Is co-authoring the ‘write’ thing for you?

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Is co-authoring the ‘write’ thing for you?

 

Not only would I like to make this piece an example of what co-authoring a book can be like but also take the opportunity to convey how it made me feel about the process. Most of the time we authors are solitary creatures, but sometimes the urge to collaborate with like-minded folk can truly be the gift we didn’t know we needed. But sure, I get it, it’s not for everyone. It can be hard to align yourself with a certain level of detachment when it comes to crafting your story and developing its characters. The need to be fully in control all the way down the line is a powerful thing. But the truth of it is there’s actually a lot of power in letting that go, and trusting your writing partner to bring aspects of character and story to the table, the like of which you maybe didn’t even consider when you embarked upon the project.

My sole experience of this to date has been with the very talented Beverley Lee. In terms of Gothic fiction, she needs little introduction. And I guess that’s undoubtedly the key piece of the puzzle when it comes to deciding who you’ll partner with on a collaboration. For me, it was a no brainer but a hugely important factor I considered was ‘do our writing styles clash or complement?’

Luckily, we’d had experience of that when contributing to an anthology some years earlier. I think it was clear to both of us we could pull this off, given the prior situation. So, we co-authored a vampire-themed novella titled A Light of Little Radiance which was picked up by Brigids Gate Press, and which is set for release this month. Given our other writing commitments at the time, we decided to write the book as a back-burner project. That way we didn’t put ourselves under any kind of pressure in terms of a delivery date. Personally, I feel this was the right thing to do for a number of reasons. Firstly, it allowed us the space and time to find our groove, which in truth didn’t prove complicated at all. Secondly, I for one used the time between writing stints to percolate ideas, and among other things research what was needed to bring authenticity to the story’s settings.

The whole experience was a relaxed affair and I think that in itself played a key part in why the project worked as a whole. But it wasn’t just the aforementioned factors. I believe things like personality, temperament, trust, and respect played very big roles in the outcome. Putting any ego to one side is crucial if it’s going to stay the course. It was evident neither one of us had a problem in doing that. There was a sense, a quiet confidence shall we say, that everything would turn out fine. I can’t recall a single moment where we clashed on any aspect of the story’s development. Being open to where it could go definitely proved critical to the harmony of working together.

If you’re thinking of taking the plunge and ploughing your time and energy into a collaboration then I’d say definitely consider a great deal of the things I’ve mentioned in this article. If you take that measured approach then you shouldn’t go far wrong. But, most importantly, the vital thing to focus on is ‘does this feel right?’ Trust your instincts. If it feels off for whatever reason then it undoubtedly will be off.

Happily, for this particular writing duo the stars aligned, and I for one feel all the richer in my writing journey for having collaborated with a contemporary great such as Beverley.

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