Collaboration

Nikoda asks: How do people write in collaboration. Does one person write one chapter, another person other?

First, pop over to Barb and J.C. Hendee’s website (http://www.nobeldead.com/) and look at their frequently asked questions section on how they collaborate.

I have limited experience with collaboration, but here’s how I’ve done it on the rare occasion.

It’s very easy for me to sit down with a friend and toss ideas around until we come up with a basic story outline. When it gets down to actually writing, we divide the work according to who is better at what task.

For example, my strengths involve high-level story plotting, action sequences, and to a lesser extent character design. I start each chapter, roughing it out and writing the sections I feel comfortable with, but leave blank spots with notes saying this character needs to be fleshed out…or a scene needs to be written where a character reveals some tragic flaw. I leave about half the work to be filled in by my writing partner (with notes on what needs to be written because I’m the designated plot guy).

In this method – at least on first pass – you’re both bringing to the table your individual strengths, and letting your writing partner support your weaknesses.

Then, of course, we review each others’ work, adding comments and occasionally offering rewrite suggestions.

NOTE: if you’re rewriting everything your partner is writing, you’re probably not a good match.

Once we get to the point where we’re flipping individual words around, that’s when we know we’re done. That usual takes 2-3 edit passes.

This is just one way to do it. I’m sure there are as many ways to write collaboratively as there are ways to write individually. I hope you find a way that works. Good luck!