Geek Writing Topic

Few of the nine mt.net readers realize that some of the most popular search engine terms leading to this site have to do with the Asterisk PBX software. The top one, of course, is “Clay Aiken naked.” Heh. Just kidding. I just mentioned that to bait the search engines.

Yes, I know I’ve blabbered on about Asterisk, but believe it or not some people seem to be listening. There’s a lot of interest in this software, and rightfully so. It squeezes the power of a $100k proprietary PBX system into a $500 desktop PC.

Asterisk is great software, but it suffers from poor-to-nonexistent documentation. Though the software is stable and mature, working with Asterisk still requires a hard hat. I am going to change that. I am going to write a book about Asterisk and how to use it.

You see, the way I figure it there can be two outcomes to this project. Outcome One has the book becoming a fabulous success, providing me the income needed to keep my yacht moored nicely in some tax-free Carribean harbor. I go on to fame and fortune, culminating in taking over the helm of The Tonight Show, of course.

Outcome Two has the book becoming liner for catboxes everywhere. I waste months of work, suffer a bad case of carpel-tunnel syndrome, and have a better chance of winning the lottery (or becoming host of The Tonight Show) than I do of ever making a penny on the book.

Even if Outcome Two wins, I’ve gained a lot. For instance, I will have become an expert on Asterisk. Perhaps even gaining the hallowed title of recognized expert. I could raise the profile of an amazing project. I could raise my own profile, perhaps gaining consulting and becoming a trusted source of information. I will have also filled an important need, and — at the very least — will have learned something in the process.

It will take a lot of learning, and a lot of work, but the project is just too fascinating to me to let it go. So its time to get busy!