From the submissions page:
What the book is about and why what you have to say is important, original or controversial.
Why you decided to write the book and what's special about you as the author.
Why the book needs to be written and published now.
Who your core audience is and why your book will stand out once published - that is, why people will want to buy, read and talk about it.
A ten to twenty page narrative on a book called The Anglo Disease sounds good. It's an original ET idea--in fact, it's an original Jerome a Paris idea. The body of the book could be a historical narrative, tracing the rise through time--that might be new information, but after that would come major sections where the key information is already there in the form of Jerome's (and AN Other's) diaries and any relevant subsequent comments.
But the writing of the book would come after the writing of a ten-to-twenty page proposal.
I couldnae write it or even compile it, it's not in any way my subject area, but: what I was thinking (Jerome) is that it shouldn't take too long to write a ten-to-twenty pager--the ideas are already there, the structure is there, even the last chapters, bringing us to the present, questioning what's going to happen, make predictions and suggestions...
....and if it takes off in any way, profits can become seed money for future ET projects. Or profits can go to Jerome! Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.
diary - op-ed - chapter - outline is a nice sequence of incresing goals and it works towards two separate book projects, an op-ed, and focusing the people's energies. When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
They take a percentage, of course.
Patrick Walsh appears to be in tune with the blogging world - he signed blogger Belle de Jour. She happens to be a former call girl - but Walsh's interests (as claimed on the site) are very wide.
As in the movie business, it is hard to get into print media without an agent. There is a ravenous demand for print content - outside newspapers. We have to start somewhere, and I think the agent route is worthy of consideration. You can't be me, I'm taken
This could include elements of original research, public consultation, trans EU collaboration, public engagement in policy debate, together with a set of document outcomes and cost/benefit analysed policy options - all central to the EU project.
If the EU want "balance" they can always commission one of innumerable free market think tanks to consider market based solutions.... "It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
Discovering what these magic open sesame commands are, is not easy. Now, Frank, you sound like the sort of chap, with your talk of 'document outcomes', who speaks the lingo. ;-) You can't be me, I'm taken
As you will see in my third comment above, I agree with you: I don't see tha availability of funds as a problem.
I suggest Jerome appoint an FP with specific responsibility for creating and pursuing funding applications. Would you be prepared to take that on?
Some top of the head ideas for projects include:
How about writing a diary documenting the project formulation/funding application process... and then invite ET members to submit ideas for projects..?
I agree to do it, but I have not enough time at the moment.
About the ideas you listed, we must be aware that any request for subsidies must go through a process called an "open call for proposals", where the submitted project is assessed by a committee which takes into account the credibility and reliability of the project leader and partners. The problem is: even if Et creates a non-profit organisation, this organisation will not have any background (former studies, projects or publications), nor project management experience and no financial reliability.
The only domain in which we could claim some knowledge and experience is n°5: "The role of Blogging/networking sites in developing a new EU civil society", which could be a good way to start. For other themes, we would have to find credible partners (it is not impossible). "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Open calls for tender are very well defined with detailed specifications and tight rules and criteria. They open to everybody, including for-profit organisation, so ET would be in competition with established think-tanks, universities and consultants with a robust background in the field.
"open calls for proposals" are, well, open, which means they don't have detailed specifications. However, they must fit in the policy framework and still follow the same tight rules. They are only open to public organisations, universities and non-profit organisations. "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
I am forever in amazement at the largesse available from the EU. But what I discovered is that you need to couch your application in very special language that uses specific keywords linked to the particular initiatives. Without these you get nothing.
You're right. See my comments below. "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Stylistic consistency is a slightly different problem. This is much more difficult to attain as a group. We'd probably need just one or two writers to produce the finished piece - unless the project was presented as an edited 'collection' of pieces. You can't be me, I'm taken
