Yesterday was productive. I spent a good deal of time working on my personal project, my project with Anne, and another chunk of the large project that hit my in box around noon. If all goes well, I should be able to bill for the large one this week, which means I’ll surpass my monthly earnings target early. Yay!
I did get news that the project I was waiting for did go to another editor. Not sure what that’s about, but I suspect there was a question of paying for me versus using internal editors (it’s a publishing group). Too bad. It sounded like a fun job.
Today will be spent on marketing and working with Anne on our joint project. She’s a dream to work with, and we mesh on many levels. I’ve worked with just a few writers as collaborators and I’ve been fortunate every time. Great people turn into great partners – that’s rare.
If you get the chance to team with another writer or business person, how do you know it will work?
The personalities should complement. Notice I didn’t say “match.” Matching personalities can be a nightmare, especially if you get two passive people or two fiery temperaments. Best is when you two get along for different reasons.
The strengths should bolster the other person’s weaknesses. I could build a website if I had to, but it’s not where I excel. I’m much better at marketing and advertising.
The relationship has to be equal. You can partner with a client, but if that client’s holding the lion’s share of control, you’re not collaborating. That’s why I turned down a partnership with a client a number of years ago. He offered a relationship in which I’d have to pay him to be his partner. The utter lunacy of that request aside, he was calling all the shots. My voice in the process was completely missing.
The goal should be shared. Anne and I share a similar (if not identical) vision. So did Devon and I when we put together our Webinar. If I’d gone into either collaboration with different end results in mind, it would have been a hot mess and an uncomfortable relationship.
Each voice has to be heard. You can’t run a business venture and share the work successfully if you’re not both contributing opinions, ideas, and constructive criticism when needed. The Type A personality may want to run things, but the quieter partner had to be encouraged to be part of it. Otherwise, there will be resentment and possibly failure.
The partner has to have integrity. I’ve seen some pretty strange partnerships and collaborations, ones in which I think one of the partners has on blinders or the other one is simply superb at bullshitting anyone into anything. Before you join forces with someone, make sure it’s someone who’s operating with integrity and even the same level of professionalism you aspire to.
In your opinion, what goes into a good partnership? Have you ever had a collaboration? If so, was it successful and why/why not?
I haven't tried collaboration in this new life of mine, but had plenty in my Corporate days.
You've nailed many of the elements for success, Lori. It's a given that writers have creativity (at least I hope so) although some are more tuned into it than others.
So, you need to have a dash of the technical and organizational skills. And it's so much better when the individual actually likes to do those things.
You also have to trust each other and be supportive-have their back. If there's problems, it's shared and not anyone's fault.
And with all that comes respect. Can't wait to see what you & Anne have put together!
Cathy, we'll get you collaborating in no time. 🙂
I've collaborated with two different writers, and things turned out well for the most part.
One writer and I collaborated on a spec script. I wrote one section, we revised it together before she wrote the next section, and so on. My strength was in dialog, hers was in plotting, so be balanced one another well.
That same writer and I teamed up to lead a beginning screenwriting workshop. She's a playwright and wasnt' as familiar with standard screenplay formats as I was, so I covered the technical aspects. She had teaching experience and came up with great ideas to get the participants involved.
The other writer I wrote a spec script with was in Australia. He's great with stories, and while he knows a lot of American slang from watching movies and TV shows, a lot of Aussie-isms were slipping into his writing, so along with contributing to the storyline and dialog, I helped him navigate the strange waters of US colloquialisms.
I agree with all of your points, Lori. Egos seem to be the biggest issue in collaborations. If one person's ego is too big (or too fragile) to accept constructive criticism or another viewpoint, they won't be able to work toward their common goal.