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Dianna:
Mary: What do you know how about collaborating that you wish you’d known before you started your first book with Sherrilyn?

Dianna:  In all honesty, not a thing.  I might have over-thought it on my end and worried too much about “how to collaborate.” As it was, we had about eight weeks to turn in the manuscript and I won’t turn in anything that hasn’t been through outside cold reads so we needed time for that, too.  Our editor loved the first book, sent back a few edits then we polished the last time and sent it through two more reads before handing the book in.  After the first one, we just continued as we’d started.  I think I’m very fortunate in how both collaborations have turned out, but part of that comes from the company you keep.  I like to think I choose intelligent, pleasant and creatively-generous people to spend my time around,  then try to return the same courtesy and genuine consideration to them.

Mary: I’m asking such serious questions–but all three of you are women with great senses of humor.  Is there anything you’d like to say about the importance of laughter in a writing partnership?

Dianna:  LOL – there is NO way to collaborate UNLESS you have a sense of humor.  Mary and I work by phone (she lives in the Pacific Northwest and I live in the Southeast) sometimes for hours.  She is an amazing author just based on her writing, but finding out she types everything with two fingers totally blew me away (I want all of you who take her online classes to think about those detailed responses she gives hundreds of writers at a time).  Once when we were working via phone with our files open on each computer.  I was telling her something we needed to change then said, “Wait, I’ll make the changes here because you’re only using two fingers.”  She replied, “I’m using the third one now.”  I told her I couldn’t see it with the curve of the earth and all. <g>  Sherri and I write snarky comments to each other in brackets all the time and have to remember to take them out before sending in the pages.  During the final polish on the first book, we were in her cabin working in two different rooms and emailing each other finished chapters.  I got up at one point and walked in to where she was sitting and pointed to a line on a hard copy.  I asked what that meant.  She thought “I” had written it and I thought she’d written it.  We decided to delete it and act like it never happened. <g>

Mary:  And finally, although I know you’re all good friends as well as writing partners, do you also have written agreements specifying your responsibilities for the work and your profit shares?

Dianna:  I suggest to all writers who plan to collaborate that they be very clear about the terms of their agreement and work out the details in a way that is acceptable for everyone – in advance of starting.  I follow that advice myself.  Having things in writing shows that you are approaching your partnership as a business person and simplifies things down the road if either of you change your mind.

Mary:  Is there anything else you’d like to share about collaborating?

Dianna:  The only other thing I will add is that collaborating isn’t easier than writing solo.  I know you may think sometimes it is when you’re beating your head against the wall trying to finish a book, but collaborating is something you do only because the two of you on that particular project are going to create something greater than each of you on your own.  You will write other things by yourself that are outstanding, but a collaboration is the blending of two talents to come up with something unexpected and fresh.  Go into a collaboration only to create a powerful story and be willing to hear the other person’s ideas.  If you have any other reason for co-writing a story and have your mind set on exactly how that book has to be written – then do it yourself and save a friendship

Mary:  Dianna, you’re amazing.  Thank you for sharing your insights and wisdom with all of us.