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Book Collaboration FAQYou don't have to write a book all by yourself! Team up with someone whose expertise complements yours. You'll make the process more efficient and enjoyable – and boost the odds for success.
Back to Collaborations
Why work with a professional writer?The answer is obvious if you know your prose can't do justice to your ideas. But what if your friends and colleagues admire your writing? Say you’ve written for trade magazines or technical journals. Maybe you’ve published an academic book or articles. Do you really need to work with a writer? Maybe not. But realize that a popular book requires a different writing style. Also, commercial publishing involves expertise beyond word craft, such as knowing how to find an agent and how to present a book idea effectively in this competitive marketplace. For example, when I work with an expert who doesn’t yet have an agent, I arrange for us to meet with several agents who would be appropriate for our book. In part because I’m selective about the experts I collaborate with – and in part because I can write strong book proposals – six of my seven books received six-figure advances. My experience and connections are also useful after the book is published, when the focus turns to marketing. If you’d rather work on your own, start by learning about the profession. For a quick overview, have a look at my article, So, You Want to Write a Book! Check out the links and read the recommended books; join a writers’ organization and attend classes and workshops. Gain experience as a commercial writer by submitting articles to popular publications. All this probably sounds like a lot of work – and indeed it is. Do you have the time to develop a second profession as a writer? Is this the best use of your energies? If not, collaborating with a writer might make more sense.
How do I find a collaborator?If you're an expert with a high profile in your profession, a writer might find you. I contacted Miriam Nelson of Tufts University after reading an article she wrote for the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA); we subsequently collaborated on three books.
A writer might interview you for a magazine or newspaper article, and then ask if you’ve thought about writing a book. Peggy McCarthy, a patient advocate who was a source for two magazine articles I wrote about lung cancer, later called me with a book idea and we became coauthors. Sometimes experts are contacted by someone in publishing – an agent, an editor, or a book packager – who sees a potential book idea in their work. Any of these people can recommend writers. Another approach is to look for a writer yourself. Go to a bookstore and browse through books similar to the one you’d like to write. Look at the bylines and read the acknowledgments. Also check magazines and newspapers for popular articles on your subject. When you’ve gathered some names, plug them into Google or another search engine. Many writers have websites, so it's easy to find them and learn more about their work. You can also find a collaborator through writers’ organizations. For example, the American Society of Journalists and Authors has a free referral service called Freelance Writer Search; job listings are publicized to a membership of over 1,200 published writers who have met the organization's standards of professional achievement.
What should I look for in a writer?Relevant experience is valuable in every profession, including writing. The ideal coauthor is someone with experience writing collaborative books on a subject similar to yours for the same target audience as your book. A writer with an excellent track record is not only more likely to do a good job, but will also be an asset when selling the project to a publisher. Check references. Ask the writer if you can call experts with whom he or she has worked in the past. Get together and talk about your project. Do the two of you communicate well? Does the writer ask intelligent questions? Understand your answers? Offer good suggestions? Personal compatibility counts too. Collaborators work closely over the time required to write a book.
Should we sign a contract?Definitely! As soon as you begin writing with someone, you are creating jointly-owned property together. Having a written agreement is as important as it would be if you were building a house. Before you start working with a writer, both of you should sign a collaboration agreement. This is true even if you decide to write your book with a friend. The collaboration agreement covers the following:
For information on collaboration agreements, see the following books, all of which include other valuable information for writers:
Though model agreements can be helpful, it's prudent to have your contract reviewed by a literary attorney or agent before you sign it.
What are the usual financial arrangements?The American Society of Journalists and Authors collects data on collaborative splits from its members. Their reports indicate that the single most common arrangement is for the writer and expert to split the advance and royalties 50-50. But these deals are negotiated individually. Variations in both directions are common. Even with a 50-50 split, specifics differ. For example, the writer – who usually must live on the proceeds, while the expert normally has other professional income – might receive a greater share of the advance, while the expert collects first royalties to make up the difference. In most cases the writer receives an up-front fee for writing the book proposal. Fees vary considerably: $3,000 is minimal; $5,000 to $10,000 is more typical – and writers with a strong track record may charge much more. Sometimes the fee is considered an advance against money earned from the book, but sometimes it's a separate payment. All financial arrangements should be spelled out in a written collaboration agreement before work begins.
Who gets credit on the book jacket?Credit is determined by mutual agreement. When peers collaborate on a book, they may flip a coin to decide whose name comes first. I receive a “with” byline on the jackets of coauthored books, signaling that the expert is the lead author. My expert collaborator’s name is printed first and in larger type. Similarly, the description of the expert that's printed on the book jacket flap, is longer than the description of me and may include a photo, which mine doesn’t. By the way, all these details are spelled out in our collaboration agreements. Some experts prefer not to credit the writer. But I'm proud of my books and would hesitate to collaborate with someone who was unwilling to acknowledge my work.
Who holds copyright?This too is negotiated. I normally share copyright with my collaborators.
How do collaborators write together?Coauthors work in many different ways. Sometimes the writer does all the writing; sometimes the expert produces the first draft and the writer polishes – and those are just two examples. Part of the challenge of collaborating is devising a congenial and effective process. Some collaborators prefer to meet in person; others work via email or telephone. Often, there's a combination. For example, at the beginning of my collaboration with Rick Bradley, I traveled to Washington DC, where he works, for a two-day meeting to plan our book, Quick Fit. After that, telephone conferences and emails sufficed. In my experience, distance is not an obstacle to successful collaboration.
Other questions?Have a look at my chapter about collaborations in The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business for Non-Fiction Writers of All Experience Levels, edited by Tim Harper for the American Society of Journalists and Authors (St. Martin's Press, 2003). Or contact me and I’ll try to answer.
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