by Bianca Raven

Created on: August 28, 2008   Last Updated: April 17, 2012

Writing a collaborative novel (a book co-written by you and another author) can be great fun as well as hugely rewarding.  Not only are you getting twice the amount of work done, but you also have the benefit of a built-in motivational partner to keep you writing - even when your Muse deserts you, inspiration fails or you just don't feel like it.

The best part about writing with another author is that you always have someone on hand to brainstorm with, toss about ideas, create characters and just chat about your work.  But writing collaboratively comes with some things to watch out for, too.  Let's look at some things you should consider before delving into co-writing a book with another author.

1) Be sure you're both writing the same story and using the same plot before you begin.

You could find your story heading down unplanned pathways if neither of you is sure where you're supposed to be leading your characters and events. Agree on a rough outline and be sure to stick to it

2) Agree about who writes what

Are you going to write every alternate chapter? Or will you be writing only the dialogue while your writing partner gets the hard work of back-story and narration? Will you only write the scenes with your own characters in them?

Decide how you're going to structure the story between you so the work load is balanced. If you're both going to write certain parts of the tale, then be sure you're both editing the other persons contributions to help keep the writing tight!

3) Whose world is it?

Are you creating your fictional setting together or will your story be set in a place that only one of you created?

Most writers only think of world-building as something a fantasy writer does. Not true. All fictional writers create towns, cities, places, countries and even planets for their novels to unfold within. Even if your tale is set in the real world, your version of it will still be fictional.

If you've sat down and worked out the details of where your novel will be set together, then the fictional stage in which your characters will be acting belongs jointly to each of you.

4) Put everything in writing!

Before things get too serious discuss every detail regarding cover, genre, royalties, character-ownership, copyright ownership and even payment structure.

Even if you think the details are too trivial and tiny to include, put them in the agreement clause anyway.

If the partnership dissolves at a later date, you'll need some form of back-up so there's no arguments later, and if you've included everything up front, then no one has anything to argue about!

5) Payment structure

For legal reasons, you may decide to register your collaboration as a business partnership. This makes payment much easier as some publishers don't like to split payments between you and another writer. It makes their contracts messier and their payment systems more difficult.

Another reason for considering a formal partnership agreement is copyright. By copyrighting a piece of work jointly, there may be issues that can arise at a later date if your partnership goes sour.

By registering the copyright under the legal entity you've registered, then you're both equally entitled to the protection under copyright laws.

I know I've written a few negative points about writing a collaborative novel, but the benefits truly outweigh the few negatives. The enjoyment and unique bond created between two writers working on the same project is second to none. Why not team up with another writer on your next project? You'll be surprised by what you'll accomplish together.

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