Co-authoring sounds like a great idea, especially if the two writers are great friends and love the same genres. Right?
Maybe not. Co-authoring comes with a lot of baggage most people never stop to consider.
What is the reason for writing the book together? Do the two of you (or more) have complimentary skills? Is one writer more knowledgeable on scientific advances and possibilities while the other has a strong grasp of character development? Maybe one isn't a writer at all but has a great concept? These seem like great reasons to co-author.
No? You're both writers who happen to enjoy science fiction? That might work, I guess. That means it's time to ask another series of questions.
How will you divide tasks? If everyone involved intends to write at the same time, I can tell you there's trouble ahead. Just the editing is going to be painful, never mind the discussions (I'll assume discussions, not arguments) over plot and character.
"I'll take this chapter, you take that one," may work, it certainly sounds like a fair co-author relationship, but at the end of it, there's still that problem of a single cohesive voice, unless you're writing something very experimental. It might work beautifully if you're changing character perspectives, but I can imagine all kinds of problems with sudden changes in tone so jarring they take the reader right out of the story.
Once you have all those kinks figured out, consider the legalities of being part of a co-author team. That can get scary and it can kill friendships. How will you divide advances and royalties? I imagine several friends in a restaurant, having just enjoyed a meal and good conversation, haggling over who ate what when the check comes. That is one annoying situation that never fails to drive me insane. Just split the bill - it'll even out the next time!
Is that something you're willing to do when it comes to your overall finances, especially concerning this baby you've worked on for a year or three?
That brings me to rights. Are you both hoping for that second edition? What happens to the rights once the publisher has finished with your book? Who has the right to blog about the book, to give interviews, etc?
It all starts to sound a little more complicated than Wouldn't it be fun to write a book together? Getting all those details ironed out in the beginning seems intelligent, as does a written contract. Hey, marriages sometimes begin with prenuptial agreements, and though I have strong feelings against such a start to a relationship that should be built on trust, I do understand the reasons some people take that route. It can save a lot of red tape and financial pain if things get sticky. Co-authoring doesn't involve nearly as many emotional strings as marriage, though some with more experience in that area may disagree.
With all the hassle involved in co-authoring, maybe it would be wiser to invest in a ghost writer, or write up a contract indicating a payment upon sale of the book. Either way, it might be best to give co-authoring a bit more thought. On second thought, make that a lot more thought.
We're far from experts on this subject, but there are some things that are just common sense to consider when co-authoring, or getting involved in any other partnership.
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