When my first book was contracted by a publisher, I was assigned an editor who also wrote for Men's Health
magazine. This editor, being a writer too, knew how scary it was to
have a first book. I knew very little about how to structure a book; my
editor showed me the ropes.
Not long after that book got
published, I got a call from the same editor. Would I like to partner
up with him on authoring another book?
We proposed a topic that we were both passionate about. An agent got interested and we signed a contract.
The
agreement for our co-author partnership was very like our author-editor
relationship for my first book. I would provide the "talent" or the
content. My co-author would help me shape it. It was a journey we'd
travel together--one of us deciding where to go, the other deciding how.
The book got bought by a good publisher--Rodale Press. Rodale is big on
research in their nonfiction books, so my co-author and I did some more
talking. Who was going to do the research? We decided his load was
slightly lighter, so he'd take care of the fact-gathering and I would
work the facts into our chapters.
The book took about a year to
produce, with both of us working on it part-time. Because we worked out
the details before the project began, our partnership was good. For
over ten years, we received royalties for that co-authored book.
Clearly Defined Roles: Why Some Writing Teams Work So Well
Since
then, I've coached many writing teams. Some co-authored books worked
out brilliantly. Others floundered. Reason? The writers had not
clearly defined each person's role in the project.
My co-author
and I worked hard on this. We had it written down. Each knew his or
her role in the book's genesis, development, and publication schedule.
Without
clearly defined roles, a project becomes fraught with "too many
cooks"--one writer ends up overlapping the other's work and resentments
build.
Like any business arrangement, books grow out of
enthusiasm, a zeal to tell a story, the desire to market a good idea,
among other reasons. In the agreement, the writers must operate with
their heads, not their hearts, in my experience. Hearts have their place
in the building of a book--where would we be without passion for our
topic?
But if both writers come to the project with just heartfelt enthusiasm, that's a recipe for misunderstandings later.
Business Agreement: Take Your Partnership Seriously
Imagine
going into business with your possible co-author. Would you enjoy that
relationship? Are they someone you respect? What strengths do they
bring to the table?
It's usually not enough to just like or be
related to your co-author. This bond isn't often strong enough to carry
you through the business dealings that will come if your book is
published.
So I suggest approaching your partnership like a
business agreement. Write stuff down--make a contract or at least a
list of tasks and responsibilities.. Talk about what's important: What
is each writer going to do? What are the deadlines for producing each
part--and how will each writer hold to them?
Working with Different Timing Styles: How Do You Each Approach Deadlines?
An
obstacle I didn't expect, with my wonderful co-author, was our unique
approaches to deadlines. I like to be ahead of deadlines. My co-author
preferred to think about all the options until the final moment.
Most of the time, I was ahead of schedule and he was down to the wire.
Sometimes this meant I had to scramble too, and it made me mad. But we worked it out. And the
result was worth it--his work was so valuable to me, I swallowed my
irritation (and occasional panic) and flowed with it.
To avoid
this, talk about it ahead of time. Get to know this side of your
co-author, whether it's your brother, your parent, your uncle, your
boss, or another writer who shares your passion for a topic. Get your
preferences out on the table and discuss what you'll do if one of you
needs something the other can't deliver.
Checklist for Co-Authoring Discussions
Here's a
checklist. I'd recommend starting with these kinds of questions, if
you're considering a writing partnership for a book project. Modify it
to fit your particular situation.
1. State why each person is
committed to the book project--what's the goal of each writer, how do
these goals differ, and what's your individual and team vision for the
book?
2. Who is going to do what? Will both of you write? Will one write and the other research and edit?
3.
What is your approach to deadlines? How can you flex with each other's
style? How will you communicate if things go south and resentments
build?
4. How often will you sit down and check in with each other to see how it's going?
5.
What's your individual and team view about getting feedback? Do each
of you agree not to share the raw material unless with permission from
the other--or are you OK with sharing it at any point?
6. How
about the ownership and money? Whose name is first on the title page
and cover (libraries, bibliographies, and other filing systems can
sometimes list the first person's name as the visible one on a
search--how will this feel to the second author)? If you have to pay
for help (editing, etc.) who pays? If you land a contract, what is the
split of advances, royalties, fees?
Don't let this serious talk discourage you from pursuing co-authoring. It can be a marvelous experience. It can save you tons of work. Often, two creative minds are more fertile than one.
But it pays to take this kind of agreement as seriously as you do your agreement with your own writing.
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