Siri’s and my co-written novel continues to be in the front of our minds as we finish up our edit (the book’ll be out in May!), so bear with us for just a little longer. Next month we might actually talk about something else! Though I make no guarantees.
The sekrit project (as we’ve dubbed the novel) has proven to be eye-opening in many ways. I’ve had to plot, write, and edit differently than usual. It’s been a long time since I wrote with someone else, and rarely with the level of coordination that this has entailed. So, before I jump back in (I’m ~66% of the way through my parts), here’s 3 things I’ve learned from working on this project.
1. I don’t like quick schedules.
There are authors out there who put out a book or three every year. Or more! I would very much like to get to be one of those people, hopefully in the near future, but it was really rough for me to go from the writing phase more or less straight into the revision phase. Luckily, I didn’t have any major plot issues in my main storyline (at least, not that anyone pointed out), but I like to let a story cool for a bit before I dive in to ripping it apart. In theory, this helps me be more objective and observant.
I really have no one to blame but myself. I’m pretty sure it was me who said, 1) “Let’s start this project,” and 2) “Let’s put it out in our May slot next year.”
2. There are a lot of ways to co-write a novel.
Siri and I have perhaps gone to one extreme, which I shall not tell you here because of spoilers. I’ve have done it other ways in the past, and someday it would be fun–or perhaps infuriating–to try the other end of the spectrum.
3. Building off each other’s stuff is awesome.
They say two heads are better than one, which is only true, I think, if you are in sync with the other person. Otherwise, it can be a mess. But I know some of the coolest stuff in my part was built off of stuff that Siri has in hers, and I think that went both ways.
I’m really excited for you guys to have the book! I think it’s coming out great, and I’m very pleased with the story and the characters. Just a little more time!
Yesss. I concur with all of the above! Especially the schedule. Oy. Next book I write, I’ll give myself more than a year. Or at least make sure my pauses happen in between drafts rather than in the middle of one. *coughNovembercough* But yes, it was awesome getting to play off your–
*Kit jumps on Siri to muffle spoilers*
…um, and I know we had some periods in there where we stalled, but overall, having a co-writer was really helpful in keeping the momentum going to finish a reasonably coherent first draft. (Dunno about the edits. Ask me later.)
I’m really looking forward to DETAILS on just how you guys managed such an awesome first-edit draft.
Me, too, as KD and I may be up next….