As I've mentioned perhaps too often, I've been agonizing for the past month or so on my Global Neighborhoods publishers proposal. This document serves as many things. primarily it is a marketing document that tells a publisher what the book is about, who might be expected to buy it and why they should give me an enormous cash advance for the right to publish it.
It is also somewhat contractual. It will contain a Table of Contents (TOC), which is what I prmise to deliver to the publisher, usually in two chunks of about equal size. While, I can change the TOC, as well as the title, as I go along, I'll generally need to get the publisher's consent before doing so.
As most authors will agree, the most difficult paragraph is the Overview, which summarizes as clearly and tightly as possible what the book is about. Here's mine:
"Global Neighborhoods examines the connected subjects of the Internet, low-cost networks and social media. It explains why power is shifting from large organizations into self-organizing communities and why businesses and public officials need to generously serve them rather than try to command or control them.
Global Neighborhoods looks at the habits of young people to predict the future of business and government. It paints a picture of business and government when a generation that is immersed in social media and immune to traditional marketing and media comes of age.
The book also looks at the impact of low cost point-to-point connections in everything from telephony to air travel and how such connection is making the world more accessible to more people. Finally, it looks at the longterm impact of decentralization, from the perspective of tiny, but global, startup companies and their potential benefits to people and disruption to incumbent powers."
Okay, this is where you guys are supposed to kick in to help me write a better book. What do you think of the above overview? Is this a book that would interest you? Are yo sitting on the edge of your desk chair waiting for me to finally start blogging some content? Would you consultants recommend this book to your clients?
Or does the whole concept suck? Have I thought this through or does it need some work in thought or word smithing?
Please let me know what you think. Tough love is welcome. New ideas and constructive criticism are embraced. Sincere praise is always welcome.
