Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Writer Wednesday: Coauthor Projects


Today's topic comes from Sheena-Kay. Thanks, Sheena-Kay!

"What do you think of coauthor projects and have you ever or will you ever do one?"

I fully admit that I'm crazy when I draft a book. Honestly, I'd feel sorry for whoever was brave enough to coauthor a book with me. Part of me really thinks it would be fun. I see authors who team up repeatedly to write together, and they appear to be having a blast. But then that other part of me thinks it would drive me crazy to relinquish control of the story and also to have to wait for someone else to get chapters back to me before I could continue.

There are definite benefits though. You have two audiences you are essentially merging. That's double one author's readership. So the marketing possibilities and the reach are greater than an author writing on his/her own. That part has always appealed to me, and I'm sure it always will. You also have someone to travel with to events to promote the book. I like the idea of having another author with me at book signings and speaking events. Furthermore, writing can be lonely at times, but coauthoring certainly isn't. So yeah, there are definite benefits to coauthoring.

Will I ever coauthor a book? Who knows? For now, I'll say I admire those who do.

*If you have a question you'd like me to answer from the other side of the editor's desk, feel free to leave it in the comments and I'll schedule it for a future post.

22 comments:

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    1. No! You are my bff and my mentor. You would make me work harder.

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    2. You'd wind up hating me. Trust me.

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  2. I coauthored a movie script once, with two other people. It never got shot in the end, but we had a blast doing it. Giggling while reading the parts the others have written, getting together for brainstorming sessions and having fun during them... It was definitely fun.

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  3. Coauthoring does sound like it would be fun. I'd be open to that. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!

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  4. I right there with you. It would be a blast to coauthor a book, but I might want too much say. I've co-brainstormed books and even helped behind the scenes in forming character and plot arcs, but never a full collaboration.

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    1. Same here. I think I'd drive the other person crazy.

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  5. I've done it, though it's not published yet.

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  6. I like angel 011's idea of coauthoring a script, but a novel? I'm not sure about that. I'm an only child. We don't work well with others. :)

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  7. I would consider co-authoring a non fiction project. But fiction? Na-ah. It's an intimate endeavour.

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    1. I don't think I could give up control to someone else.

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  8. I've co-authored stories with my 17 year old granddaughter, and we have a blast. However, I co-authored a book that I will never publish with a friend who was not a writer and we argued over everything. She couldn't understand plotting or why you didn't have to describe a setting down to the smallest detail. Needless to say, the book has been half-done for 15 years. Sigh

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    1. :( I would imagine you'd have to really be in tune with your coauthor for it to work.

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  9. I've definitely thought about it, but the control thing is hard for me too.

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  10. I admire Jess & Stephanie for co-authoring their series! Don't think I can do it, though. It'll be tough having to explain every decision or choice.

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