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Co-Authoring: Your Ticket to a Book and Friendship
by Angela Giles Klocke

One of the greatest challenges of being a work-at-home writer is beating loneliness. Fortunately, the Internet opens doors to many other writers and we have the opportunity to stay in touch and not feel quite as alone as we might once have felt. Even better than that, we can connect with others who can critique our work, help us with submissions in real time, and even join with another writer to co-author a book. All this without ever needing to find a babysitter.

You may be asking yourself why you want to try co-authoring to begin with. The truth is, as my own co-author Teraisa Goldman puts it, "A co-author forces you to be accountable to your work." A good co-author won't allow you to get away with too many excuses. You know, the ones you make on a regular basis with yourself. Having one is almost as good as having a publisher waiting for your book -- you won't want to disappoint.

So What Was That You Said About Loneliness?

My co-author explains, "As a parent, it is great to work with another writer while at home so you have some adult interaction. We all need that at times. Some of us have other halves, but as much as they may be supportive, it is nothing like the support of another writer."

I find that I am not nearly as lonely as I once was now that I have my buddy. We check in with each other daily and share everything from market "secrets" to how our children are doing. It gives us both something to look forward to in between work on the book.

Aren't You Worried About the Friendship?

I've heard time and time again that co-authors should remain business partners and that's it. However, I have a hard time believing that I could work on something this time-consuming without becoming friends with my co-author. Besides, even though we are friends, we still don't accept excuses. Of course, we both understand that as parents, we have full time jobs already with our children. When Teraisa and
her children were all sick for over two weeks, I expected nothing from her and that's what I got. A co-author who is a friend, who also knows and cares about you, will understand real life issues.

"I love that I do not have to call in sick to care for a sick child, yet on the other hand, it's hard having to get up and down from a twenty minute piece because you are needed for one thing or another," Teraisa explains. "Even though my writing partner understands, she isn't here, seeing it, thinking (as I do) 'How does she get ANY work done at all?' Instead, she is wondering, 'Why isn't she finished yet?'"

Actually, as I said, when you know your co-author well enough, you really don't think like that but the guilt alone will get you motivated!

So How Does This Work?

Teraisa and I work together daily when our kids are well and not dragging us off on their many jaunts. We check in and chat, throw in a little book-talk and before we know it, we are hatching new plans. The thing is, though, Teraisa and I have never met. We are complete friends and co-authors online only. She's in one part of the country out west while I am down here in the south. We work on this project without ever leaving our homes.

Is it harder to do this online or would face-to-face meetings be easier? Teraisa says, "This is definitely harder. You cannot lie to someone's face. If we were to meet face to face, you would have to produce work or produce a real cough, if you know what I mean. Weekly meetings would automatically provide an incentive to accomplish your goals. However, sometimes when we get work finished simply because we have to, it may not be as inspired. Overall, it is much more difficult working from home with a co-author -- though working at home beats a real job any day!"

What does that mean? It is a bit harder to be more disciplined when working with a co-author solely online. Without facing each other, it would be easier to lie about how much work we've actually gotten done. But the truth is in the pudding, as they say, and when you come to trust your co-author, you will be able to read them even through e-mail. When the time comes to prove what you've done and what your co-author has done, whether you have a full book or not, chances are, it will be complete and it's nice to know you can count on that.

Advice From Teraisa:

Do your homework before you agree or ask someone to co-write a book with you. Writing well is NEVER the main criteria. Make sure you compliment each other -- where one needs help, the other excels. You do not have to be best friends, but you should admire and respect
each other. Most importantly, be honest with your co-author. 

In the End, What Does This Have To Do With Being a Parent Writer?

Simple. In my own experience, I know I don't have the luxury of going out to writer's groups to mingle with other writers. In fact, in the two years that I have been back at writing as a real career, I have met ONE other writer - ONE. Working with Teraisa, my co-authoring buddy, gives me the opportunity to still be at home with my children when they need me rather than making a schedule to be with them. That's the reason I work at home to begin with. And Teraisa is a home-schooling parent and is off on more trips than she can count as it is. To be able to be at home to work with a co-author is a plus for her.

All in all, parent writers can do nothing but benefit from hooking up with a co-author. Not only will you form an amazing writer-friendship, but you will learn to write daily and learn to be concise. You will reach your goal of writing a book and the best part is, you will only have to do half the work. And think of the adventure you will have without ever having to leave your home.


Frequently Asked Questions; or Questions I Think You Might Ask

* I don't want to write a book. What can I do? You don't just have to write a book with a co-author. You can team up just to write articles, short stories, etc ...

* How do you mold your voices together? That one is a little trickier. The more you learn about each other, the more you will find it just happens.

* Is it worth it? Even if we never finish this book (which we will!), we have learned so much along the way. And the friendship will still be here.

* Should we sign a contract together? I would say YES. Since you never really know, it might be a good idea.

Do you have a question? Email me at agklocke@klockepresents.com

Join Teraisa and myself as we journal our way through this project: " ... if it weren't for the fact that we don't have riches yet, I would swear she has run away with the gold. But, alas, we have both been battling, of all things, our own separate illnesses. I am beginning to think we should change the focus of our book to "How To Avoid Ever Getting Your First Collaborated Book Started..." -- excerpt from Rambling Co-Authors http://klockepresents.com/partners.html

Angela Giles Klocke is the author of hundreds of articles and the publisher of various online and print publications, including The Writing Parent (http://www.thewritingparent.com). This article previously appeared at the Writing Help for Parents site at Suite101.com.