The Pre-Proposal is meant to be a relatively brief and informal document that is of maximum use to an author. The Pre-Proposal is designed to help authors focus their thinking about a possible born digital book and to provide preliminary feedback on a proposed project from the CCDP Editors.
Although we include suggestions for possible sections below, authors should tailor the information they include to the specific nature of projects they are exploring, the composing stage at which they find themselves, and the feedback they are seeking.
Possible sections for Pre-Proposals:
Basic concept or focus of the book
Rationale or importance of the book
Engagement with related professional conversations and needs (e.g., Why is this book important? To what conversations does it contribute?)
Media/modalities/software deployed in this book
Description of authorial/creative team
Annotated description of the book’s major parts/sections/elements
Proposed timeline of the book
Questions for the editors (e.g., inquiries about CCDP procedures or policies)
Attachments (e.g., a copy of a conference presentation/paper/web site that illustrates/describes some aspect/element of the project)
Pre-Proposals will not be sent out to the Press’s editorial board and, thus, they do not commit the author or the Press to a Publication Agreement.