Doing your own handbook

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 Goals 3 Content 4 Production

Introduction

Since this is an international handbook, we realize that many groups will translate materials to create their own handbook. If you are thinking of producing your own handbook here are some tips. First of all you need to be clear about the reason for the handbook, who is it for? and how it will be used? This will shape what you choose to include. You need to think about the amount of energy you are willing to put into doing your own handbook - will you use existing materials from this handbook and others? or do you want to write additional materials? Another important aspect while thinking of producing your own handbook is thinking, what would make special your handbook?

Here there is a list of questions that could be useful to go through before starting your own handbook project:

Goals

• What is the main reason of the handbook?

• Who is the handbook for?

• How do you want the handbook to be used?

• What do you need to include in the handbook?

• Have you checked existing handbooks? What is it that you don't like of them or that are not useful?

Content

• What topics and themes do you want in the handbook?

• How do you want to structure the handbook?

• What is the length of your handbook?

• Are you using only new texts or existing ones?

• Who is choosing existing texts and writing new ones?

• What is the timeline for this work?

• How should the handbook be used? Can people just read a section that is relevant or is it that you need to read the full handbook?

Production

• How would you fund the handbook, do you want to sell if or give it out for free?

• What would the distribution scope be?

• What kind of lay out you want for it: A5, A4, A3; graphic styles?

• How would you evaluate the handbook?