Help me talk better.

There is no way I'm going to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. It's crazy. Nevertheless, National Novel Writing Month is in November this year. Hundreds of "winners" cross the finish line through the power of a clear goal (50k words), lowered expectations (this is a rough draft; quality follows quantity), and a deadline.

Many of my conversations would benefit from a deadline.

1. I'd waste less time.
2. Through an ounce of planning, everyone would get what they need from the chat or call.
3. The conversation would be less likely to spill over into the rest of my schedule.
4. It sets expectations for conversation style: short, pointed, transactional, focused.

Two kinds of deadlines:

1. The call. We promise to start this call by 11:01 and end by 11:14.
2. The agenda. Time boxes for talking points.
   • Review/change topics for this call (11:01-11:02)
   • Check in on health, happiness, social lives (11:02-11:04)
   • College update (11:04-11:07)
   • How's the family (11:07-11:10)
   • Send money (11:10-11:13)
   • Schedule next call (11:13-11:14)

This is standard stuff on running better meetings.

I want Skype to help by being more aware of time. For example:

• Launch conversations (voice and chat) from a calendar automatically.
• Remind me of my call/meeting schedule
• Offer to help set up an agenda for the meeting.
• Ping everyone in a conversation with a beep and a private text message about pending deadlines (this topic called "treasurer's report" ends in 1 minute, next topic: "membership report")
• Let us change/revise the agenda in mid-call
• Show a countdown clock in the conversation window with both the big countdown (end of call) and the smaller one (end of topic)

I can start an egg timer or download a software timer. But those are both out of context and not part of the collaboration. Time boxing within the user interface, preserving the visual and cognitive framework of the call/chat will improve the success of the conversation.

Help users and developers build this

This is exactly the kind of value-add I'd like users and developers to build. However today's license, terms of service, and API are hostile to UI changes.

You can see that Skype's design has been amazing about getting users into a conversation, and the hard work of keeping the technical quality high. Now it's time to go inside the call: Help our many styles of conversation be more effective.

I don't expect Skype to help me organize a party, plan a wedding, play a game, hold a quality circle meeting, answer a bomb threat, or talk about my car with a potential bidder. I do want Skype (sometime in 2006, please) to let me use, create and share "conversation helpers" the way I use, create and share templates in PowerPoint and Word. Let the power of millions of users shape conversation to their ends.

Have better conversations with Skype

As with PowerPoint templates, most conversations guides will be free and a few worth money. Please don't think of this as a ringtone opportunity. Think of this as (a) part of Skype's platforming strategy, (b) making Skype more social (as we share conversation helpers), (c) making Skype conversations more productive than conversations in other media.

So often you just reach out and touch someone, a personal connection. But then...

How much do you talk on purpose?

p.s. I'm enjoying No Plot? No Problem! right now. Tips on prepping for and surviving your four week novel writing.

p.p.s Congrats to Hyland Baron for joining the NaNoWriMo team. Hyland makes projects more fun and effective.