Have you heard all the eBook hullabaloo?

Don’t get me wrong! I love writers and adore the idea of talented storytellers or teachers getting out there and self publishing their work. Many of my friends are credible authors who worked *gasp* longer than a weekend to craft their work. 

This hullaballoo involves Googling a bunch of stuff on a subject you don’t know much about over a weekend and then suddenly becoming an “author” and expert on the subject. Voila! Instant credibility AND money to burn! Uh huh. I’d love to hear an actual story about somebody making money this way. 

If the writer legitimately knows what they’re talking about I’m behind them 100%, but all this conversation about “becoming an expert in a weekend!” is pure nonsense at best.

I’m telling you about this because I received the most inventive “write a book in 30 minutes” sort of proposal in my LinkedIn messages. I’ve withheld names to protect the tacky:

Hello my LinkedIn friends and connections,

I need your help to create my next book and I hope you can find a few minutes to do so ☺

Think about the greatest moment or moments in your business life, that big deal you pulled off, that super star you employed, that mission that seemed impossible, and trace it back all the way down as far as you can remember. How did you come to connect right at the beginning? What were those steps?

Let me give you an example.

The big account you got because you made a phone call to someone who was not your target market, but you met when you were standing in line waiting for your coffee and you got chatting. The end result was your new acquaintance’s boss just so happened to be looking for what you provided and later became your biggest account.

That is serendipity. It means the act of something really great coming out of a chance meeting or event, and I am writing about it.

Please, take a few minutes if you can, and jot down some notes and send them to me. It is actually a really neat exercise to do, as it makes you realize not only what great things you have achieved, but the events that took place in order for them to work. Sort of spooky and warming all at the same time. It also makes you want to get from behind your desk too!

I’d love your story if you can.

Notice anything missing from this invitation? Here are some things that jump out to me:

• Is this book being published by a major publisher or will it be self published?
• Will there be any attribution for all these contributors?
• Will there be any royalties shared with them?
• When will it publish?
• Where will it publish?
• What’s the selection criteria?
• What context is this book about Serendipity going to be framed into? (as in, “Get my complimentary book when you sign up for my newsletter” stuff)

Have I missed anything? What do you think about this “eBook Gold Rush?” Please scroll down to the comments below and dish.

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