posted
Just wondered if anyone has ever tried collaboration as a remedy for being stuck or filling in the missing parts of a story, and how well it worked. Thanks for any feedback.
Posts: 283 | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
I've had some on line discussions with a friend and that helped both of use. We would tell about our stories and the other would come up with ideas, some of which stuck. This was all on another board system years ago.
Posts: 1008 | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
I had an English class where it was required. I hated it. Of course, that was a situation where I was more interested in a "real" story than putting words on the page.
Before I'd seriously consider collaboration, I think I'd have to be an established author.
posted
I've contributed to a lot of stories, including help with ideas, characters, even dialog. But that's always been when one person was the writer and everyone else was just helping out. I've never done a collaboration.
If I want to have my name on the byline, then I write it myself.
posted
I am writing my WIP in collaboration with a co-author. While I do the bulk of the writing, she enhances character descriptions, reminds me when I make illogical assumptions, and adds a lot of warmth to the story. We use each other to toss ideas back and forth and to diagnose character motivation.
I could not collaborate with just anyone. We've developed a good writing relationship that works well for us, and we both know our strengths and weaknesses. The key for us is that we've been writing together in PBEM RPGs (Play By Email Role Playing Games) together off and on since 1998. We only began writing a NOVEL a year ago. I doubt the current WIP would be working as smoothly if we hadn't had several years to build up familiarity and trust in each other as writers.
But, it's an interesting experience. If you have someone who's game, I recommend you give collaboration a try.
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Collaboration is great. I'm collaborating on a trillogy with my best friend. Just as long as you go in with it knowing what is going to happen. First off don't expect it to be less work, it's about double the work. The only reason to do this would be that the other has something to bring to the project that you don't. Secondly expect to fight, chances are the other person is going to shoot down right away something that you think is integral to the story. This is alright as long as you beforehand decide to keep the friendship and work relationship separate. (This is hard to do but so very worth it.) Also be sure beforehand who is doing what, if one of the two, (I wouldn't recommend using more than two.)feels like they are doing all of the work this will breed contempt and the project will crash. Also make sure that the end product comes out in one single voice, One of the two should completely do the final draft. My collaboration works because my friend has the story and I have the language.
Posts: 1895 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I'd like to go with being the main author but I have this feeling of needing help, more, of course, in some areas than others.
Posts: 283 | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
I figure helping with someone else's story is akin to working on a jigsaw puzzle. Sooner or later, it'll get done. Any deeper, like doing a major part of the work (writing, plotting, or some such) would be a matter for negotiation...
Posts: 8809 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Well, the reason I asked this was I've seen how quickly things get done with a number of people working on a goal, and I know how enthusiastically I pitch into a project involving many, vs. if it's just me, it seems I can keep putting it off. Of course, this is just one option of many.
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