United By Books is pleased to let Allison Dobell take over the blog today
How to write a book with someone else
When other writers find out I wrote Alice's Wonderland with
a co-author, I'm often asked what it's like writing alongside someone
else. Is it more difficult than writing alone? Does it make the process
easier? Is it more fun? Do we argue much? Would I recommend it to other
authors?
To
be honest, I never know quite how to answer these questions, because
every co-authoring relationship is different. I worry that if I tell
someone what our writing relationship is like, they will then believe
this will translate into something similar if they decide to co-author.
Personally, I love writing with a co-author, but only with my particular
co-author. I can easily see how things might just go pear-shaped if
either of us had decided to write a book with someone else.
So, why are we a good match? For a start, we're strangely similar in many ways. We're both Allisons, which is kind of odd (well, until you start to realize there are a whole lot of Allisons in
the writing world. There's just something about the name Allison and
writing, it seems…). Our birthdays are one day apart. We have the same
star sign. We write fast. We have a scarily similar voice, to the point
where we sometimes can't remember who wrote what when we look over a
finished manuscript. We both have a background in journalism (only
difference is the other Allison was, and still is, actually good at it!). We have two children of the same ages.
Since
writing with a co-author, I find I gobble up any and all interviews
where someone else is doing the same thing. And then I worry that we're
not doing it right when we don't operate in the same way! Other
co-authoring relationships seem much more structured than ours, with
very definite lines drawn about who writes what and when.
As
for us, we operate more on a, 'Here, I've written the next chapter and
now need to go and drink much wine to recover. Chapter attached!', and,
'Holy cow, I'm moving house/having an operation/having a baby/dealing
with sick kids this week.Hold the fort!' sort of way. Which works for us. Very
well, actually! It all seems to balance out in the end and I can't
remember any point where I've felt I'm taking on more than my fair
share. I just hope the other Allison feels the same way!
So,
still thinking about co-authoring? I guess my main tip is to look for
someone likeminded who writes in a similar way, with a similar voice to
you. Good luck with your hunt! Oh, and one last tip: you might want to
be a little flexible on the matching name thing. Especially if you're called Esmeralda.
Allison Dobell is the pseudonym of two Australian writers – both Allisons (Dobell, get it? Double? Huh? Huh?! They’re nothing if not hilarious). Find out more at allisondobell.com (link: http://allisondobell.com/about/). Allison Dobell’s first novel, Alice’s Wonderland, is out now. (link: http://www.avonromance.com/book/allison-dobell-alices-wonderland)
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