Collaboration and Publishing

Miss Strawberrii said:

For NaNoWriMo I am writing a book based after a game my boyfriend and I tried to develop a couple of years ago. The world, most of the characters, and a lot of the story belong to him. I had some part in the creation, but not as much. I know when he reads my draft, he will be telling what to change and things to fit his vision. I am doing the writing, however.

Would I still stand a chance to query to an agent and have a publishing chance? Should this be the first book I ever publish, or would it be better for me in the long run to first publish my own creation?

Click to expand...

It doesn't really matter which you attempt first. If you and your boyfriend get a novel finished and revised and ready to go, go for it. Just make sure you're on the same page about submitting and your goals and everything. Like what happens if you disagree about something.

Anyway, you'd just submit it like you'd submit any other novel, you'd just sign both your names.

Miss Strawberrii said:

For the second book, a friend and I are writing a book together. She writes, I write, etc. Both of our names would be on the cover. I have the same question as before - despite both of us never have been published before, should we still try? Again, should this be the first book I ever publish?

Click to expand...

You can't choose which book will be the first book to be published. It all depends on timing, the project, luck. If it's ready, send it out.

Miss Strawberrii said:

If so, how would two authors query an agent for the same book?

Click to expand...

Dear Agent Name,

[Insert pitch]
This book was co-written by Name1 and Name2.

Best,
Name 1 and Name 2

Miss Strawberrii said:

Should I finish these books and work on my own? o.o

Click to expand...

Work on what you want to work on. Totally up to you. The main issue is whether you and your boyfriend and your friend are on the same page re: revisions, publication goals, writing ability, etc.

The only thing I can see getting tricky is if both books were completed and revised and ready to submit at the same time.

But I think this publication worry is premature. Neither of the books sound close to being done yet, so just write the stories you want to write, and write them with whoever you want, and worry about this other stuff later.

Before you write another word on either of these projects, get a contract drawn up for each of them which details who owns what, who gets what if they're ever published, and so on. I've seen projects like this go horribly wrong just because such things weren't agreed on from the start, and it's not worth risking that.

Old Hack said:

Before you write another word on either of these projects, get a contract drawn up for each of them which details who owns what, who gets what if they're ever published, and so on. I've seen projects like this go horribly wrong just because such things weren't agreed on from the start, and it's not worth risking that.

Click to expand...

This. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure my own co-writing horror story is one of the ones to which Old Hack is referring.

I learned the hard and expensive way that no matter how good of friends you are, no matter how much you think you have a rock-solid agreement between you covering all possible contingencies, it can still all go very very wrong.

I now get co-writing contracts written up by a solicitor with extensive IP (intellectual property) law experience.

I once collaborated with a friend on a writing project (thankfully not intended for publication). It was great fun at the start.

Then my friend developed clinical depression and could barely write any more - but she still insisted on working on the chapters she'd originally chosen to do. By the time we wrapped up the project I had done most of the writing and not enjoyed it so much, plus there was considerable strain on our friendship. If I ever collaborate with someone again, there'll be a written agreement that will take unforeseen events such as that into account.

Old Hack said:

Before you write another word on either of these projects, get a contract drawn up for each of them which details who owns what, who gets what if they're ever published, and so on. I've seen projects like this go horribly wrong just because such things weren't agreed on from the start, and it's not worth risking that.

Click to expand...

THIS!

Me and relatives and a friend had a fantastic idea s couple of years ago. It wasn't writing but a aplication, same mashup of who did what though.

The lack of formal establishment of who will do what and if that warrants a different cut than the others stopped the project then, and has stopped it re-igniting.

We chose friendship over a potential biz-battle and everyone decided to let the project die.. too bad because it was a very very good project with huge market potential

Had we had a contract, I suspect we could have had our battle and remain friends.

Even a basic signed letter is better than nothing. Joint creation without even talking about what would happen with the property and any profit from it = minefield.

A basic letter is the minimum; better would be a contract drawn up by a lawyer, who specialises in these things and therefore knows all of the relevant clauses to include.