A Cooperative Press for Indie Authors discussion

Though serious science fiction is open to many interpretations, and represents only one of the many sub-genre within the science fiction panolpy, I would like to invite discussion from interested authors about establishing a truly cooperative imprint under which to publish our works to the mutual benefit of all. Previous posts can be viewed at: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I have copied this post from the original thread:

Why do author's benefit when published by an established press? Three words: editing, marketing, distribution. What if indie authors got together and formed a coop with its own imprint? We could edit each others work, advertise each others books on our own author's pages, and attend book fairs to sell not only our own books, but the books of coop members as well. There would be membership obligations, of course, but no outright expenditures for editing, marketing, and distribution. Everything could be done on a reciprocal basis. I am hoping to take Umazanon Press to that level. Anyone interested?

Hi! I'm completely interested, and I work in a bookstore currently, so regarding the relationship between print and distribution (and sales on the ground floor) I can give input. I'm also the event coordinator, so if individuals want to understand what advantages a press has (and how to implement them as an indie author--which is completely doable with the right knowledge)especially regarding events/promotion, I can also provide information.

I have had the privilege of working on two events with Asymmetrical Press which is doing something akin to what you are discussing, and so I find that exciting.

I write fantasy for all ages and regarding publishing options I'm keeping an open mind. But I am certainly interested in participating in an exciting endeavor such as this. Do you have a business plan?

Drea wrote: "Hi! I'm completely interested, and I work in a bookstore currently, so regarding the relationship between print and distribution (and sales on the ground floor) I can give input. I'm also the eve..."

So glad you have joined us!

No "business plan yet". But yours is exactly the type of expertise such a project as this needs. So far, I've suggested getting a few serious science fiction writers together to establish an imprint, select a logo, and create a Statement of Purpose, (Hopefully authors concentrating on other genres will do the same.) then immediately start associating our work with the imprint while handling our own business interests. I'm shying away from models that include "sharing royalties" and am working more toward barter and shared costs. It will be interesting to see how things progress.

Agreed, and Drea, if you have anything targeted at a younger audience, I would be happy to work with you under my imprint of A.'s publishing house.

I have been trying to come up with a name for a cooperative press that connotes a sense of seriousness while implying the genre of science fiction. As I think of a possibility, I Google it. Of course, all the really good ones seem already taken. The only thing I've come up with so far that does not appear to have been taken is (The?)Helium Press, a nod to E. R. Burroughs. Ideas please.

How about Cooperative Press? lol. You've been throwing the word around and made a group of it, I mean sure it's unoriginal but I mean it's caught people attentions so far. If to build off it perhaps add a word or two but Cooperative Press seems to make sense

Might I recommend Synergy Press?

Apparently it was already taken.

Symbiont Press - Might work if you're targeting sci-fi.

Justin wrote: "How about Cooperative Press? lol. You've been throwing the word around and made a group of it, I mean sure it's unoriginal but I mean it's caught people attentions so far. If to build off it perhap..."

Actually, Justin, using those terms in the parent organization is probably the thing to do. My Helium Press suggestion was for the purely sci-fi imprint. If we end up including other genre under specific imprints, then they could all be gathered under something like Cooperative Press of Independent Authors or CPIA. Then we could distinguish the different genre. For instance, for science fiction it would be Helium Press an imprint of CPIA. Each imprint could have its own website, to which the authors of that genre would link their personal websites. The advertising would be done via Helium Press. Then the Helium Press website and the websites for the other genres could all be linked to the CPIA website. All this using free website builders, like Wix. Internet presence would be much larger than any authors single website. These are just ideas, of course, that need input.

Glad you liked the suggestion

I can totally dig the idea of CPIA. Although, I think we should simply call it Corporation of Independent Authors. I like the acronym better.

A. wrote: "I have been trying to come up with a name for a cooperative press that connotes a sense of seriousness while implying the genre of science fiction. As I think of a possibility, I Google it. Of co..."

I'd be prepared to let you take over the one I've been using, "Wine-Dark Void". To misquote Homer, "By skill again the pilot guides the swift spaceship upon the wine-dark void..."

A. wrote: "Though serious science fiction is open to many interpretations, and represents only one of the many sub-genre within the science fiction panolpy, I would like to invite discussion from interested a..."

I think this is a very good idea. I'd be very happy to participate.

What I've seen over the last few years is bookshops whose shelves are loaded with classic SF, but next to no new work in the genre.

SF in the classical mould sells. Mainstream publishers don't bring out new titles. Why?

I've got some ideas about what might be wrong, but what's far more important is to put it right.

I've put two of my novels up on Amazon at some personal expense, and I'm seeing small royalty payments now. But if I were part of a co-operative with serious marketing ability I'd be doing better.

Only too happy to help, or as they say ENGAGE!

Some additional ideas on group names.

Overall umbrella group names:
The Golden rule/ratio do onto others/natural state. "Gold House Publications" or "Golden Rule Publications"

YA/children's sci fi/fantasy group names:
Something with a ring to it and promoting growth/unity. "Ring of Life" (Ring World, lord of the rings, contact, etc.); or "Hegemon" or "The Academy" (scott card ya sci fi)

Serious sci fi names:
"Our Salvation" or "Salvation"- a nod to what lies at the core of sci fi - per isaac asimov et al.;"Escape Pod" - the adventure begins for the chosen few.

As I see it now, we have three suggestions for the serious sci-fi imprint: Helium Press, Symbiont Press, Wine-Dark Void Press, Salvation Press. Arguments? Thoughts? Additional suggestions?

I would also like to suggest a motto: A cooperative press of independent (science fiction) authors dedicated to the improvement (and promotion) of their art." Arguments? Thoughts? Additional suggestions?

This additional thought: If a couple of college boys (in more than one instance) can create multi-billion dollar enterprises, surely we can come up with something!

I had once thought about inventing my own publishing company so that my books would look a little more professional than with just my own name as the publisher. The name I came up with was Mark Time Publishing. I haven't used it yet, but I'll put it here as a suggestion, for what it's worth.

Additional thoughts: Do we want to be a press of a publishing group? Helium sounds like an airy name (non-serious), Symbiont is hard to pronounce but I get the idea, Wine-Dark is too edgy for me (as though we're a bunch of violent drunks), Salvation , my own idea, now sounds too religious. Mark Time makes me think we're aiming to play off of Mark Twain in some fashion.

Only some thoughts - not intended to belittle any ideas - these were only my initial and secondary reactions to the names so far.

How about...

The Collective - A Cooperative Press for Independent Authors of Speculative Fiction.

Just to keep the juices flowing, a visual idea:


The imprint page would link upwards to the Cooperative webpage, and downwards to the individual author pages. This sample in Wix took about 15 minutes to put together. (It took a whole lot longer figuring out how to get the image into Goodreads!) The name and the book covers as author links are just suggestiosn.

Adrian wrote: "Mark Time makes me think we're aiming to play off of Mark Twain in some fashion..."

That was part of the idea, and you could do a lot worse than to have a reader associate a publisher's name subconsciously with Mark Twain. The other part of it was to associate it with Time-Warner in the reader's mind, to make it sound substantial and familiar.

I'm liking the collection layout! I've changed my mind, having Press or Publishing following the name we will all decide on is a great idea.

"The Collective," unfortunately, has been used a lot: https://www.bing.com/search?q=%22the+...

Ok, the collective is out. How about something with lab, virtual, mind, or hive?

Ken wrote: ""The Collective," unfortunately, has been used a lot: https://www.bing.com/search?q=%22the+..."

Ken wrote: ""The Collective," unfortunately, has been used a lot: https://www.bing.com/search?q=%22the+..."

Cooperative is used often also, but with the defining prepositional: of Independent Authors, I think originality is effectively maintained: The Cooperative of Independent Authors Publishing Group carries a bit of gravitas, don't you think?

Adrian wrote: "Ok, the collective is out. How about something with lab, virtual, mind, or hive?"

For the parent organization I think we need to remain sufficiently neutral to accommodate other genre. Perhaps some of the Goodreads authors of historical fiction or romances might get together as well. Which brings to mind something I've been thinking about: How do we limit participation? Obviously, we can't (and shouldn't) accommodate every independent author. I'm thinking along the lines of Goodread authors first, since this venue has provided us with the opportunity. After we establish a charter membership, we could take turns serving on a membership application and review board to enforce compliance with bylaws, first and foremost of which would be cooperative participation in proof reading and editing members' works. Just thoughts.

Another visual idea:

I know it looks like I'm blowing my horn here (I confess, I am), but here's a sample logo for the imprint.

I like the star logo! It gives off a cool yin yang vibe. I'm still not a fan of Helium though.

Adrian wrote: "I like the star logo! It gives off a cool yin yang vibe. I'm still not a fan of Helium though."

In defense of Helium: It is derived from the Greek God of the Sun - Helios. It is the Latin possessive form, so the what it's really saying is Helios' Press. Of course, it also one of the rarest and potentially most valuable elements. Helium 3 is thought to be a prime candidate for fusion reactions. At present the Russians are working on plans to mine it on the moon, which may contain vast amounts of Helium 3. And of course, it was E. R. Burroughs name for Mars.

You may cross examine the witness.

Adrian wrote: "Ok, the collective is out. How about something with lab, virtual, mind, or hive?"

Virtual Mind-Hive Labs!

We can mess with the fame of Random House and call ours Tandem House. The idea here is cooperation. One might think of a tandem bike. In which case "We're behind you, supporting your (dreams/journey)!" might be a decent slogan.

I would then recommend taking the considerable effort put into Helium Press and make it a subsidiary.

A. wrote: "Of course, it also one of the rarest and potentially most valuable elements..."

Uh...Helium's actually the second most abundant element in the universe. The fusion reaction in stars turns Hydrogen into Helium, the two simplest elements which account for nearly all the nuclear matter in today's universe.

;P

The average & above average reader will not think of a Sun God when they read Helium. They will think of gas (a odorless - but nonetheless, gas). Having to describe the etymology of the word, and then its latin possessive form is a bit of a reach. I'm keeping honest in saying as much because I want it to succeed as much as the rest of us do.

VMHL? too funny Iffix, Tandem House sounds too much like a knock-off brand - like Fay-Bans from China.

How about -

Anon Press ("Soon" Press)

or

Vedas House ("Knowledge" House)

Might I then suggest Allegiant (House/Press) Publishing?
I think we start going after Greek God names and people won't have a very clear idea of what we're about. Allegiant here meaning loyal or faithful, as in, once again, support of one another.

I'm good with Allegiant Publishing (House?). I wonder if readers will associate us with book #3 of the uber popular Divergent series.

Couldn't hurt. :P
I would have recommended Divergent Publishing House, but I think that might send the wrong message.

Micah wrote: "A. wrote: "Of course, it also one of the rarest and potentially most valuable elements..."

Uh...Helium's actually the second most abundant element in the universe. The fusion reaction in stars tur..."

You are exactly right! Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, but relatively rare on earth, only about 5/10000% of the atmosphere, and continually lost to space. It is replaced by alpha decay of radioactive elements, and can be recovered from natural gas. The isotope helium 3 is extremely rare on earth, but potentially abundant on the moon. About 25 ton of helium3, or about a fully-loaded Space Shuttle cargo bay's worth, could supply the current energy needs of the United States for a year.

You remind me that if we are going to espouse science, we should be exact in what we say. Thank you.

Iffix wrote: "Couldn't hurt. :P
I would have recommended Divergent Publishing House, but I think that might send the wrong message."

I think we need to keep the parent "publishing house" more inclusive, and let the various genre imprints be reflective.

I agree. The suggestion had nothing to deal with Divergent series, actually, just playing off of what Adrian said. Sorry for the confusion.

One thing I have to ask here since we're talking about naming an imprint: Where and why did someone come up with Penguin for an imprint? I mean, it's a cute little critter, but where's the literary connection? Just asking...

I don't mind Helium Press, but I'd shorten it to "HP" for the sake of book spines (in at least one variant of the logo).

Drea wrote: "I don't mind Helium Press, but I'd shorten it to "HP" for the sake of book spines (in at least one variant of the logo)."

You don't think Hewlitt Packard would come after us, do you? ;)

@A. Hey man, it's a penguin. What's not to love?

Iffix wrote: "Hey man, it's a penguin. What's not to love?"

I know. But why? I guess I'll just have to google it.

Drea wrote: "I don't mind Helium Press, but I'd shorten it to "HP" for the sake of book spines (in at least one variant of the logo)."

I think once the imprint became known, the logo alone would suffice. That's what Penguin does.

FFIW, I have no problem with Helium Press. It's the best suggestion so far.

Remember, you're talking about a SF publishing co-op, "the average reader" really isn't a SF reader (at least not exclusively). Helium, to me, makes me think of the periodic table more than the physical properties of the element at normal Earth temperatures.

Most of the other suggestions don't sound particularly Science Fictiony to me.

A. wrote: "...sample logo for the imprint."

I'd put Helium on the left, then the sun symbol, then Press on the right. One line, symmetrical, a bit more balanced.

True, I think we'd started discussing the overall press in this thread which was what confused it. I can get behind Helium as a sci-fi imprint.