Collaborative Writing: Why Writing Together is Better Than Writing Alone

by Corina Koch MacLeod
@CKmacleodwriter

Image by Brian Snelson (CC BY 2.0)

Do you write alone? I used to. About twelve years ago, I started a book — a historical YA novel set in post-war Germany. A traditional publisher had seen an excerpt from my manuscript, saw something in my writing and asked me to submit it when it was finished. That's great news, right? Except that I never finished that manuscript. It's languishing on my external hard drive and should be out in two thousand and never...

Since then, I've co-published seven books and I'm working on my eighth. Life is actually more busy than it was twelve years ago (the pre-parenting era) and yet, I've managed to produce an acceptable amount (I think) of publishable writing. What's the secret?

Never write alone.

You read that right. About eleven years ago I embarked on a writing project with another author, Carla Douglas, and it was such a positive experience, I've never looked back. Here's why I think that writing together is better than writing alone:

1. Two brains are better than one.
There's a great deal of chatter in business and education about the value of collaboration. When you work with someone on a writing project (any project really), you potentially double (even triple — collaboration math isn't always predictable) the amount of expertise, experience and creativity that you bring to a project. Working with someone means you'll learn to see a challenge in different ways, which gets you closer to seeing a challenge from all angles.

2. Brainstorming is more than a breeze.
Working with a partner takes brainstorming to a new level. Some of your seemingly "dumb" ideas may see the light of day because your writing partner champions them and points out how they just might work. You're also exposed to more possibilities when your partner's ideas lead your brain in directions it wouldn't have gone in on its own. Brainstorming alone is a gentle breeze. Brainstorming together brings on gale force winds.

3. You don't need to know everything.
I only need to know half the stuff that any other writer needs to know. Carla needs to know the other half and then we have our writing knowledge bases covered. Whenever there is something writing-related to be learned (a new writing tool, or a new concept, for example) one of us learns it and then shares what we know with the other.

4. You don't need to do everything.
Many writers have nonwriting tasks that they need to attend to, such as writing blog posts, setting up a website, monitoring the Twitter feed, and maintaining the Pinterest page. Working with a partner means you can do half the work. Which leaves more time for writing...

5. You can leverage your strengths.
Carla and I have different strengths. She reads widely and is expansive in her thinking. I dive deeply into a topic, and I like to sort things into boxes. She is yin and I am yang. I don't need to be more yin and Carla doesn't need to be more yang. Nevertheless, our writing projects benefit from both approaches, resulting in potentially well-structured writing that explores the boundaries of what's possible.

6. You have someone to be accountable to.
Do you ever feel like you'd rather be doing anything other than writing? We all have those moments. When I'm writing alone, it's far too tempting to ditch a writing session and curl up with good book and a cup of dark roast. But if I know someone else is relying on me to pull my writing weight or take my turn, I find a way to beat back the I-don't-wannas. My writing partner is counting on me. I don't want to disappoint her. Sadly, I am far too okay with disappointing myself...

7. You have a built-in fact checker, editor, and proofreader.
Pretty much everything I write has to get past my writing partner. She's a wonderful copyeditor and proofreader, and she'll often point out those instances in my writing that are unclear, and catch those missteps that will surely mortify me.

8. You can get more done in less time.
If you're writing on your own, you often need to set your writing aside for a week at least, before you can see it again with fresh eyes. If you're writing with a partner, fresh eyes are waiting when you hit the period on that last sentence. You just saved yourself a week. And that's going to matter when it's time to hit Publish.

9. You have someone to gripe to (and celebrate with). 
Writing is hard work. Your nonwriting friends won't understand the agonies and ecstasies of writing the way your writing partner will. And when the going is tough, it's affirming to have someone in the trenches to grumble to. Getting it out clears the way for getting on with it.

10. You have someone to cheer you on (and cheer you up).
Don't underestimate the power of an encouraging word. I can't tell you the number of times I received a cheer from Carla when my energy was flagging. Or a humourous anecdote that helped me to see the hilarity of a challenging moment. Writing alone can be lonely and staying connected throughout the day is the equivalent of the workplace water cooler. Having a writing partner means that you're not standing at the water cooler by yourself.

I could go on about the benefits of writing together, but I think you have the idea. It's amazing to me how many authors go it alone. I'm not quite sure how you do it.

Do you collaborate with another author? Tell us about it. Do you work alone? Tell us why that works for you.


Related Posts
Free Editing Options for Self-pubs
10 Last-Minute Publishing Tasks Every Author Should Know About
How to Find (and Compile) Proofreading Errors on a Kindle