What should I be concerned about when collaborating?

[LGL]

I have recently been contacted by someone wanting to work together and collaborate on a tale. We do seem to have similar interests and there should does seem to be aspcts of our writing styles that should work well together. the other person has a decent outline prepared and is very eager to work with with for what reason i have no idea but i do find it to be flattering.

I am just concerned about taking attention away from my current projects.

I am also not sure what etitiquete type things i need to be aware of. What if anything should I be concerned about?

 

[Un-registered]

I am also not sure what etitiquete type things i need to be aware of. What if anything should I be concerned about?

I have collaborated in the past and it isn't easy.

Try to think what the other person will read into your emails. Remember there are no inflections and tone of voice in an email, so it is easy to misinterpret what is only seen in writing.

Make sure you are both clear who does what.

Remeber that if your co-author critcises something, it isn't personal. (S)he is just trying to reach the same goal as you - the best story your can write between you. The basic assumption is that two heads are better than one.

If (s)he has invited you, (s)he thinks you can improve the story. Ask (her)him why (s)he thinks that, and it will help you to contribute better.

 

[daisie]

Call me selfish, but...

...I never have understood this whole collaborating thing. First of all, writers are insane and have big, big egos. The only way I can see it working is if the two writers can bring something very different to the table. Otherwise, I'm certain there will be throwing of chairs or, in the case of this cyber relationship, monitors.

In the case of your potential collaborator, it sounds just plain lazy.

Second, if you're serious about writing, you need to commit to finishing the projects you have going.

Third, what happens if the story is sold? Legally, what right do you have to it? Do you even know the other person's real name? Are you willing to give yours?

If this is just a fun hobby for you, go for it. It could be a fun sociological experiment.

Otherwise, tell this collaborator that you like the outline and would love to read the finished product, but you have too much on your plate right now.

D

 

[Chicklet]

I am just concerned about taking attention away from my current projects.

This person contacted you?

If your heart isn't 100 percent in to this collaboration, don't do it. Don't feel bad or sorry or that you *must* go through with it (I understand how flattering and wonderful it feels to be so wanted) if you're not 100 percent in love with the idea. If you want to finish your other projects first, I sugest you do that. Putting them aside may be putting them aside forever.

The main things I'd say to worry about when collaborating are that the other person actually does go through with the project - but it sounds like this person will.

Chicklet

 

[jfinn]

I've done a fair amount of collaborative writing with several different authors both in my professional work and on the net. I enjoy it and I find that I'm much more productive when I'm working with someone else. Also, everytime I work with someone else, I learn things I could never find out just on my own.

The thing that I've found that's most important though is the way you have to approach working with someone else. You can't consider the other person as a separate entity. You have to get it in your mind that they are as much a part of the writing process as you are. When you write with someone you have to put aside all the ego triggers and accept that this person's opinion is always valid, even when you disagree-- and in those instances when you can't decide on which of you has the best idea, then you better back off and try to think of something else that you can agree on. It's better to start fresh then force something down someone's throat, because it will always show in the writing.

You also can't go into it thinking that two people means half the work for each. Trust me, when you're done you'll know that both of you worked just as hard, if not harder, on this story then anything you write alone.

As for the nuts and bolts about actually writing together. My experience with net collaborations has been that we plot it all out meticulously, then one of us writes the first scene and gives it to the other to edit and rewrite, the next scene we switch. We keep repeating this until we're both satisfied. Generally by that time neither of us remembers exactly who came up with what. LOL The only problem with working like this is that you end up with a bunch of drafts and you have to be very meticulous about keeping track of them with some kind of numbering system or you might lose some writing you really want to use.

However you decide to write though, the important thing is that all of this stuff has been discussed and agreed upon beforehand. That's the only way you can really be assured of not running into problems later.

Hope this helps.

Jayne

 

[MathGirl]

What if anything should I be concerned about?

Dear LGL,

As I see it, your most clear and present danger is running into someone like me. I can't imagine ever being cooperative enough to collaborate on a story. They're too personal.

Collaboration between two writers sounds like an excellent recipe for producing two pissed off people.

Diane the Ever Helpful

 

[Sabledrake]

I've never been a good collaborator. Not even when it comes to writing in shared-universe projects.

I think that the main factor involved is my selfishness -- I want to do things MY way, headstrong Aries that I am.

This can be detrimental not only to the project but to my relationship with my fellow collaborators (many of those who've offered have been friends, and I'd rather turn them down nicely than wind up fighting over story ideas).

I do envy people who can manage it. One of my favorite series of novels, the Wild Cards books, was done as a shared universe. I've had to pass on some fun and interesting opportunities.

Sabledrake

 

[TheEarl]

I could never collaberate. I'm too impatient, too instinctive and too inconsistent a writer to be of any use to people. I drive my co-conspirator nuts.

The Earl

 

[Un-registered]

Re: Call me selfish, but...

The only way I can see it working is if the two writers can bring something very different to the table.

I must confess that I have only collaborated with an author of the opposite sex and their contribution was the opposite POV. We didn't write as though we were role playing, though. Each of us wrote different scenes and then the other brought a new angle to that scene.

Third, what happens if the story is sold? Legally, what right do you have to it? Do you even know the other person's real name? Are you willing to give yours?

These are good questions. I will not collaborate without a prior agreement on Intellectual Property Rights and attribution. I really do want to speak on the telephone, at least, before we start.

Originally posted by jfinn
You also can't go into it thinking that two people means half the work for each. Trust me, when you're done you'll know that both of you worked just as hard, if not harder, on this story then anything you write alone.

I think about 50% more effort than doing it alone, but twice as good a result, if it works.