesome! Send me an email, book@isaaclyman.com. We'll make it happen.
Awesome initiative Isaac.
I would like to contribute to this if possible as co-author.
Cool! Send me an email and we'll make it happen.
Would love to chip in where I can - sounds like it could be a great resource for junior developers.
Awesome! Send me an email and I'll sign you up.
Done! 😁