Fringe Fiction Unlimited discussion

I'm just curious to see who needs their creative space and who would love to share the burden?

I've had a couple offers...and couldn't do it. Writing is just far too personal for me.

Possibly, but it'd depend on the author and on how well I know him/her. I wouldn't team up with a random person whose writing preferences may be totally different from mine.

I don't think I could handle it unless it was someone I know very well.

I would considerate it if it were someone who had never written anything before, but always wanted too. The reason being they never had the courage or confidence to take that first step on their own. Of course it would have to be in one of the genres that I write.

Absolutely. I have an upcoming project, and am probably going to reach out to another author I know to draft a specific character interaction. The author is from the city the character is from, and has similar life experiences.

I will credit the author for the work.

No. I write what I feel personally compelled to write. Writing someone else's idea, or letting someone else into my idea, is something I just can't do. And, for me, the act of writing is an intensely personal experience. I have to write the stories the way they're demanding to be written, not according to anyone else's ideas.

Robert wrote: "I would considerate it if it were someone who had never written anything before, but always wanted too. The reason being they never had the courage or confidence to take that first step on their ow..."

I love your attitude Robert! I would have imagined the complete opposite, only wanting to work with experienced authors! :D

It would be worth a try if you found someone who was similar enough in their view of what makes fiction. For me it wouldn't be something I dismissed out of hand.

I would certainly consider it, but I've always wondered something.
How exactly do collaborations work? I mean, do you both sit by the computer and one person types while you two try and come up with ideas? Do you work on a chapter each and then exchange chapters and do some rewrites?
Or is it something else altogether?
It seems like talking about it as you write would pull me out of the creative mood. I'm not sure I would do good work in that situation.
I would be open to trying it; I just don't know how it would work.

I love the collaboration between David Levithan and Rachel Cohn! They start with a basic plot, and each takes one character's POV. They pass the story back and forth, not having a full idea of what the other will write until it's their turn. Their stories are fabulous!

For me, considering the few very short things I wrote with a close friend, it would likely involve a lot of laughter, snorting coffee on the keyboard, and coming up with parodies of Village People songs. Sharing ideas does that to me.
Which reminds me, said friend and I never got to write that "Cromwell! The Musical" piece we wanted to slap together at some point. Someday. Someday, we shall.

I always assumed everyone figures out a process that works best between them.

I thought it might be interesting to write a story with duel protagonists or multiple POV where I would handle half the story, the other author would tell theirs and co-edit for continuity/tone.

Courtney,
That sounds like an interesting way to go about it. I also like the idea of passing the story back and forth. The more you guys talk about it, the more I think that working on a collaboration might be something fun and interesting.

I collaborated on a fantasy with my daughter. We discussed the general flow of the story, invented the world, set up the backstory, and all that business together. But when it came to writing, basically I wrote the blood-and-thunder battle scenes while she wrote the romantic interludes. It worked pretty well, but you have to consider that we were specialists in different styles, and our relationship was based on a lifetime of love for one another. I can imagine that entering into a partnership with a co-author who wants to "improve" everything you put on the page might get pretty abrasive after a while...

Thanks Mark!

I just thought that would all an author to do their own thing but still hold the book together as a single project. Like agree on the premise but execute your own way then make sure it syncs up.

Thanks Mark!

I just thought that would all an author to do their own thing but still hold the book together as a single project. Like agree on the premise but execute your own way then make sure it syncs up.

Jack,
That is awesome and I could see why that would be both mutually beneficial (because of the specialties) and a great bonding experience. My own daughters are eight-years-old and fourteen months old, so a little young to collaborate with, but if they are willing to do so one day I would jump at the chance.

That would be super to raise a writer I think. It sounds like so many authors are first generation :)

She was around 20 when we did this (mid-30s now), and I didn't raise her as a writer, she surprised me. Still, it was a great bonding experience, one of many.

That does sound great, Jack.

I'm actually doing this right now. My cousin and I are collaborating on a submarine story.

Justin wrote: "I'm actually doing this right now. My cousin and I are collaborating on a submarine story."

I like sandwiches!

lol

I tried it once. didn't work out too well. I would write on chapter or one pov she the other but it wasn't really dependable and halfway through I never heard from her again so yeah ahaha not a good first experience.
But if with the right person I would be willing to try it again.
I also have a friend who is illustrating a lot of my work and I would count that somewhat collab-ish since she comes up with some ideas and backgrounds and puts it in visual form and i literary.

I have collaborated on a short story. I would do it with another writer with equal skill, similar interests, and an identical work ethic. Otherwise, I'm on my own. Though I'd probably do anything Stephen King asked me to do.

Jason wrote: "Though I'd probably do anything Stephen King asked me to do."

You know he's on Goodreads now, right? If he sees this, you might well be having a very interesting weekend.

I nearly burst out laughing at my desk imagining the Master of Horror perusing our topics.

If Stephen King ever asked me to write anything with him I would be overjoyed...then my wife would shake me away and ask me to make the kid's breakfast.

Courtney wrote: "I'm just curious to see who needs their creative space and who would love to share the burden?"

I would so it only if we each wrote a story and maybe beta read for each other or bounced ideas off each other. A book with two stories in one. I think Roomies might be like that?

Lena wrote: "Courtney wrote: "I'm just curious to see who needs their creative space and who would love to share the burden?"

I would so it only if we each wrote a story and maybe beta read for each other or b..."

you mean like two separate stories with a tie in type of thing? that would sound like an interest read especially if it contains five different authors or something all tied in by some sort of main thing that comes to a close at the end.
sorry I got really into that idea lol

Stephen King looks at these comments and probably thinks to himself...psh Amateurs..

Justin wrote: "Stephen King looks at these comments and probably thinks to himself...psh Amateurs.."

but he took the time to read the lol

No worries, he's certainly too busy to even read any posts.

Yes if it was the right person for me to write a book with

i've collaborated on a few books. was a joint effort between my sister and I.

another was a paranormal fantasy/supernatural horror story with a group of friends called Veil Walkers. we wrote chapters round robin style and came up with some really cool stuff. I eventually compiled the notes and we made a really unique universe together. Nobody tried to off other characters, or make their creations the cool strong type. I enjoyed it a lot.

if i can collobrate with another author and go over notes and talk openly, then i'm up for it. i hate writers that have to have their way, and aren't open to new ideas.

No. I prefer to do my own work and take the blame or praise for it. If I felt I wasn't contributing enough, I would feel guilty; conversely, if I felt the other person wasn't pulling his/her weight, I would resent it. Better to work alone.

I think it would really help my motivation to work with another person, but I suspect I'd be a nightmare to work with. :-)

I've never been able to successfully colaborate with anyone. One thing I've learned, through other authors, it only seems to work if you have a fully plotted story first. Nothing is worse than trying to work with an author who is going out of their way to make shit up and you're left wondering, then what the hell are we writing?

Lily wrote: "Nothing is worse than trying to work with an author who is going out of their way to make shit up and you're left wondering, then what the hell are we writing?"

Ah, that's where the challenge lies! I enjoy those collaboration exercises. I love seeing where the story is going and filling in holes. I compile notes based off data and run statistics on the likelihood of where the story is going, unless the other dude pulls one out his butt, then I adjust without going godmode on it and sneak up with an edit. ^_^ ninja yo

I enjoy it too, but on my own lol

I would love to write a romance with someone that had a great grasp on writing from a male pov. It think it would be fun to have the interaction be close to real.

Interesting topic.

Like dancing, I believe it would all depend with who leads. That is, unless, it is a totally new creation conceived by both authors.

If I had an idea, shaped it, set the parameters, and then someone else came along to help write other novels in the universe, or the same novel, they would have to adhere to the guidelines I originally set up. Tha doesn't mean they can't suggest new ideas, or give opinions. Hell, if they're awesome, then we'd incorporate them. The same is true if it were the other way around. It all depends on who leads.

Now, if me and another author came up with something from scratch, together, then obviously the name of the game is divide and conquer and know the plot points you have to hit along the way.

I already have a couple of collaborations planned. This is one of the most exciting things about being a writer.

Horror is a great genre for sharing with other authors, having several sick minds in one place is always going to conjure up something amazing.

I'm involved in two horror anthologies this year and the whole experience has been phenomenal.

I actually have a collaboration set for my next project. My co-writer will get deep into the inner workings of a psychopath while I will do the same for the detective. Our preliminary work has been a blast with each of us playing off the other and punching up lines and actions. Looking forward to it.