Have you ever heard it said that writing is a lonely art? Well, it doesn't have to be with these six strategies! If you don’t want to write alone, or want a bit of interaction, collaborative exchange and teamwork, then look no further. Here are some suggestions for you:
Collaboration under a pseudonym, as in the instance of Erin Hunter. Erin, author of the popular Warrior Cats series, is actually a pseudonym for—wait for it— seven individuals. One person outlines the plot and the others write. They even have someone drawing the graphic novels for this series. Perhaps that could be you one day.
Co-authoring a book is not uncommon, especially when it comes to textbooks and non-fiction. Give it a try! You will need a shared goal and vision for your story, as well as someone who is knowledgeable and wants to contribute to the subject at hand.
Anthologies aren’t really collaborative in the writing sense, but can be themed around one central theme or prompt. I find anthologies to be really interesting because there are many voices with diverse perspectives writing on one topic. This is common especially in anthologies that feature short fictional stories.
Roleplaying. Alright, I know that roleplaying can get a bad rep, but there are great roleplaying sites that have good moderators. A few I am on include RPNation (I love using BBCode to make my posts look pretty) and Chronicles RP (which has beautiful themes and a wonderful layout—take it from an aesthete!). Finding a good partner can be tough, so make sure to talk about expectations, no-go's, plot ideas and interests. Pro Tip: Ask for a writing sample before you begin to vet potential writing partners. Pro Tip 2: Make sure the site allows you to take things off-site. Staying within the site’s guidelines is critical for an optimal experience.
Book coaching is a way for someone to guide you along your creative process as well as help you get out of writer’s block and stay on track with your writing projects. They can help you flesh out your ideas, give you feedback and ask helpful questions that can eliminate mistakes before you send your manuscript out to your alpha readers. They have knowledge of the industry and may also sometimes edit, proofread or even ghostwrite, depending on the book coach. I offer book coaching to help my clients reach their goals through accountability and planning, inspire you to go back to that project you abandoned halfway through, as well as give suggestions and feedback to make your story the best it can be.
Join a writing group for support, feedback and a community based on this intellectual pursuit. You can find local groups, guilds and clubs or join one online such as Scribophile, 20BooksTo50K on Facebook or other social media. I have my own Writers of Discordia group that you are welcome to join as well where we have a pool of resources, accountability, advice, feedback and a space for enthusing about your favorite author and series. We'd love to have you there! Join here.
If you have any questions, I’ll do my best to answer them! Just drop them in the comments. Let us know what your experience has been regarding collaborative story telling.
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