Today's Writing Community - Secrets of Collaboration

by Karen E. Rigley

Writing can be lonely and isolate you, so it’s fun to write with others. Co-writing means someone to brainstorm with you, a partner to share the load, who adds depth and speed; maybe a kindred spirit to inspire (or carry) you when words won't flow.

My most frequent writing partner and I have worked together for over a decade. Also, I have collaborated with other writers on various projects from novels to scripts. In fact, right now I’m collaborating with a friend and novelist on a mystery. She has current deadlines, so I’m beginning the book on my own, but sending it to her and incorporating her edits as I go.

Collaboration gone awry can be a dangerous thing: ripping apart friends, crippling careers and poisoning once cordial personalities. It doesn't take luck to make collaboration work -- it takes trust.

In collaboration you share the benefits and you share the problems. Attitudes that are adaptable and willing to compromise spell the difference between stop and go or unfinished and sold.

Forget POWER. No such thing exists in a true partnership. Work together. Build upon each other's words, ignite one another's creativity and draw dimension from your differences.

Here are some collaboration rules to smooth your co-writing path:

*Trust and respect your co-writer.

*Believe in your partner's skill.

*Share a vision of the project.

*Don't get stuck in a your way or my way mindset. (There's always another choice, an additional alternative.)

*Be flexible and willing to compromise.

*Don’t jockey for power or battle for control.

*Blend your writing. Don't force your style on your partner.

*Once you complete a project, collaborators should go over it carefully for a seamless manuscript – no one should be able to detect a difference in who wrote what. It should flow together like two streams winding into one river.

*Agree on terms before you begin collaboration.

*Sign a simple contract beforehand. We have a brief agreement stating we share 50/50 all earnings and major expenses such as agent fees.

*Make sure you are compatible -- from software to personalities.

*Define your collaboration methods upfront; then please be flexible.

*Be supportive. Life throws everyone curves at times.

*Keep a sense of humor. You can handle anything, if you can laugh about it.

*Remember nothing is carved in stone.

Co-writing doesn't work for every author or on every project. Don't be crushed if it doesn't work out. Maybe you were paired with the wrong writer or at the wrong time.

Collaboration can add dimension to writing, enhancing one another’s talents to create an end product better than either could produce alone. If you want to collaborate – go for it. Co-writing can be fun. Maybe you’ll discover it’s your favorite way to write.

PARTNERS

Collaboration takes respect,
compromise
and trust
combined with a bit
of magic
and humor
to glue it.
Without the right formula,
don’t
do it.

***

K.E. Rigley bio:

A multi-award winning author/poet/designer, Karen is recognized for her ability to touch readers with her myriad of stories, articles, scripts and poetry. She’s a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America and also the International Women’s Writing Guild. She was editor/director of Writer's Rainbow and has been a first reader for several publications.

Her work’s appeared in: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Love Stories, Underwired Magazine (Sept 08), WritersReign, On the SingleSide, Magic, The Magic Within, Grit, Science Fiction Review, ComputerEdge, Andre Norton’s TALES OF THE WITCHWORLD (Volumes Two & Three), CATFANTASTIC Edited by Andre Norton & Martin H. Greenberg, CATFANTASTIC II and CATFANTASTIC III, Romance Writers Report, RhymeTime, SouthWest Writers Workshop, Science Fiction & Fantasy Workshop, Inkling, Keystrokes, MysteryTime, Housewife Writers Forum, Strange Wonderland, Stuff My Ear Magazine, Warrior Wise Woman 2 anthology (Norilana Books), etc.