Coauthoring and Ghostwriting among popular novelists

I suspect all deals are negotiated. I did find this on the Patterson factory:

"TO MAINTAIN HIS frenetic pace of production, Patterson now uses co-authors for nearly all of his books. He is part executive producer, part head writer, setting out the vision for each book or series and then ensuring that his writers stay the course."

Complete article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/magazine/24patterson-t.html?pagewanted=all

I've co authored with two other writers on three novels. When I do cohort, so to speak, I always do so with a female author. Why? Realism. Although I write both romance suspense and SF, its difficult for a man (or woman) to truly represent the minds eye of the other gender.

Is it easy? Hell no. Took a lot of tolerance and professionalism on both our parts. We established rules for suggested chances to the others work, and they worked pretty good.

Up side is a fictional world that better depicts reality and I think the reviews reflect that (each co-authored novel received multiple 5 star reviews). Its also a positive benefit in sharing the lot. My first colab project the narrative split roughly 50/50 load wise. Second 70/30, and third 60/40 so it does help.

Downside - you do share royalties and you have to wait on the other author to do their parts, which can take a lot of adjustment if you're schedule driver (like me). I think that's been the hardest part of collaborating.

Will I do it again? You bet. What we both learned from each other is amazing and the realism of a man and woman sharing their perceptions about life, love and the other team can't be beat, but it requires the right story and right partner.

Hope that helps.