Friday, April 3, 2015

A to Z Challenge - C is for Collaborate



Collaboration with other writers is a win for all who are involved. 


It can be in the form of critique groups,  submitting a piece to be included in a collaborative anthology, hosting an author on your blog during a blog tour, reading/editing somebody’s work, organising a joint author signing event at your local shopping centre, promoting a Facebook fan page, helping with author promotion via various campaigns, e.g.Thunderclap.


What are some of the benefits?

1. It helps to build your platform. When you help somebody else, the favor will be returned. Example, tweeting, re-tweeting, sharing FB posts.

2. Collaborating on a project with other writers, for example, a story/poetry anthology, means each one brings something distinct to the table, because of varied interests/ideas, so each writer offers a unique view or perspective.

3. Creativity can be fueled when multiple writers brainstorm with each other.

4. It helps to build confidence. We need each other for moral support. You don’t feel so isolated.

5. A joint author signing event is an opportunity to build your fan base.


Are there any other types of collaboration that you’d like to add? Any other advantages you can think of?

31 comments:

Fran Clark said...

I've recently started a joint writing venture and. as your post says, another skill set is brought into the equation and this project seems to be flying far faster than anything I've done myself. Collaboration works!

Christine Rains said...

You've nailed them all I think. I love my author group and brainstorming with my CPs. I'm a better writer because of them.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

It's a team - Together Everyone Achieves More.

Linda Kay said...

I have a lovely group of ladies who help with critiquing my writing, and I theirs. We enjoy the time together, and share personal things as well. I've learned so much from these ladies. Have a blessed weekend!

Mary Aalgaard said...

I work with my students to write a play together. It is a frenzied collaboration, and so much fun!
http://playoffthepage.com/2015/04/c-is-for-coffee/

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

We might write alone, but we need everyone's help to succeed.

Anonymous said...

I've always wanted to do a collaboration, but I swear, I always make friends with people who write different genres than I do, or just different enough to make a collaboration tricky.

~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

Bish Denham said...

Collaboration sure has helped me!!

Unknown said...

LOVE collaboration! Could not write if not for collaborating with my beautiful writing friends. =)

Chrys Fey said...

Working with other writers is so helpful. It can make all the difference with a manuscript, blog tour, or promotion.

Unknown said...

I started a meetup group for women bloggers in my town, Tucson Women Bloggers. It has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. Not because it is so huge, but because there is now a growing, flexible yet intimate group of women writers who support each other and share information. I am taking the success and expanded upon it at womenslegacyproject.com

LD Masterson said...

Brainstorming is NOT a solitary activity and it's so helpful.

randi lee said...

Perfect post about collaboration. Excellent points. I like Alex's comment about writing alone but needing others, too!

Luana Krause said...

I like supporting other writers and getting support from them. Great topic today.

cleemckenzie said...

There is a synergy that reading and commenting on blogs creates. I appreciate all that this challenge and my regular blogging brings to me.

Nancy C. Weeks said...

What I love most about the A to Z Challenge is I get to hit on blogs like this one. Love this post! Writers/bloggers need support groups. I spend my day alone staring at a computer screen in the world I'm creating out of my imagination. But there is nothing better than getting away from everything and meeting up with a bunch of wonderful people who spend their day like I spend mine. Nancy Hill, I belong to critique a group but I never thought about a blogging group. What a fantastic idea.

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Truth! I realized along the road that I can't be a solitary writer. Working with others is so much better!

@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Doing panels or workshops with a partner or a team is always fun and takes the pressure off. Doing a joint signing event in two weeks.

Unknown said...

Perfect timing for this post for me! I recently joined a small critique group and im the only new person. At first it was intimidating but Im getting used to the creative flow

Nadine_Feldman said...

I'm not much for in-person collaborations, though I've developed some great online writing relationships over the years. I do enjoy attending certain conferences, though, and "talking shop" with other writers. http://nadinefeldman.com

Cathy Kennedy said...

Another point is collaboration gets the job done quicker! Fabulous benefits! Now to get some collaboration to clean out the garage. lol

Anonymous said...

So much discussion about collaboration and that's the one thing that intrigued me about this post. I wonder if there is a place for writers to gather and say "I want to collaborate, who's in it with me?" Interesting note to Patricia's point above: How much more interesting and challenging to write within an unfamiliar genre. Diana Hirsch

Li said...

I've only collaborated on a project once, but it worked out really well. I also enjoy brainstorming, although we often go off on wild tangents that produce much merriment but little else. :)

Jessica Ferguson said...

Excellent post! I've never thought of collaborating as much more than writing together. Wow! So, I've been actually collaborating for a long time. And here I've always considered myself NOT a team player. :) A to Z Challenge and IWSG are great examples of successful collaboration. I just learned something. Thanks!

Suzy said...

Great tips in this post. I belong to a blogger support group and it has helped heaps with my blogging.
Dropping by from the AtoZ
Suzy at Someday Somewhere

Anonymous said...

Collaboration can really work, although I once let down a friend that was way cleverer than me - he ended up finishing the book on his own, and got published. Beta reading is the safer option for me.

Unknown said...

I began participating in critique groups a little over a year ago, and it's helped me tremendously with feelings of isolation. Supporting other writers on their projects and having support from others feels wonderful.

Justlittlecajunme said...

My mouse landed on your blog of that long list on A2Z Challenge. Glad I did. I will definitely be back! Great information!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Makes the scary world seem a lot smaller and friendlier. Great post.

Michelle Wallace said...

Thanks to everybody who visited and commented!

Chris Votey said...

I so far have been a part of one collaboration, known as Pocket-sized Yarns. The book featured indie writers submitting stories that were 540 words or less. I don't like short stories, but I learned a lot about how to make my writing overall benefit from getting the most in a short space and time.

You can check it out there (free): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/488035