So You Think You Can Write? The Power of Being Published
Being
published makes me feel powerful, says Miranda Vogt. She is only 12
years old, but already feels as if shes been an influence on the
world. The seventh grader at Bak Middle School in West Palm Beach
recently became a published author as a participant in the fourth
annual Océ Future Authors Project program. Miranda, along with 49 other
District of Palm Beach County middle and high school students, had
their original writings published in a book they dubbed, So, You Think
You Can Write? The book was compiled by Océ North America Production
Printing Systems division and published using the companys digital
book factory printing equipment. The book was unveiled at a book
signing event held at the City of Boca Raton Spanish River Public
Library. More than 150 students, parents and school officials attended
the event.
Vogt was hesitant to attend the summer writing
workshop at first. I didnt want to spend my summer at school, but it
turned out to be anything but school. It was a great experience, and I
enjoyed spending time with kids who have the same interest in writing.
Océ North
Americas Boca Raton-based Production Printing Systems division is a
creator and sponsor of the program, which includes a free eight-day
writing workshop held in the summer. A partnership between the School
District of Palm Beach County and Océ North America, the 2009 Océ
Future Authors Project program was made possible with generous grants
from the Lawrence Sanders Foundation, BankAtlantic Foundation and Xplor
International, a non-profit educational and networking organization
serving users and suppliers of document technologies. During the
workshop, the students learned about writing, editing, and digital book
publishing. Certified teachers provided instruction, with additional
insight provided by Océ executives and published authors, Jonathon
King, Sally Ling and Dwight Stewart.
Shivangi Narain
(in photo on right), who is in eighth grade at Don Estridge Middle
School in Boca Raton, also enjoyed the summer workshop and was thrilled
to see her name in print. It was really fun, she said. We put a lot
of hard work into this book and learned how important it is to write
and rewrite. When I went back to look at draft one of about five, I
couldnt believe it was the same piece.
Spanish River High
senior, Brianna Bachus, echoed the value of writing reviews. I like
having my work critiqued, she said. The teachers pushed us to be our
best. Brianna is currently working on her first novel and plans to
attend Florida Atlantic University next year. One Future Author
participant drove all the way from South Carolina to be at the book
signing. Christina Pacilli, a former eighth grader at Tradewinds Middle
School, recently moved with her family to Erma, South Carolina. This
is such a wonderful program, said her mom, Mary. We are donating
copies of the book to the school and public libraries in our new town.
Boca
Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel, who spoke at the book signing, said that it
really does take a village to raise a child and that public-private
partnerships like this one are invaluable. Our most important people
are our youth, she said. They are our future, and partnerships like
this provide opportunities to help them grow.
Sheryl Pattek,
Vice President of Marketing Services for Océ North America Production
Printing Systems division, said the program began as a way for the
company give back to the community, help ignite a love of writing in
students and increase the awareness of the impact digital printing is
having on the publishing world. Digital printing now allows more
authors to self publish and for books to be printed on demand in
quantities as small as one, she explained. Most important, she added,
Programs like the Océ Future Authors are essential in todays world of
cutbacks. If we can motivate a few students to pursue careers in
writing or to fuel a love of writing in our Future Authors, were
helping to make the world a better place for all of us.
Dr.
Constance Tuman-Rugg, assistant superintendent for K-12 curriculum,
thanked Océ for making the Future Authors program possible. During a
time when most companies are cutting back and telling community groups
no, they continued to support the program and created a book thats
the best one yet, she said at the book signing. Partnerships like
this are more vital today than ever. Digital printing has changed
the business model at every point in the value chain, as book
manufacturers, publishers, retailers and even end users benefit from
reduced costs and faster turnaround. More than half of the top 20
digital book manufacturers rely on Océ digital print solutions as part
of their publishing platforms.
For a closer look at the Océ Future Authors Project, visit and .
About Océ
Océ
is a leading international provider of digital document management
technology and services. The companys solutions are based on Océs
advanced software applications that deliver documents and data over
internal networks and the Internet to printing devices and archives --
locally and around the world. Supporting the workflow solutions are Océ
digital printers and scanners, considered the most reliable and
productive in the world. Océ also offers a wide range of display
graphics, consulting and outsourcing solutions. Océ employs around
23,000 people, with 2008 revenues of approximately $4.3 billion,
operates in more than 90 countries and maintains research and
manufacturing centers in the Netherlands, the United States, Canada,
Germany, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Romania and Singapore.
Océ North America is headquartered in Trumbull, CT, with additional
business units in Chicago, IL; New York City; Boca Raton, FL; Salt Lake
City, UT and Vancouver, BC. North American revenues represented
approximately half of Océs worldwide business in 2008, and employment
is approximately 10,000. For more information about Océ, visit . Outside the U.S., consult .