How to be a good writing partner

4/16/2013

At one point or another, most screenwriters consider writing with a partner. They're hungry for someone to bounce ideas off of, and they're tired of the solitude of writing.

And that's how lots of impromptu writing partnerships are born.

But the sad truth is that it can be hard to adjust to working with someone else, so many partnerships end as quickly as they began.

But that doesn't have to be the case.

If you know what to expect going into a partnership, and you know how to write as part of a team it can actually be a rewarding experience.

Chelsea and I have been writing together for almost four years now, so this article comes from experience.

Keep reading and you'll find out how to maximize your chance at success next time you try to write as part of a team.

listen

The biggest sign of a good listener is someone who doesn’t interrupt. Let your partner speak their mind before you respond, and you’ll avoid tons of unnecessary conflicts.

don't Judge

You should find a writing partner that you genuinely think is a better writer than you. If you’re writing with someone that you think you’re better than, the partnership is doomed.

Compliment First

Whenever you’re giving notes on your partner’s pages, start with what you liked. It will set the tone for a productive conversation, and remind your partner that you’re a fan of their work.

Don't be afraid to look stupid

You need to be able to share any and all ideas with your writing partner, and you can’t be afraid to take chances on the page. Fear stifles good writing.

be willing to be re-written

Many writers struggle with others re-writing their work, even their own writing partners. This comes down to respect. Choose a partner you respect, and consider yourself lucky to have such a talented writer re-writing you.

don't get hung up on your own ideas

This goes hand in hand with ‘be willing to be re-written.’ You can’t take it personally when your partner deletes a line or moment that you liked. You can always put it back in if it’s that important, and chances are it didn’t work quite as well as you thought. Don’t be protective over your writing. It will slow you both down.

Carry Your Weight

If you’ve committed to writing 10 pages over the weekend, do it. No one likes a flake, especially when that flake is their writing partner.

Know yourself as a writer

Part of the joy of having a writing partner is that you have someone to fill the holes in your writing. Find a writer that complements your weakenesses and vice versa. Together you’ll become a super-human force.

be honest

While it’s important to be supportive of your partner’s work, you have to lay it all out there when something isn’t working. Yes, your partner may bristle at first, but a good writer (and writing partner) has to face the music when there’s a problem that needs to be fixed.

seek input often

This is one of the main perks of having a writing partner. If you’re not sure, ask. Have lots of conversations. Two heads are better than one. That’s particularly true if you’ve got a good writing partner.

embrace Change

If you’re working with a partner, you can’t be stuck in your ways. He or she might realize something big about your story half way through the writing process. Be willing to explore that. Honor all of their ideas (good and bad) equally.

be a focused Conversationalist

When you’re discussing your script with your partner, don’t get hung up on small details that don’t matter.

take ownership over your partner's work like it's your own

If you’re always keeping track of what they wrote versus what you wrote, you’re being too competitive and too possessive with your work. Take credit for your partner’s writing. Let them share in your brilliance too. That’s how you foster a good partnership. Everything equal, all the time.

10 Comments

Serita Stevens link

4/17/2013 06:47:41 am

When I worked with one partner we felt that we saw each other more than we saw our significant others! When we had disagreement about the way something was going in our story we actually went to a marriage counselor and hashed it out as to what was best for the story and not for our own egos.

Script Quack link

4/17/2013 09:13:08 am

That's awesome, Serita! I've never heard of writing partners going so far to get on the same page, but it sounds like it helped. I hope you and your partner are still writing together!!

Ella

5/31/2013 08:41:12 pm

Wow, how cool! :)

Ivy

5/31/2013 08:40:18 pm

I was just wondering, how do you actually work with each other? Like, how can you write a whole novel or screen play or whatever together? Do you split it in half or something? I'm really confused!! I had a good friend who is amazing at English and I (I'm being so modest here) have always loved and been good at it too, and have always wanted to become a novelist, but I just wanted to know how you actually do it?!
But it sounds like fun! :)

Serita Stevens link

6/1/2013 06:59:47 am

actually, that one writing partner is now deceased. My other partner whom I worked with, to answer Ivy's question, did not hold up her own and did not like to be rewritten. We had divided chapters of a non fiction book there and she did not do the required research. That relationship ended badly. The process I had with Rayanne, my first partner, worked out well as we talked through scenes and wrote them together. I usually typed because I was the faster typist, but yes, we did page by page together in the same room so that we were on the same page metaphorically speaking. And when we disagreed, we would seek a third party opinion. I think writing fiction separating chapters is very difficult because you both really need to understand the character and you need an excellent pre-outline.

Script Quack link

8/4/2013 07:48:51 am

I just saw this, Serita. Thanks for responding, and I'm sorry to hear about your writing partner.

Very cool that you worked page by page together in the same room! It's always fascinating to hear about how different partners write together. My writing partner and I could never do that.

Joe

8/5/2013 02:32:36 am

I'm currently writing my first screenplay with my friend. BIG mistake. He came to me the concept and i created a story to go with it. We made the first outline mostly together. After that, i've been on my own. I wrote the entire first draft mostly b/c he was busy w/ school. He said he'd be able to help when the semester ended. Nope.

Trying to get him to rework the outline was like pulling teeth. He would always say he was in the mood to write, but when we got together, he would say he wasn't in the mood anymore and would mostly browse the internet. So our writing sessions turned into me saying "how about we..." in between him watching videos and him responding with "sounds good". I think he thought writing a screenplay wasn't going to be work.

As of now, i'm halfway done the 2nd draft on my own. He said he was writing a scene, but i highly doubt i will ever see it. This is basically a solo project with 2 names on it. I feel bad b/c he is my friend, but i know our writing partnership is at its end.

So for my next screenplay, i will definitely be on my own.

It may have been Syd Field (i forget) would said the most important thing to look for in a partner is someone who u think is a better writer than u. I agree that that is really important. but my experience taught me the most important thing in a partner is someone with a good work ethic, You can work through poor ideas and poor writing, but you can't work through anything if you don't do the work.

Hopefully the rest of you have better experiences with your writing partner.

Serita Stevens link

8/5/2013 02:48:00 am

Sounds like you should have had a contract ahead of time. I got Joe, I was caught with one similar situation. A producer had promised to work with me and never gave me any help but now wanted to have half credit!! My manager had to now negotiate terms with him but it was pulling teeth. Moral is ALWAYS GET A CONTRACT IN WRITING EVEN IF HE'S YOUR BEST FRIEND. You will now need to get someone involved to mediate and it will be doubtful if that script will ever see the light of day. I hope that you have been keeping detailed notes of your conversations and what you have done because you might have a legal fight on your hands. YOu might be best to move on to another story and forget this partnership.

Serita Stevens

8/5/2013 02:50:32 am

whoops, I didn't realize that I had written the first sentence when I decided to put in Joe's name. But basically, you need to move on.

Joe

8/5/2013 01:40:56 pm

Thanks. I know, should have planned better ahead of time. Oh well, lesson learned.