Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Calling all students

Early bird registration for EuroPLoP has just closed. Now we have an idea of numbers I can say its going to be the biggest EuroPLoP for several years.

Unusually, we are under subscribed for the student places. These students get approximately half their fees covered by the conference organizers.

If you are a student, and would like to come to EuroPLoP, and don't mind helping out around the conference then please get in touch. Quickly!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Last few days for early bird discount

There are only five days to register for EuroPLoP if you want the Early Bird discount. Register by Monday and it costs €990, after that it is €1090.

If you are an author, and your paper has been accepted you must register by Monday. Failure to do so will lead to rejection of your paper.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Your questions answered

Registration is now open and we're getting some questions asked. I'd like to share the answers.

Q: I have not submitted a paper to EuroPLoP, can I still attend?
A: Yes, about 20% of those attending do not have a paper at the conference. You will still be expected to read others papers and participate in helping improve their papers.

Q: Can more than one author come for one paper?

A: Yes, if a paper has more than one author they are all welcome to attend

Q: Where can I see the papers submitted?

A: Hold on, the papers are still being worked on. We will make them available to those attending the conference nearer the time of the conference. Indeed, you will have to read some of them to participate.

Q: What does the program look like?

A: Pretty similar to previous years, the preliminary program is online.

Q: How to I get to Kloster Irsee?

A: Directions from the airport.

Q: Can my partner come? Can we get a double room?

A: Yes, you will need to specify this in your registration

Q: How much does EuroPLoP cost?
A: This year it is €990 is booked before 24 May, €1090 after that date. Note also, after 24 May there number of places available will be strictly limited so if you want to come you should book now.

Q: What does the fee cover?

A: Conference fees, accommodation, food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snakes), drinks (beer, wine, coffee, soft drinks, the lot) - I think thats everything, the key point is, apart from getting too and from Irsee everything is covered.

Q: Is it true you have games?

A: Yes, two or three times a day - and we like you to join in.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Registration is now open

The registration site for EuroPLoP is now open. Go here to register. To get the early bird rate, you must register by May 24, 2009. Note that all authors are required to register by that date.

Friday, May 8, 2009

EuroPLoP announcement mailing list

One of the unusual things about EuroPLoP is that is has no mailing list. When we want to send an announcement out we normally use the Hillside Europe mailing list and cross post to some others. But not everyone is on these lists.

The website helps but how often do people check it?
This blog helps but again, not everyone reads it.

So we have created a mailing list for sending announcements about EuroPLoP.

The list is open to all and should be low traffic - just call for papers, deadline warnings, registrations open, etc. etc.

It is a Yahoo Group and its called EuroPLoP, please join today.

Friday, May 1, 2009

What is the writing group? And why am I in it?

Most papers which are accepted to EuroPLoP are accepted in Writers Workshops. Papers which are reviewed in these workshops will be included in the conference proceedings. (I blogged about this last year, Will my paper be included in the proceedings?)

A few papers are instead accepted into the Writing Group. Indeed some authors request their papers are put into the Writing Group instead of the Writers Workshop.

Papers are directed to the Writing Group when the reviewers feel the paper is not ready for a Writers Workshop. Perhaps the paper is not clear enough, perhaps the author is new to patterns and didn’t quite “get it’ or perhaps it just needs more work.

The authors of these papers are assigned a Shepherd at the conference and another round of shepherding occurs. Since I became chair I have arranged for this to start on Wednesday afternoon and it continues through Thursday and Friday until Friday evening.

During this time the Shepherd meets with the author to discuss the paper and potential improvements. Unlike the original shepherding this occurs face-to-face at Kloster Irsee. The author then spends time editing and reworking the patterns. They meet and discuss as often as they need to – and can find time to.

On Friday evening the author submits a revised version of the patterns and there is another short review. If the patterns have improved the paper may be accepted for a Writers Workshop on the Saturday. In some cases a section of the paper is accepted but not the whole.

For a while it was common to accept just about any patterns from the Writing Group into the Saturday workshops. We stopped that a few years ago and its a very real review now and papers do get rejected.

The papers, paper sections and patterns that are accepted in the Saturday Writers Workshop will be included in the proceedings like all the others.

The Writing Group is not “second best” its just another way to improve papers, that is what EuroPLoP is all about.