Collaborating with Others

Writers frequently work with others. They work with other writers, with subject matter experts, with illustrators, and other design specialists. Collaborating with others allows writers to tackle large projects, special projects, or projects otherwise outside their expertise. Collaboration can bring richness to a writer’s work. The results can be wonderful.

Collaborating with others, however, requires some planning. Collaborative relationships can fail. Even strong collaborative relationships can falter if unanticipated issues arise and the collaborating parties find they have no plan in place to help them deal with those issues. Accordingly, collaborating parties need to decide at the outset what their obligations are to each other.

Writers who want to collaborate with others on projects often seek legal advice. These writers understand that collaborating puts them in a different role, both with regard to the work they must do and their rights in the books that ultimately are produced. Frequently their questions are about money—who bears the burden of project expenses, and whether and how the parties must share advances and royalties.