Writing With a Partner
All too often, writers resign themselves to undeserved loneliness. We glorify our solitary struggles, and turn inside ourselves for inspiration, motivation and encouragement. It’s in our nature to be reclusive, and sometimes that impulse is dead on. All we need is time to be alone and write. But other times, we just need someone to bounce ideas off of.
That’s why writing partners are so great.
Now for the disclaimer – of course this is not an article blindly suggesting that all screenwriters work with a partner. Some people truly do work better alone (and most screenwriters fly solo). This is merely a suggestion that you give it a try, and a guide for how to maximize your chances for success if indeed you do. So, without further ado, a guide on how to successfully work with a writing partner…
That’s why writing partners are so great.
Now for the disclaimer – of course this is not an article blindly suggesting that all screenwriters work with a partner. Some people truly do work better alone (and most screenwriters fly solo). This is merely a suggestion that you give it a try, and a guide for how to maximize your chances for success if indeed you do. So, without further ado, a guide on how to successfully work with a writing partner…
Choosing the Right Partner
A lot of people make the biggest mistake before they even start writing with a partner - - they choose the wrong person. They agree to write with their best friend, or hairdresser, or someone from the internet, just…because. They both want to write with a partner, and they get along well enough.
But carelessly choosing a partner can lead to huge problems down the road. Before you start writing with someone, make sure you have the same taste and sensibilities. It’s very possible you’re both hugely talented, but if you’re trying to write Dumb and Dumber, and they’re going for Annie Hall, you’re kind of screwed.
Here’s how you find out if you should write with your possible partner or not…
- Interview them about their favorite movies. What do they like? What do they hate?
- Get into specifics. What exact moments do they love about these movies and why?
- Get personal. Discuss every touchy subject you can before writing together. Each partner doesn’t have to agree about everything (in fact it’s probably better for your work if you don’t) but you both need to be able to respect disagreements. If either of you is the kind of person that ‘just can’t talk to a republican,’ then you should be working alone.
- Watch three classic movies neither of you have seen before and discuss. Again, this will further refine your awareness of what your partner likes and hates, and help you very much down the road.
But carelessly choosing a partner can lead to huge problems down the road. Before you start writing with someone, make sure you have the same taste and sensibilities. It’s very possible you’re both hugely talented, but if you’re trying to write Dumb and Dumber, and they’re going for Annie Hall, you’re kind of screwed.
Here’s how you find out if you should write with your possible partner or not…
- Interview them about their favorite movies. What do they like? What do they hate?
- Get into specifics. What exact moments do they love about these movies and why?
- Get personal. Discuss every touchy subject you can before writing together. Each partner doesn’t have to agree about everything (in fact it’s probably better for your work if you don’t) but you both need to be able to respect disagreements. If either of you is the kind of person that ‘just can’t talk to a republican,’ then you should be working alone.
- Watch three classic movies neither of you have seen before and discuss. Again, this will further refine your awareness of what your partner likes and hates, and help you very much down the road.
Define Your Process
Before you begin writing with a partner, make a plan. New writing partners encounter most of their problems because of confused or contradictory expectations regarding work flow, collaboration and feedback. Obviously these things are malleable and will likely change as you refine your particular process, but the more you can define the process before you begin, the better off you’ll be down the road.
Here’s how I work with my writing partner…
One of us comes up with a concept and pitches it to the other.
If we’re both excited about the concept, we explore it further. If not, we file the idea away, and move on. We don’t take rejection personally, and have already decided that a really great idea will excite both of us. We’re working together because we trust each other’s taste, but more importantly, because we trust our combined taste more than our separate sensibilities.
We write an outline and beat sheet together. This involves hours and hours a day of talking. Talking about characters, each other’s flaws, the people we know, pretty much everything and everything. So work with someone you can be open with, and your work will benefit. That said, lots of talking can lead to disagreements, and this is where many people give up on writing with a partner. Opinions clash or confusion emerges, and you end up talking in circles about nothing for hours on end. Fight through this! (more on settling arguments with your writing partner later)
After the outline is complete, we trade off, writing ten pages at a time until the script is complete. We commit to daily goals for our pages, and are accountable to one another if the pages don’t get done. With this kind of accountability - - they always get done.
Then we read through the script together, out loud, acting out each role as we go. This is often one of the most difficult parts of the process, because we tweak dialogue and action as we go, rewriting each scene until we get to the end of the script. Sometimes it takes days and some bloodshed, but it always gets done. (Again, more on settling arguments soon!)
After that, we get the script to trusted readers, and begin the rewriting process, which looks a lot like the writing process described above.
Generally this process moves very smoothly, because we define our expectations before we even begin writing. We know what parts are collaborative, we know what will be done alone, and we don’t get in each other’s way once the writing begins.
Still, arguments do arise, about anything and everything having to do with the script. But because we’re prepared, we’re ready to handle that too…
Here’s how I work with my writing partner…
One of us comes up with a concept and pitches it to the other.
If we’re both excited about the concept, we explore it further. If not, we file the idea away, and move on. We don’t take rejection personally, and have already decided that a really great idea will excite both of us. We’re working together because we trust each other’s taste, but more importantly, because we trust our combined taste more than our separate sensibilities.
We write an outline and beat sheet together. This involves hours and hours a day of talking. Talking about characters, each other’s flaws, the people we know, pretty much everything and everything. So work with someone you can be open with, and your work will benefit. That said, lots of talking can lead to disagreements, and this is where many people give up on writing with a partner. Opinions clash or confusion emerges, and you end up talking in circles about nothing for hours on end. Fight through this! (more on settling arguments with your writing partner later)
After the outline is complete, we trade off, writing ten pages at a time until the script is complete. We commit to daily goals for our pages, and are accountable to one another if the pages don’t get done. With this kind of accountability - - they always get done.
Then we read through the script together, out loud, acting out each role as we go. This is often one of the most difficult parts of the process, because we tweak dialogue and action as we go, rewriting each scene until we get to the end of the script. Sometimes it takes days and some bloodshed, but it always gets done. (Again, more on settling arguments soon!)
After that, we get the script to trusted readers, and begin the rewriting process, which looks a lot like the writing process described above.
Generally this process moves very smoothly, because we define our expectations before we even begin writing. We know what parts are collaborative, we know what will be done alone, and we don’t get in each other’s way once the writing begins.
Still, arguments do arise, about anything and everything having to do with the script. But because we’re prepared, we’re ready to handle that too…
Settling Arguments with Your Writing Partner
Whenever my writing partner and I begin to disagree about our story our characters, we take a step back and analyze what we do agree on. This is incredibly effective, because it helps you realize that really, you’re very much on the same team, and you’re on the same page with all the big details.
Starting with the broadest possible points (story concept, title, whatever) we state what we agree on. Then by the time we get to the disagreement, we have a very clear idea of our story, and we’ve got much better perspective moving forward.
Usually, that process will yield a satisfying compromise. But when it doesn’t, it’s always helpful to have a third party you can turn to with your story concerns. Having someone to talk to, whether you’re writing with a partner or not, can be vital when you’re breaking a story. That’s why writers’ rooms work, and that’s why Pixar works like this.
Starting with the broadest possible points (story concept, title, whatever) we state what we agree on. Then by the time we get to the disagreement, we have a very clear idea of our story, and we’ve got much better perspective moving forward.
Usually, that process will yield a satisfying compromise. But when it doesn’t, it’s always helpful to have a third party you can turn to with your story concerns. Having someone to talk to, whether you’re writing with a partner or not, can be vital when you’re breaking a story. That’s why writers’ rooms work, and that’s why Pixar works like this.
Put Your Ego Aside
Insecurities are what kill partnerships. If you’re constantly worrying about your partner ruining your work when they rewrite you, you will cause turmoil. When you’re writing with a partner, there’s no such thing as ‘your joke’ or ‘your scene.’ Everything is shared, and neither of should take the other’s rewriting personally. The sooner you adopt that opinion, the better.
Embrace Your Own Weaknesses
If there’s one thing writing with a partner will make clear to you, it’s your own weaknesses. If you can’t write a sex scene and your partner can, don’t pout, celebrate. You either will never have to write a sex scene again, or your partner can teach you. Because ultimately, that’s the point. Your writing partner should round you out, and you should round them out. You should complement each other, turning out work neither of you would be capable of alone.
Support each other
Like everyone else, writers have insecurities about or work. Sometimes we think we’ll never write a good page again, and at times like these, the support of your writing partner can really help. A good writing partner will always find a way to tell you when your pages aren’t quite up to snuff, for the good of the project. But when, at the end of the day, you send them a file with a note that says “This really sucks. I don’t know what I was doing today,” they’ll lie to you. Because they believe in you and they know that whether or not those pages do actually suck or not doesn’t matter. They’re working with you because they believe in you, and you should believe in yourself just as much.
Are you and your writing partner looking for notes on your screenplay? Maybe someone to help settle that years old disagreement on story or character? At Script Quack, we offer professional script analysis at affordable prices. Check out our screenplay services for more information.