How the Co-Op Works
The Shoot System™ is a cooperative ecosystem for independent authors. Instead of paying thousands out-of-pocket for editing, formatting, and design, members earn and redeem credits by helping one another. Your book moves through a clear, standards-based workflow — and you never surrender your creative ownership or royalties. Because here, we help each other blossom.
This page gives a plain-language overview of how a manuscript moves through the system once we launch. Details may evolve as Founding Members help refine the process.
Three simple phases: plant, work, harvest.
Under the hood, there’s governance, credit math, and queue logic. But as a member, your experience is simple: you plant a story, you work the land alongside others, and you harvest a finished book with your name on it.
1. Plant a Story (Shoot Packets)
Instead of dropping a 120,000-word manuscript on someone’s desk, you submit your work in Standard Submission Units (SSUs) — 10,000-word “shoot packets.”
- Each packet moves through specific stages: review, edit, refine.
- Clear standards keep feedback focused and consistent.
- You always know where each packet is in the process.
2. Work the Land (Earn Credits)
The co-op runs on shared labor. Every member is expected to “work the land” a bit each month — contributing to someone else’s project, or to the health of the community.
- You might review a chapter, proofread a packet, or help with layout.
- You might also support outreach, mentorship, or onboarding new members.
- These contributions are logged and verified, and you earn credits for them.
Members who consistently meet their contribution expectations are recognized — and receive priority in the service queue when it’s their turn.
3. Harvest the Book (Redeem Credits)
When you’re ready to move your own work forward, you redeem your credits for co-op services:
- Editing and proofing passes on your packets.
- Interior layout and basic design support.
- Digital file prep (EPUB/PDF) and self-publishing setup support.
- Access to an ISBN once your full manuscript completes the workflow.
At every stage, you retain full ownership of your work. The co-op facilitates labor and support — it never becomes your publisher of record and never touches your royalties.
What about fairness and wait times?
A co-op only works if members trust the system. Behind the scenes, The Shoot System™ uses simple rules to keep things fair and moving:
- Members who consistently meet their contribution expectations go into a priority queue.
- Others are still served — but after those who are actively helping the community.
- Requests that have waited longer slowly climb in priority.
- This prevents anyone from being quietly forgotten at the bottom of the list.
The goal is simple: if you show up for others, the system shows up for you — and no one’s work sits in limbo.
What this is — and what it isn’t.
The Shoot System™ is meant to feel like a supported path, not a trap. Here are a few direct answers to questions most indie authors have.
Do you take royalties or rights?
No. The co-op never owns your work, never takes a cut of your sales, and never becomes your publisher of record. It’s a support structure — not a rights grab.
What do I actually pay?
Members will pay a monthly co-op dues amount (still being finalized during the interest phase) to support infrastructure, governance, and administration. The bulk of your “cost” is your time and contribution, which earns the credits you later redeem.
Who does the actual work?
Co-op members: authors, editors, proofreaders, designers, and other creative professionals. Over time, structured mentorship and training tracks will help new contributors grow into more specialized roles.
What if I’m more helper than author (or vice versa)?
That’s welcome. Some members will be primarily writers. Others may be primarily editors or designers. The system is designed to support both — as long as everyone participates in the shared labor that keeps the co-op healthy.
What stage is this in?
Right now, we’re in the design and interest-gathering phase. The Constitution, bylaws, and workflows are being shaped with future members in mind. Joining the waitlist simply means you want to be notified when it’s ready.
What’s this about future courses?
In a later phase, The Shoot Academy will offer self-paced courses in proofing, editing, design, and production. That phase is planned for 2027–2028 — and will plug directly into the same credit and mentorship system.
Join the Founding Waitlist
If this sounds like the kind of ecosystem you wish already existed, you’re the kind of person The Shoot System™ is being built for. Add your name below if you’d like to be notified when we open to Founding Members.
- A voice in the final shape of the co-op.
- Early access to the first membership cohort.
- Priority for early manuscript slots.
- Founding Member recognition inside the community.
If you’ve ever thought, “There has to be a better way for indie authors to do this,” The Shoot System™ is one attempt at that better way — and you’re invited to help us grow it.