Collaboration Collaborating with another person to write a novel can be a rewarding experience. When you share the creative process with another writer, you are able to eliminate some of the pitfalls all authors encounter at some point in their career: isolation, writer's block, and the risk of eating yourself into oblivion when you encounter rejection. Misery truly does love company! As idyllic as this sounds, the truth is often vastly different from the beautiful blending of two voices. Both parties must maintain a professional attitude toward the venture and agree on all major issues or the collaboration can ruin a friendship, a book and two blossoming careers faster than any other factor within the publishing industry. There are many things to consider before you blithely say, "Why don't we try writing together? It'll be twice as fast that way!" Think about your writing styles before you agree to work with another person. Can they be successfully blended into one? Logistically, how will you arrange it? Nights? Mornings? Juggling two busy schedules can ruin your friendship before you've agreed upon the heroine's name. consider how you'll resolve major disagreements about issues like your story's conflict or the hero's secret. Are you willing to compromise when you sincerely believe you're right? And how often will you allow your vision of this story to be shifted? There is great comfort in having another person share the angst of rejection and the joy of publication. But do you really want to share the advance?
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