Working on a writing project with one or more co-authors can be exciting, fun, productive, synergistic, and educational for all of you. Ideally you create something that makes you all proud, that you all enjoy creating, and that you create as efficiently as possible.
However, there can definitely be a downside. I know several instances in which co-authors were unhappy with each other and the process, and also the final product.
You must be clear on who is doing what, and you must be very specific. Typically each co-author is responsible for one or more whole chapters of a book. But there are many other aspects of a project for which you must delegate responsibilities.
Continuing with our book example, you need to determine who will:
- Create the prefatory material, including the table of contents, preface, and introduction
- Write the appendices
- Make the index
- Write copy for the back cover
- Deal with photos and figures
- Copyedit the manuscript
- Fact-check the manuscript
- Serve as the contact person with personnel at the publishing company
- Put the book in ready-to-print form, if you are self-publishing
- 10. Deal with the various aspects of marketing the book, which can include publicity, website creation, etc.
Depending on what type of book you’re writing, you may need to coordinate writing styles so that all co-authors have a similar voice. Otherwise readers will be either confused or jarred when they move from one chapter to the next.
You also must be very clear on when each task will be completed. Draw up a detailed schedule and make sure each co-author has it, agrees to it, and sticks to it.
It’s very important that you decide how you will split the proceeds of the book. It may not be an even split: One co-author may do more work than the others and should rightfully get more of the earnings. You also must determine how you’ll pay for the various expenses of the writing project.
There’s a good chance you’ll have one or more disagreements along the way. That’s why you need a process for dispute resolution. I don’t mean something formal with a mediator. It can be as simple as stating that co-authors will calmly discuss any disagreements in a relaxed and supportive manner in which all will be able to state their concerns and all will strive to resolve disputes to create a win-win solution.
Finally, make a written agreement covering all of this and have all co-authors sign it. It will make you focus clearly on your responsibilities, and you can refer to it if any disagreements arise.
(This post is based on Chapter 38, “How to Co-Author,” from the e-book Intelligent Productivity For Freelance Writers: Manage Your Time, Make More Money, and Get More Enjoyment From Life.)
In what instances have you had successful partnerships with other people, whether it was business related or not? Why were these partnerships successful? How could you apply what you learned to co-authoring?
