Should I Co-Author a book?
Is co-authoring right for me? I get into some nitty gritty questions to consider before diving into a collaborative business move.
The following isn’t meant to frighten you away from co-authoring. Still, these are important things to consider when entering into business with someone because that’s what you’re doing when you co-author a book—entering into business with them long-term.
First, ask yourself, “Do I trust this person?” Seriously. You are entering a partnership that intertwines your business with someone else’s.
Think about the long term. Books aren’t cheap to produce, and they stay up forever unless you take them down. Do you want to partner with this person for the foreseeable future? I hope so because you will be.
Other key questions to ask yourself:
Do I like their writing style? How would I feel to have my name next to theirs?
Is the author reliable? If we have a writing schedule/production timeline, will they adhere to it?
Do they have a work ethic, goals, and values that align with mine? If they are late to deadlines or seem wishy-washy about commitment, etc., these things will affect your project, partnership, and well-being over time.
While collaborating, are they open to suggestions and constructive feedback and willing to give it back to me? That’s a true partnership. You don’t want someone who is going to steamroll your projects and ideas, but you don’t want someone afraid to tell you that your first draft might need work, either.
Will they sign a contract? Even if you are best friends and trust the person with your heart and soul, it is good business practice to write a contract together (or have someone else do it for you), and all parties involved sign it. You never know when you’ll need it. No, this is not legal advice. You do you. But as a business owner (which is what you are as a published author), you should practice good business sense as well, protecting yourself and your assets as much as possible.
Trust me, the above considerations matter more than you know, and collaborating on a project, especially if it’s near and dear to your heart, is one of those instances where you should 100% listen to your gut if it’s waving red flags at you.
The last thing you want is to pour yourself into a collaborative project only to have your partner not pull their weight. It will leave you resentful and feeling powerless.
I have coached so many authors about this. They come to me for advice; sometimes they heed it, sometimes they don’t. They get excited and want the project to happen, so they ignore the rest. I get it--I do--but you could regret it later. I’ve seen authors create a shared world and invite authors to join their world. Somehow, they’re browbeaten by the end because everyone had their own opinions and desires, and the entire project changed course, different from what they originally wanted to do. As a result, the author loses steam and the passion to work on it. It’s more of a headache than anything.
These are horror stories, and this isn’t the case for everyone, of course, but the point remains: don’t go into a business agreement without being smart about it.
If your potential writing partner’s vision is not aligned with yours, especially if they aren’t open to feedback and suggestions, it could end badly. It’s a partnership, after all. There is an exchange of money involved. Be smart with your business and protect yourself as much as you can.
If you are a member of The Authors Guild, their legal team can help you draft a contract for your collaboration.
Other, more pleasant questions to ask yourself when considering a co-author partner:
Am I excited to work with this person?
Do we enjoy writing the same genres?
What are fun (perhaps interactive) ways we can collaborate, inspire, and energize one another?
Next week, I’ll offer some actionable next steps if you’re ready to start co-authoring with your new partner!