WEbook (beta) is a new “User Generated Book” site that combines the collaborative writing process of group blogs and wikis with social networking. Writers on WEbook can work individually, within their group of friends, or with the entire WEbook community to produce content, the best of which (as determined by the community) is published for sale to the public by WEbook.
Even if you’re not a writer, you can review and provide feedback for active projects, if requested by the authors.
The service is free to the users, and if your work is chosen for publication, WEbook says it’ll foot the publishing bill, and you get to share in the profits of projects you’ve contributed to. The down side is that everyone who has contributed significantly to the book once it sells gets to share in a whopping 5% of the royalties - so don’t plan to make a lot of money on this type of project. It’s mostly for sharing information, and honing your writing skills.
WEbook explains how writers can benefit from using the site:
First, you will find a very talented community of writers, reviewers, and readers at WEbook who will give you terrific feedback on your writing, whether you start your own project or jump into one of the existing public projects on WEbook. You can work on a public project or start a private project with a group of your friends and benefit from their input.
Second, posting your work at WEbook gives you a shot at being published by WEbook. Unlike “vanity publishing,” WEbook foots the bill for published books and markets them on our site and other retail channels. The community itself will rate work, and a la American Idol, help tap the next published books for the WEbook imprint.
Third, if you do find yourself selected for publication (either as an author of a chapter of a novel, an essay in a collection, or a book you lead), you will be entitled to a percentage of the royalties on sales of a book to which you made a major contribution. WEbook allocates 5% of sales to royalties for contributors (authors and those who provide valuable feedback), and you would secure a share.
Finally, you’ll enjoy the esteem and admiration of friends, fame, pride, and that nice warm feeling you get inside when you do something you’ve always dreamed of.
And explains the collaborative writing process:
Collaborative writing is not a parlor game. At WEbook, collaborative writing takes many forms. Writers can create chapters together, contribute individual features to a collection, or just get feedback on their own work . WEbook dismisses the legend of the lonely author working alone in the attic in favor of an entirely different model: The dynamic creation of a new kind of content, borne of the active involvement of countless talented writers, readers, and reactors engaged at WEbook.com.
Working with other people gives you a chance to play to your strengths. You can post a fledgling idea, help flesh out someone else’s inspiration, give a friend advice on improving her writing, or write a chapter that picks up on the twists of the one before it. At WEbook, you can always find the sweet spot in the creative process, and WEbooks are far better for the infusion of so much talent.
WEbook will leverage the wisdom of the crowd to create, rate, and elevate the very best work for publication.
WEbooks is funded by Greylock Partners which has also invested in well-known sites like Linked-In, Digg, Constant Contact, Facebook, and many others.
To find out more, check out the FAQ’s.
(Hat-tip, Mashable)