The Pros and Cons of Co-Writing
So, you and a fellow writer are considering taking the plunge. Co-writing, a relationship arguably as difficult, if not more so, than marriage. Though there are people who will warn you against it, there are also people who have had tremendous success in partnering with another writer. As one half of a co-author duo, I’ve found that for all of its challenges, co-writing can be an incredibly rewarding venture. In fact, I don’t think I’ll ever write alone again.
The #1 factor in being a successful author duo is Compatibility
Like all great duos, you want to have good chemistry with your co-author. Otherwise, you might spend more time fighting about the direction of your story than writing it.
Below are some questions you should consider:
- Do you both share similar goals for your current writing project, i.e. having character A and character Y end up together in the end, or prioritizing the action in the novel over the central romance?
- If your story doesn’t contain multiple POVs, can you easily mold your writing into one consistent voice?
- Similar interests. This should be the first question you ask yourselves. Is one of you a Sci-Fi writer and the other strictly non-fiction? If so, can you compromise on a story/plot for your project?
- Are you comfortable criticizing and being criticized by one another? Co-writers have to be ready to have difficult conversations. No matter how compatible you are, there will be things that the other one does that you don’t like, or think can be better
This brings me to factor #2: Compromise
As a solo author, you have the power to be the dictator of your prose. Every decision is yours to make. Hate character X? Kill him! Love word Y? Use it all the time! Sure, you might have to battle it out down the line with editors, but at least in the early stages, you have the complete freedom to shape and control the trajectory of your creative vision.
This is not the case for co-writing. It’s important when working with another author that you’re both on the same wavelength. I recommend discussing your disagreements at length. If you imagine that the main character is tall, but your co-author sees them as short, plead your case. Talk it out and see if maybe you can meet somewhere in the middle. This is also a great strategy for thinking things out. Whenever I’m stuck on a particular scene, I talk through it with my co-author, and the act of verbalizing my thoughts often helps me gain a clearer understanding of where I should go with it.
If you find another writer that you’re compatible with, and are able to compromise, go ahead and give it a shot! Once you’ve found the right partner, there are significant benefits from entering a writer partnership.
Reasons why co-writing can be awesome:
- Two sets of eyes. Not only is this fantastic for proofreading, but it also helps with discovering potential plot holes and inconsistencies
- A permanent person in your corner. Writing can often come with a lot of self-doubt, especially when you’re in the midst of the querying trenches or waiting for a response from a beta reader. With a co-author, you have someone to support you throughout the journey. Sometimes it’s nice to know you’re not alone
- You split the work. Is there a scene that’s getting you down? Perhaps as a writer you’re more of a dialogue person than a description person? A co-author can help to fill in the spaces of your weaknesses. They’re awesome for helping with tough scenes, offering advice, and providing preliminary feedback before going to the betas
With that, I’ll set you free into the world again. Makes good choices, and let me know if you have any questions about co-writing!
-Riv