I was curious. I know there are plenty of titles with two authors, but how does that work? Do they alternate chapters? Do they have control of specific charcters? Does one usually dominate the manuscript more than the other? Anyone know?
I don’t know how others collaborate on fiction, but here’s how Lynn Sholes and I work together.
Prior to collaborating on our first book, Lynn and I spend almost 10 years as friends in a weekly writer’s critique group. So by the time we decided to collaborate, there were few issues or surprises in dealing with ego, writing styles or author voice. We already knew what our individual strengths and weaknesses were and our goal was to capitalize on them. The result was THE GRAIL CONSPIRACY which was named Book-Of-The-Year by ForeWord Magazine. It became an international bestseller in several countries. Along with our other thrillers, THE LAST SECRET and THE HADES PROJECT, we have been published in over 21 countries.
When we first started, we worked in a linear fashion as most writers do. Not so much any more. Currently, we’re almost finished with our fourth thriller in the Cotten Stone series called THE 731 LEGACY. Because we constantly brainstorm and plan our story in such detail, it’s not unusual for us to hop around and drop into the story at any point where one of us has a “handle” on the scene or chapter. I might be drafting chapter 52 while Lynn is revising 35 with few chapters in between. And we always know how the story ends pretty much from the start.
We are separated by hundreds of miles, so we collaborate electronically. Aside from an occasional signing, workshop or conference, we rarely are in the same place together. We conference call daily and burn up our email connection with attached drafts of our current chapter. Having a co-writer means there’s never any writer’s block or lack of ideas and solutions.
Lynn and I work well together. But I would not recommend collaborating on fiction to anyone else unless their goal was to wind up in prison for murder.
Yes, we disagree, but that's what brings about fresh ideas and story conflict. I lay claim to a number of secondary characters while Lynn invented Cotten Stone, our main character. I was writing in the genre when we teamed up but thrillers were new to Lynn.Do you ever have any disagreements? Have you sort of "claimed" any character for yourself or vice versa? Were either one of you new to the genre?
Then one of us will edit it. It really depends on who has the time, where it's going, what needs to be done, etc. Editing pretty much consists of cleaning up the language. Plot and characterization does not change once we've completed the first draft. Then we submit to our editors. Then when we get their edits/suggestions back, whoever has the time will take it. Sometimes it works out so only one of us will see it through the editing process. Sometimes we'll both have a look. Sometimes she'll take the editing and I'll take the galleys. It just depends.Pepper: “But I am happy you ventured out of the warmth of your room tonight. Even if you did put yourself at a bit of a risk.”
Vivien: “I must confess…I’m beginning to suspect you would not allow such risk to befall me. I’ve not had a friend like you before. I…it’s a boon I didn’t anticipate in coming here.”
Pepper: Jefferson’s heart twisted. Micah’s voice was so small, he could barely hear him. He sounded lost in the darkness, overwhelmed by the night. “You never had a friend who would take care of you? Nobody who would help you?”
Vivien: “No, why would they? I’m the youngest Yardley, with three brothers ahead of me to inherit long before I do. They gain nothing by being my friend.”
Pepper: “Micah…that’s not true. There is plenty to gain by being your friend. Your life…your existence is not just as important as how much money you possess. You cannot be measured by your land, or your birth order, which was nothing more than a random accident. You’re more than that.”
Vivien: Micah’s long pause made him fear that he’d been a trifle too vehement in his declaration. That fear was heightened when Micah pulled his hands back and folded them in his lap, turning his head to gaze up at the pulpit.
“I envy you. Your life is so simple.”
Pepper: “It’s not.” Jefferson forced his disappointment down, and folded his arms. “But I’ve worked hard to make it appear that way. I haven’t…had any friends, any real friends, since I left Boston. And…I did not exactly leave Boston by choice.”
But I would not recommend collaborating on fiction to anyone else unless their goal was to wind up in prison for murder.