Actually, there is such a form. One of the handy things about two paralegals deciding to co-author.
I don't really agree a formal agreement isn't necessary. The potential for so many things comes up that if a dispute happens, it's good to have guidance. That "formal" stuff can keep it from getting ugly.
I'll PM you, Ann.
I know this is an old thread, but I have a question.
How do you go about writing dialog when co-authoring?
I've started a project with another author. We will each write a chapter in our characters POV. I'm writing for the female MC, he's writing for the male MC. We've just started, only have half of the first chapter written and I'm wondering how to tackle dialog once our characters are in a scene together.
Any advice?
BTW, this thread is great, very informative!
Another way you can work the co-author thing is a "lead author/secondary author" technique that I use with my co-author. A number of other co-authors do the same thing, such as the Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child novels. How it works is the lead author writes the entire book. The second author then has a free hand to go in and add, delete, change text or add/delete chapters. This allows for the freedom of expression of both people and the ability to spark off the dialogue on the page to fine-tune.
Of course, this method requires you to have utter faith in your co-author to make the book better, and confidence in the strength of your own writing to make good choices in editing what the other person writes.
