## Topics

**We are a single track conference. This means that your talk needs to hold the attention of beginners and experienced developers alike.**

This doesn't mean that every talk needs to be a beginner's talk. If you're talking about advanced concepts, people who are new to Python or your library should come away excited about the possibilities, and know what concepts they need to learn to get there.

This is a list of topics we think might go well in the North Bay Python program, but it is by no means exhaustive. If you have a talk idea on a subject not listed here and you think it fits well with our community and mission, we would love to <a href="mailto:program@northbaypython.org" title="program@northbaypython.org">hear about it</a>!

+ The Python community

+ Python fundamentals

+ Useful libraries and tools

+ Testing in Python

+ Deploying, operating, or scaling Python

+ Organization and communication skills for software development

+ What Python can learn from other communities

+ Unexpected places Python gets used (Embedded systems! Health science!)

+ ... and anything else we might not have thought of!

## Resources

This [public speaking](https://github.com/vmbrasseur/Public_Speaking "Public Speaking Resource Repository by VM Brasseur") repository, maintained by [VM Brasseur](https://twitter.com/vmbrasseur "VM Brasseur on Twitter"), has many useful resources to help you polish your proposals and talks.

### Office Hours and Mentorship

We're happy to help with any of the following:

+ Exploring and brainstorming your interests to help you identify hidden things that would make great talks

+ Connecting you with experienced speakers to help build your proposal and talk

+ Reviewing your outline, slide deck, or presenter notes

+ Connecting you with rehearsal audiences or even just watching you present over a video conference as practice

+ Anything else that'd help you be at ease and excited about bringing your ideas to our audience!

## Submitting

To help us evaluate proposals and build our program, we would like as much detail as you can provide on your talk. At a minimum this should include: **a brief description (~400 characters) suitable for inclusion in a schedule page; a brief prose abstract (intended as the content for a talk detail page on the program site); and, if you'd like, a rough outline of the structure including estimated timings for each section of your talk.**

If you've given your talk before, links to video or slides would be excellent, or if you've blogged about this topic links to your blog posts would be of use as well.

Your speaker profile includes a space for you to describe your prior experience giving talks—this is your chance to talk yourself up and explain how you're qualified to share your ideas, so take advantage of it!

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  <a class="btn btn-lg btn-primary" href="/dashboard" title="Submit a Proposal to North Bay Python">Submit a Proposal</a>

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## Feedback and mentorship

**First time speakers are welcomed and encouraged; if you've never done this before but have an idea please <a href="mailto:program@northbaypython.org" title="program@northbaypython.org">contact the program committee</a> to be connected with a mentor and receive guidance structuring your proposal and talk. Above all we want you to be successful and have a good time telling other attendees about your amazing ideas!**

If you have an idea (or don't!) and want to speak, here's a very rough process of what you should do next:

+ Brainstorm or [mind map](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map "Wikipedia Entry on Mind Mapping") to expand upon your ideas or knowledge in search of a general topic

+ Write a paragraph or two, or some bullet points, to outline the core concepts you want to communicate and what people might learn from your talk

+ Get someone you trust to read your notes and tell you what they think they'd learn

+ Attend our office hours to get help building up your submission

+ Practice!