Newly-launched Ocean Cooperative Publishing offers an alternative to the choice now faced by writers: searching for a traditional publisher or, on the other hand, self-publishing. OC provides its authors with all the services offered by traditional publishers and cannot of course accept every manuscript submitted. But as a cooperative publisher, Ocean's production fee – actually lower than the fees charged by self-publishing companies –permits it great latitude in accepting unusual projects.

Kingston, Ontario -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/24/2009 -- The Business of Words, among the world's oldest on-line editorial consultancies (www.businessofwords.com) announced today the official launch of Ocean Cooperative Publishing, a subsidiary founded on an innovative model that bridges the gap between traditional and private publishing.

Editor Robert Buckland, who will serve in the position of publisher at Ocean Cooperative, explained the company's unusual model.

"In the past, authors oversaw the printing and distribution of their own books, but the last two centuries have witnessed the paramountcy of the commercial publisher. These companies have traditionally organized various services under one roof: they choose and edit manuscripts, design and typeset books based on those manuscripts, contract for the printing of the books, then distribute them and promote them – all time-consuming and costly. It's no wonder that this model began to falter with the arrival of electronic media, especially after the middle of the twentieth century. Given the commercial risks, many publishers have found it harder and harder to make ends meet. As a consequence, fewer and fewer writers have been able to find publishers."

Buckland explained that, at first, computer-driven print-on-demand technology seemed to offer an alternative path, since the lower printing costs meant authors could afford to self-publish. Numerous companies sprang up offering to help the self-publisher.

"The catch is that printing is only one part of publishing. Editorial input, design, distribution and promotion are all necessary parts of the picture. And – most important of all – a stigma remains attached to self-publishing. It's seen as vaguely precious or self-indulgent. Never mind that Margaret Atwood, William Blake, Robert Bly, Lord Byron, Stephen King, Rudyard Kipling, Tolstoi and Mark Twain and Virginia Woolf and scores of other great writers were all self-publishers at one time or another. The stigma remains. authors face an awful dilemma: being published in the wrong way or not being published at all."

Ocean Cooperative is a cooperative publisher. Buckland described how cooperative publishers can offer writers of promise a way forward.

"Ocean Cooperative reviews every manuscript submitted and accepts only those we have the time and resources to handle. We devote a lot of time to designing and laying out of books published under the OC imprint and our authors enjoy distribution through a network of 30,000 outlets in 100 countries. Books are produced and shipped within 12 hours of ordering and our authors receive larger royalties than elsewhere. We're in most ways traditional publishers, with this exception: we can't afford to undertake it all alone. We charge a production fee that's lower than that charged by the self-publishing companies but this is nonetheless what allows us to develop a sustainable publishing program and permits us a greater latitude in accepting unusual projects."

Ocean Cooperative Publishing, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, serves the global English-language market. In addition to the company's Launch program, it offers extended design work and any level of editorial guidance though its sister company, The Business of Words. "Beyond our distribution deal that's part of our Launch program, we're able to provide our writers with years of expertise in promotion," Buckland said. "Successful publishing is a long-term commitment for author and publisher. Our mission is to open doors."

Ocean Cooperative Publishing may be reached at 1-888-377-7007
The Ocean Cooperative website is http://www.oceancooperative.com.
The Business of Words website is http://www.businessofwords.com

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Lansdowne, Ontario -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/11/2007 -- The Ocean Cooperative Agency, one of the online world's oldest editorial services, has announced that Nicki Alexander of Nashville has won the agency's Novel of Promise literary award for February. The winning submission was Arrival in the Five Points, the opening chapter of Alexander's novel The Squalor of Dreams, itself the first volume of a nearly-completed trilogy.

The Ocean Cooperative established the Novel of Promise literary awards program to encourage new novelists and awards the prize several times each year on the basis of a single submitted chapter of an unpublished novel.

Robert Buckland, editor-in-chief at Ocean Cooperative (www.oceancooperative.com), said that the competition judges had little difficulty in choosing Alexander's entry from a strong field of contenders.

"Publishers need to see this work, though it may be too much for the weaker ones. Is it gangsta lit? Erotica? Romance? It's all of these, in fact, but first and foremost a galloping historical ride through the bowels of nineteenth-century America. The Squalor of Dreams smacks your face with race, prostitution, abortion, godlessness, love and hope. The voice of its protagonist, Lala Concepcion King, is going to stick with you."

Despite the story's carefully researched grounding in its period, author Nicki Alexander, born and raised in the South and a National Achievement scholar, weaves into its fabric elements readers will recognize from present-day culture.

"High Yella King is Lala's son and in many ways he's today's urban black male. Good or bad, he's the son of a single mother, has no contact with his father, is filled with rage and viewed by white men as possibly crazed. He's promiscuous to the extreme, violent and profane. His mother is in some ways the sort of mother who raises serial killers. Through her life, though not completely of her making, High is made precocious with regard to sex and the exploitation of others' weakness. He cannot reliably be guided by his mother or protected by her. They literally grew up together."

Buckland explained that the Novel of Promise Award, by recognizing promise in work unpublished or still underway, is intended to encourage a process, not reward a task completed. For this reason, the literary competition is held every month and the prizes associated with the award are relevant to new writers: editorial support and commentary, online promotion, and entry into the agency's annual New Novel competition, whose winner is represented for publication by the Ocean Cooperative agency.

"There are no fees or other strings attached to the Novel of Promise program," Buckland said, "as is sadly the case with so many writing competitions. It's open to all, writers may enter repeatedly, and entry can in no way encumber the author's future success. Our aim is to nurture and encourage people embarked on a long and sometimes difficult challenge."

The Ocean Cooperative, which lists Random House and Cornell University among its recent clients, was founded in 1996 to offer editorial support to English-language writers. More recently, the service has expanded to include a broad spectrum of support for new and established authors who want to see their books published.

Competition rules and details are available on the Ocean Cooperative website at http://www.oceancooperative.com.

Nicki Alexander is currently discussing representation of her work.

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Lansdowne, ON, Canada-- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/26/2007 -- The Ocean Cooperative Literary Agency, one of the online world's oldest editorial services, has announced the creation of a new literary awards program to support and encourage short story writers. The"Art of Brevity" prize is awarded regularly on the basis of a single submitted story.

Robert Buckland, editor-in-chief at the Ocean Cooperative Literary Agency (www.oceancooperative.com), explained how the "Art of Brevity" Short Story Award program differs from the agency's "Novel of Promise" award program — and from many other writing contests.

"Since its emergence from a multitude of contributory sources in the early nineteenth century, the literary short story has gained a permanent place in our affections. If short stories are rarely great in the sense that War and Peace or Ulysses might be called great, there's an undeniable pleasure is a work that gives all it has to give in the few minutes it takes to consume it.

"Short stories are quicker to read -- and less exhausting to write – but readers have grown more demanding of them. Whether it's ingenious plot twists or deft and elliptical glimpses of character, the short story cries out for a gem-like polish. We writers might blunder through the creation of a big, bold, sprawling and slightly clunky novel, but we have more trouble impressing readers with a little timid clunky short story.

"So unlike our novel program, our judges here are looking for a finished work on which the author has invested time. On the other hand, writing is always a process and our foremost intention is to encourage writers. Every entrant in this competition is read and every entrant receives a brief comment on their work. And every entrant is encouraged to submit their work again, since we award only a single prize each round."

The subject of prizes is of particular interest at Ocean Cooperative. Buckland explained that "many literary competitions have adopted the lottery -- not the literary -- model. That is, you pay to enter and the winner gets some part of the pot. Congratulations, but what will that $250 or whatever do for your writing, that is, if you care?

"The Ocean Cooperative competitions are absolutely free with no strings attached. And though the prize has a cash-equivalent value well in excess of $250, it's even greater value is that it is meant to help you better your future work and promote your present work. Is that so bad?"

The competitions are open to all writers and there are no limits on the number of submissions. Entry in the competitions in no way encumbers the writer's rights to his or her work or binds the writer to any agreement. The value of the prizes depends on the value the recipient attaches to them. For some, Buckland explained, they can be transforming."

The Ocean Cooperative, which lists Random House and Cornell University among its recent clients, was founded in 1996 to offer editorial support to English-language writers. More recently, the service has expanded to include a broad spectrum of support for new and established authors who want to see their books published.

Competition rules and details are available on the Ocean Cooperative website at www.oceancooperative.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/27/2007 -- The Ocean Cooperative Literary Agency, one of the online world's oldest editorial services, has announced that Dan Whipple of Colorado is the winner of the agency's Novel of Promise award for February. The winning submission was a chapter from Whipple's novel, My Greatest Hits. The Novel of Promise literary awards program, established to encourage new novelists, awards the prize monthly on the basis of a single submitted chapter of an unpublished novel.

Whipple, a full-time freelance writer specializing in science and environmental coverage, was born in Baltimore but has lived for thirty years in the Rocky Mountain West. He has been working on and off on the novel My Greatest Hits during those years. "Rewriting is everything," Whipple says with a laugh. "I put down the most godawful stuff the first time around." His most recently published book was a mystery novel, Click, published by the University Press of Colorado.

Robert Buckland, editor-in-chief at the Ocean Cooperative Literary Agency (www.oceancooperative.com), said that the competition judges here impressed by the author's overall tone. "The excerpt is clearly the work of a talented writer. The rhythm of the prose is sure, the word choices often striking, and the narrator's persona a palpable creation. My Greatest Hits is most assuredly a candidate for publication."

Buckland explained that the Novel of Promise Award, by recognizing promise in work still underway, is intended to encourage a process, not reward a task completed. For this reason, the literary competition is held every month and the prizes associated with the award are relevant to new writers: editorial support and commentary, online promotion, and entry into the agency's annual New Novel competition, whose winner is represented for publication by the Ocean Cooperative agency.

"There is no fee or other strings attached to the competition," Buckland said. "It is open to all, writers may enter repeatedly, and entry can in no way encumber the author's future success. Our aim is to nurture and encourage people embarked on a long and sometimes difficult challenge."

The Ocean Cooperative, which lists Random House and Cornell University among its recent clients, was founded in 1996 to offer editorial support to English-language writers. More recently, the service has expanded to include a broad spectrum of support for new and established authors who want to see their books published.

Competition rules and details are available on the Ocean Cooperative website at www.oceancooperative.com.

"This award is the sort of supportive initiative that helps any author of an unpublished work," said Whipple. He plans to make his final revision of My Greatest Hits this year.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Ocean Cooperative Literary Agency, one of the online world’s oldest editorial services, has announced the creation of a literary awards program to encourage new novelists.

Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/19/2007 -- The Novel of Promise Award is established as a monthly prize awarded on the basis of a single submitted chapter of a novel in progress. Robert Buckland, editor-in-chief at the Ocean Cooperative Literary Agency (www.oceancooperative.com), explained that the program recognizes some simple truths of the writing process.

"We often tell new writers that one of the key strengths of any writer is that they have the persistence to complete a project. When we consider the thousands of novels published every year, it can be hard to remember that writing is a lonely undertaking. Many hopeful authors become discouraged and give up. Who's to say that some of these may not be exceptionally talented writers in other respects?"

Buckland explained that the Novel of Promise Award, by recognizing promise in work still underway, is intended to encourage a process, not reward a task completed. For this reason, the literary competition is held every month and the prizes associated with the award are relevant to new writers: editorial support and commentary, online promotion, and entry into the agency's annual New Novel competition, whose winner is represented for publication by the Ocean Cooperative agency.

"There is no fee or other strings attached to the competition," Buckland said. "It is open to all, writers may enter repeatedly, and entry can in no way encumber the author's future success. Our aim is to nurture and encourage people embarked on a long and sometimes difficult challenge."

The Ocean Cooperative, which lists Random House and Cornell University among its recent clients, was founded in 1996 to offer editorial support to English-language writers. More recently, the service has expanded to include a broad spectrum of support for new and established authors who want to see their books published.

Competition rules and details are available on the Ocean Cooperative website at http://www.oceancooperative.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

One of the world’s oldest online English-language editing services has announced a unique system of defense against the onslaught of unqualified “editing” services currently plaguing writers, students and academics.

Lansdowne, ON, Canada -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/02/2007 -- The Ocean Cooperative literary consultancy (www.oceancooperative.com) and The Business of Words academic editing service (www.businessofwords.com ), helmed by McGill-educated writer Robert Buckland, have initiated a program designed to help writers anywhere in search of legitimate English-language editing. Buckland, who includes Cornell University and Random House among his recent clients, describes how the swarm of unqualified and inept "editors" offering to improve theses, dissertations, novels and non-fiction manuscripts has made it nearly impossible for authors to identify the real thing. It's widely known that writers in search of online help are often unable to contact the person doing the actual work and frequently proceed on no other basis than a promise.

"There is only one remedy," Buckland said during a recent interview. "Legitimate writing and editing services must be willing to edit potential clients' work for free." As part of the new program, writers may access the Ocean Cooperative and The Business of Words — both members of the Federation of Online Editors — through www.free-editing.com and expect to receive a block of editing time free and without obligation.

"You must discuss your work directly with your professional editor or writer," Buckland explained. "Then you must see enough real editing — personally undertaken by that person — to determine if this work is to your standard. Then and only then can you proceed."

When asked how the free service would benefit writers, Buckland pointed out that the editing scammers have no intention of doing sample editing or connecting writers and academics with the "poor wretches" who are paid to edit authors' work. "That's the advantage of the program," he said. "The bad guys can't imitate it."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm