Co-writing

[ElectricBlue]

I've got two and a half successful collaborations here, with two different writers. We used the same approach each time - taking our own established characters and joining them together in a story, writing turn and turn about. No plot, no hand over notes, here ya go.

One of the stories became very intimate, which made it interesting as it progressed. There's no room for ego, and you put inhibitions aside for the duration. It can work.

For the curious, here are the stories:

https://www.literotica.com/beta/s/the-floating-world-pt-04-1

https://www.literotica.com/beta/s/english-summer-tales-pt-01

https://www.literotica.com/beta/s/american-girls-down-under

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Yes, that seems to be the main thing. As it is in life lol

As it is in life . . .

 

[lovecraft68]

Few years back I hosted a 'tag team" writing competition where authors names were drawn by a non participant to write a story together, the theme was team work.

I think we started with ten pairs, but maybe 8 finished and one author wrote with more than one partner when there's dropped out.

I co wrote By Demons Driven with XelliebabeX and the story eventually placed as a monthly contest winner.

https://www.literotica.com/s/by-demons-driven

I told her to keep the prize money and the story could be under her name once it was removed from the "oddcouple" shared pen name, but eventually-and with her permission-I wrote over her parts, changed the ending to the one I would have done if it were my solo project and published it into a novel.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I generally collaborate with the voices in my head. Totally different perspective, some of them.

I think the closest I've come to real collaboration is when writing a bespoke story. I tend to work very closely with the patron, with ideas and feedback bouncing back and forth like Wimbledon.

 

[AlphaLyon]

I think it makes the process very interesting, not knowing exactly where the story goes.

Just reading that statement gives me anxiety. I'm a plotter, not a pantser, so that's definitely not my style.
I'm currently working on a story with another person, but they aren't a writer, per se.
We collabed back and forth on the overall outline, and he is working on providing some of the details (since it deals with werewolf sex and I'm not familiar with writing about that), and I'll do the rest.

Does anyone know how collab stories are done on here, though, if both writers are on Lit? Do they both submit the story independently? Is there a way to attribute it to two authors at the same time?

 

[TadOverdon]

I'm kinda sure I wouldn't be writing porn like this except for this relationship, so it seems natural. LOL

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Just reading that statement gives me anxiety. I'm a plotter, not a pantser, so that's definitely not my style.

I've tried both styles, and I enjoy them both. The creativity of writing solo is great, but so is the interactivity of co-writing. At it's best it's the same rush of exploration and push/pull of tension that you can get in the best video games, but with even more freedom to impact that world.

Does anyone know how collab stories are done on here, though, if both writers are on Lit? Do they both submit the story independently? Is there a way to attribute it to two authors at the same time?

I would also be interested to hear the answer to these questions.

 

[KeithD]

Does anyone know how collab stories are done on here, though, if both writers are on Lit? Do they both submit the story independently? Is there a way to attribute it to two authors at the same time?

I coauthor on here with Sabb. We have separate writing accounts and one combined one (Shabbu). We both have access to that shared account (all you have to do is know the password) and either of us can submit our coauthored story there. I've always had it for the last review, so I've always done the submission. The author is Shabbu. Shabbu's profile gives both of our separate Lit. account names (And our separate Lit. account profiles mention the Shabbu collaboration). We've done well with the shared stories here, although haven't coauthored in a while because Sabb's been busy with other businesses. We won one of the themed contests a few years ago.

 

[TadOverdon]

Sometimes one of us writes a scene or chapter, gives it to the other who either fiddles with it, rewrites it altogether or just starts the next scene or chapter instead. Sometimes I stand over his shoulder kibitzing or vice versa. Sometimes it's just me for weeks.

These stories are, broadly, picaresques with some general through-line sufficing as plot. So planning is not the overarching concern during first draft. It all has to be revised from front to back at last once.

 

[AlinaX]

The collaboration I did, we had a shared Google doc, and sometimes were writing different parts at the same time in the same document. Afterwards I submitted in my name, by agreement.

A few months ago, I picked up someone's partial draft and rewrote and built on it. The more I did so, the more I felt the need to have it published under my name.

So, my advice, make sure at the beginning of any collaboration who will be publishing it.

 

[LAHomedog]

I usually write with a co-writer/partner. I prefer it.

I do this in real life. I've been with the same writing partner for about 40 years, and I have on here three times with one becoming an official team with its own homepage.

For me, you must have compatibility as people first (be friends or become friends), and then you both have to bring something different to the party. Different strengths and weaknesses. You know that "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts" thing.

You have to know each other's roles and respect what you are both contributing.

As an example, this was written in full partnership with Eva_Adams who I met here when she asked me to edit a story for her last year:

https://www.literotica.com/s/on-location-pt-01

 

[ElectricBlue]

Does anyone know how collab stories are done on here, though, if both writers are on Lit? Do they both submit the story independently? Is there a way to attribute it to two authors at the same time?

I do this: decide whose account you want the story to run in, and submit the whole thing. Meanwhile, prepare a short intro (the first thousand words or so, enough to get the idea of the story) and at the end, add a sentence saying, "The story continues here." Coordinate that submission with your co-writer and submit one after the other. Both authors include a note for Laurel, explaining it's a collaborative story, and can she link the second stub intro to the main story.

That way, you get the readers coming in from both accounts. It works well, just needs the coordination with Laurel.

Here's an example:

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-floating-world-transgendence

Or, just submit in one account or the other, add an Author's Note, but forego the linked bit. By agreement, obviously. I've done that, too.

The alternative is to set up a new account. The down-side of that is nobody knows who it is and you have to build up a new reader base. It might work if you have a lot of content or the content is miles away from your usual stuff, and you want to keep it separate.

You have to have a good relationship with your co-writer and agree your working method. All of mine have been: write a thousand words or so and lob it over the fence, no handover notes, nothing. The other writer writes off that, taking it wherever they want it to go. And so on.

 

[KeithD]

The alternative is to set up a new account. The down-side of that is nobody knows who it is and you have to build up a new reader base. It might work if you have a lot of content or the content is miles away from your usual stuff, and you want to keep it separate.

You just link them all in the profiles.

 

[Trionyx]

Does anyone find it interesting and fun to co-write with a partner? I think it makes the process very interesting, not knowing exactly where the story goes.

I write solo and even I don’t know where the story is going half the time.

 

[RelentlessOnanism]

My first story on Literotica was a collaboration...

https://www.literotica.com/s/a-dangerous-game-6

I found it quite a positive and productive experience, and it gave me the confidence to write my own stories. But I do think it's important to establish the ground rules before you start. I had never published a story before, whilst my writing partner was an established Literotica author, so I was very much the 'junior' partner. I deferred to her most of the time and since the story was published under her name, she always had the final say.

I would be happy to try again at collaborating, but I'm an established author now, so I might not be so deferential. I may me more keen to have my way.

But I would be willing to give it a go.

 

[8letters]

Given how slowly I write, I've got too many story ideas for me to ever use them all. I've wondered about doing a collaboration with someone where I give them a plot, we discuss it, and then they write the story. If you're interested in writing a brother-sister story like that, send me a PM.

 

[UnpublishedEroticaWriter]

Does anyone find it interesting and fun to co-write with a partner? I think it makes the process very interesting, not knowing exactly where the story goes.

One of my 1st editors brought up the idea of co-writing a story with me. I thought it was an interesting idea. Then she ghosted me. But that's just what editors do here. In my experience anyway.