More Co-Authoring Q&A: The Ending Series

****PLEASE NOTE: This is an old post. I no longer post on this blog. For more information, to visit my new blog, or to contact me, visit HERE****


For those of you who frequent my blog, you've probably read some of my posts about what it looks like to be a co-author and my recommendations around it. However, some of you haven't, and as The Ending Series comes to a close, Ending fans have a lot of questions about the series and what it's like to co-author a series. Well, here are some of my answers...

1. How does the writing process work with two authors?

It's morphed a bit since book one, but essentially we brainstorm together (in person) and then we outline the book by characters and storylines. Sticky notes and google docs are VERY helpful in this. After, we start writing and continue to check in with each other as we write and read each other's chapters. This way we can make sure we're on the "same page" so to speak. 

Also, we both write our own camp of characters. For example, I write Zoe chapters and her characters include, Harper, Sanchez, Tavis, Sam, Jake, Becca, Sarah, Clara, etc. and LF writes Dani chapters, Jason, Chris, Carlos, Gabe, Vanessa, animals, Mase, Grayson, Ky, etc.) However, when our characters crossover into each other's chapters, like Jake being in a Dani chapter, for example, LF will write her version of Jake's responses and I will come in and make sure his reactions and dialogue are true to his character. Now that we're on book four, we know the characters so well and there's generally little altering needed. Then there are characters, like Dr. Wesley and General Herodson, that we both write. They aren't really "one person's" character, as we've created them together.

To read more about our actual process, check out my Writing The Ending Series post.

2. Do you ever disagree on the direction of a character or the plot?

We definitely have different ideas about how things should progress throughout the series or what should happen in between major plot points sometimes, but we talk about them and figure out a compromise--why it would or wouldn't work. Sometimes we leave the questionable pieces of the story in the first draft for beta readers to comment on during the first read-through. If they don't think something fits or works, we change it so that it does. 

3. Do you market the book any differently with it having two authors?

No, not really. It's pretty much the same. We used to have the edge of how "different" we were with two authors, especially with us having the same name, but now it seems more and more common for a book or series to have co-authors. And, writing together is actually a tad more difficult to market in some cases. It helps that we both have our own websites and blogs and author platforms in which we can market our work. But sometimes forms or publishing accounts or listings that we're using to promote our series only have room for one author's name, so it's difficult to keep both of our names connected to the project at times. Since we decided to list our names in alphabetic order, LF is generally the name that's attached, and I've just had to get used to that over the last four years.

4. Which do you prefer, writing as a sole author or writing with another author?

There are definitely perks to both. When you're co-authoring, there's someone to partner with, who's invested in the project as much as you are. It's nice to have someone helping you celebrate the good and shoulder the bad. But it's also difficult given our different schedules and pace of working. 

LF loves writing paranormal, so it's great for her to be able to focus on her solo projects with a, well, paranormal flare. I am much more conventional in my writing in that I like to write historical and contemporary romance with a dash of adventure. My first solo book comes out in January, Whatever It Takes, and it's completely different than The Ending books, which was a nice break. Although I love our Ending characters, it will be really nice to explore my own stories for a little while, though there are more stories in the world of The Ending that we plan to explore in the future.

5. Does one Author “take the lead” or do you both have equal input into the writing of the book and it’s marketing?

Things have altered over the years. Right now, I'm more active in all the social media and communication with fans and subcontracts, like with the cover designer, our editor, beta readers and reviewers, getting us book tours and giveaways with fellow authors, etc. LF focuses more on the promotions side of things.

6. How do you decide who writes which part of the book?

We decide what we want our character arcs to be, agree that they work together and fit into the goal of the story, then we pretty much plan our own chapters, as long as we're clear on the overlapping pieces and what we need our characters to accomplish or experience together. Sorry, that was a long sentence :) Again, we plan out our chapters ahead of time, and we read each other's as we go so that we know where to pick up and where the other left off. This is VERY important when our characters are together.

7. Are there certain traits or an interview-type process you go through when choosing authors to co-write with? Or is it a less technical approach with two author friends deciding to co-write?

For us, it was an organic, logical step given our hobbies and friendship at the time, a step that has since turned into something bigger than we had originally expected. There was no formal process, though I recommend that anyone jumping into a project with someone else keep some things in mind. You can check out my 4 Things Writer's Should Think About Before They Commit for more. But, the gist is this: pay close attention to a potential co-author's work ethic, their pace, their ability to communicate, their attention and dedication to their projects, etc. All of those things are important. Writing with someone else is a HUGE commitment, so make sure your writing partner is someone you trust and foresee in your writing career long-haul...once you publish a book, you're tied together. 

8. Do you ever get together in the same room to do the writing or is it all done via computers? 

With me in California and LF in Washington, we try to meet up at least twice during a project--once for the initial brainstorming before we start writing and then for the final read-through and publishing of the book. Other than that it's all emails and video chats for us.

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If you have any other questions about writing in general or about co-authoring, feel free to email me or comment below!

Happy Writing!

Lindsey

Twitter: @LindseyRPogue

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The Co-Authoring Writing Process Part 1: 4 Things Writers Should Think About Before They Commit

I've recieved some awesome feedback about my co-authoring post (written long ago) about how it was the best decision I've ever made when it comes to my writing career. Seeing how I've been writing with LF since 2011, I figured I could update my experiences a bit more in this 2-part post about things to think about when you're going into a writing partnership. And then I figured I'd give you an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at our process writing The Ending Series. 

But first, here's a bit more insight into my experience co-authoring. I've included some things you should consider before you take the leap to help you in the long run. 

As I've said before, there are a lot of pros to writing a book with someone else: 

1. You'll have awesome brainstorming sessions that provide a great way to bounce around ideas and keep your story fresh and exciting--if you're lucky, your partnership will be a good balance of creativity and practically when considering storyline, pace, arcs, etc.
2. You have a partner in crime to share successes and "failures" with (I use "failure" loosely because if you're being a badass and following your dreams and writing a book, no matter what, you can't "fail" in the general sense of the word).
3. There will be someone to help you make decisions, keep you on track and balance you out.
4. Your partner will help you bear the weight and responsibility of publishing a book and all that comes with it.
5. You have someone to share the experience with, who truly, 100% understands what you're going through and can have a real conversation with you.

High-five, Partner! We rock!

But the process of writing with someone isn't necessarily an easy one. Here are some things to consider.

The Distance. Are you and your co-author within a drivable distance together? If not, what will your partnership look like? Because in my experience, writing isn't as easy as simply deciding to write together. Nope. There's a lot more that comes with it. For instance, the things listed above aren't so easy accomplished over the phone all the time. Are you willing to take on the additional effort to make the partnership work long distance? Just like any relationship, a partnership is a commitment to someone else. What are you willing to contribute? What do you think your partner will contribute?

The Dedication. Are you both invested equally? If you're not, it will be the worst experience of your life. Luckily, when LF and I started out, we were both 100% in and committed to not only writing a series together, but establishing an actual business together.

Time = Sanity. How much time do you have to put into your project? How much time does your writing partner have? Be realistic going into your project. If you can't give it equal attention and make equal efforts, there will be tension and a potential blowout. Does one work faster than the other? You need to keep these things in mind when you're ironing out timelines and spouting off release dates so that you're not missing them or setting yourselves up for failure (there's that dratted word again) or at least insanity and more stress than writing and publishing already brings to the table.

Overall...
When it comes to co-authoring, the gist is pretty simple.

1. Do you trust them?
2. Do you like the way they write?
3. Do you have things in common?
4. Are you comfortable with speaking your mind?

If you have all of those things, then I'd say you're on the right path. But no matter what--no matter how amazing your friendship is or how professional you or they are--ALWAYS draft and sign and contract. The last thing you want is to get into a situation with someone that gives them the power to change your reputation or publish something with your name on it that you didn't approve, etc. without a legally binding contract that covers your ass and gives you some leverage. Not that LF and I have gone to blows or anything, but my reputation as an author is on the line and it's not going to be someone else who ruins it. Cover your ass!

I'll post more about our writing process next week! It's already written and everything, so I can't wait to share it with you Ending Series readers. 

Happy Friday!

Lindsey

Twitter: @LindseyRPogue

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The Co-Authoring Writing Process Part 2 : Writing The Ending Series

We've received many questions about what it's like to write with someone and how Team Lindsey writes The Ending Series. So, here's a little insight as to how the whole co-authoring process works with us. 

The general process....

 Zoe sticky board - The result of one of our brainstorming sessions

First, we do a lot of brainstorming together.

• We pick a title. We wordsmith, contemplate meanings, cadence, and so on until to come up with the name of the book. It's after much walking, thought, and verbal vomit when we can finally jump up and say, "YES!"

• Discuss plot and storyline. We also brainstorm twists and character arcs, new characters, and then list the questions we have to answer or things that need  to be set in place for future storylines. Often, we are working backwards when it comes to planning. We know where we want to go, we just have to figure out how to get there. That's were two minds help open up new ideas and possibilities for the story. Some of our awesome reveals throughout the book were planned while others were stumbled upon. A special note about writing: you can have your entire book ironed out--every single detail and location and specific points to cover throughout each and every chapter--but creativity generally leads you astray, and your brilliant outline and planning falls by the wayside. 

• Determine Publication Timeline. We pick a publication date and work backwards. There's more to writing a book than just writing words down. Time needs to be allotted for writing the manuscript, but also for multiple, month-long editing rounds. 
• We generally give ourselves at least four months to write the manuscript, but that tends to vary.
• Then, we read through EVERYTHING we've written and edit/revise/offer suggestions/look for missing info and plot holes, etc.
• When we're satisfied with our work, we send the manuscript to beta readers for a month or so. They then pick the story apart and tell us what works, what's wonky, and what they would've liked to have seen that we didn't include. *We don't include every single person's request or accept and change all critiques, but we do keep them in mind and change major issues that readers find.* Betas are SO important; they are our gauge to know if we're ready to publish or not. If they don't like the book, we rewrite and won't published until the story is where it needs to be. Then we edit again.
• After the second editing round, we send the story to our editor for a month. When we get it back, we edit and read through the manuscript together, ensuring it's exactly the way we want it. Only then do we consider it "final".
• We format the manuscript for different online retailers and devices (Nook, Kindle, iBook, etc.), and we also format for paperback (very different and more time consuming as far as the cover and internal content and setup goes).
• Finally, we get a cover made and write the back blurb/description, set up marketing campaigns, send advanced copies out to advanced readers/reviewers, and hit publish.
• Then we have a fun-ass release party! We've done a book signing before, but that's more difficult now that we're not living closely together.

Into The Fire Production Timeline

Writing The Chapters!
Now, the part you've been patiently waiting for.
Initially, we create an in-depth outline of each chapter:

• whose chapter it is?
• what's the location (off-site or home base)?
list the significant points being addressed
• are there any questions we have for each other or things to keep in mind while reading through the chapter?

Into The Fire Chapter Outline

Progressing the story. 
The general rule of thumb...

1. We take turns writing.
If Dani and Zoe are at completely different part of the country, like they were in After The Ending, we write our chapters at our own pace. In these circumstances, we don't need to build our chapters off of one another. In Into The Fire, Zoe had her own mess of crap going on in the ghost town with Jason and Jake and Tavis and Sam, as did Dani who was stuck in the Colony. We needed to make sure we were in communication with one another and somewhat following the chapter outline closely given the way our chapters integrated at times, but otherwise we were on our own. I could write 3 chapters in a day if I wanted to.
BUT
If we're using Out Of The Ashes as an example, the book starts with a Jake chapter (which I wrote since he's my character), and then moved to a Zoe chapter before getting to a Dani. That means that LF had to wait for me to write my chapters before she could start reflecting on how Zoe and Jake and the rest of the group was doing based on all that happens in the first part of the book. When there's a lot of conflict, it's very difficult to write without being up to speed on what is going on with everyone.

How do we keep track?
Aside from updating our chapter outline document with our word count, we post our chapters in a shared drive. For instance, when I finish a Zoe chapter, I post it in the shared drive so that LF can read it when she's ready to write her first chapter. This is why Before The Dawn has gone slower than usual. Because our characters (all of them) are so entwined we can't go off, writing on our own and having a merry time writing whatever we want. We have to build off of each other's chapters. If LF can't get a chapter written until the end of the week, then I have to wait that long to read it and write my own.

Which characters do we write?

• Lindsey Fairleigh writes Dani, and I write Zoe. 

• Throughout the series we've each had a "camp" of characters that we've written and it goes a little something like this (without listing every single character). You can probably see the trend...
• LF - Dani, Jason, Chris, Vanessa, Carlos, Cece, Ky, Ben, Grayson, Gabe, Mase and Camille, etc.
• LP - Zoe, Jake, Becca, Tavis, Sam, Harper, Sanchez, Dave, Sarah, Biggs, Clara, Jones and Taylor, etc.
• Crossover - We both write Dr. Wesley and General Herodson. For example, we're introduced to Dr. Wesley in Dani's chapters throughout Into The Fire, so LF wrote a lot of that. But I wrote Before The Ending: Anna's Story, and I write her in all of Zoe's chapters.

• More Crossover. When my characters, like Becca or Harper, cross over from Zoe chapters into Dani chapters, LF writes them. When I'm reading through her chapters and feel like their interactions or dialogue aren't true to their character, I just tweak it a little bit to make it work. We've also done this with Dani and Zoe throughout all the stories as well.
• Side note: we've been writing these characters for so long, it's finally come to the point where there isn't much we don't know or can't mentally see all the characters doing. We're so familiar with them. Like, I know Jason rarely has an expression on his face and LF knows that Harper likes to wink quite frequently :)

And as for my Ending Series writing process...

• I brush up on the past Ending books, since I generally take a handful of months off in between so I can decompress or work on a different project
• I create a notebook where I plot and brainstorm on my own for my characters
• I create a playlist specific to The Ending Series and the specific book I'm working on
• I find photos of my characters or locations I plan to use and do research for reference
• And then I begin to write!!!!!

Twitter: @LindseyRPogue

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...Book 3 Release!...

Available in ebook and paperback

Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks

Hope brought them together, but it's now fear that drives them...

...and threatens to tear them apart.

Zoe and her companions succeeded in rescuing Dani from the Colony. But not without sacrifice. Beaten and broken, they head west, determined to leave behind the torment and horrors they experienced in Colorado.

As Dani and Zoe make the perilous trek home to Bodega Bay, they learn that danger can take many forms--other survivors, their friends, even themselves--and that things are rarely what they seem. Zoe is desperate to become the woman she sees in others' memories, while Dani struggles to conceal damaging secrets, risking losing herself--her humanity--completely. Together, they must rediscover the true meaning of friendship, love, and trust, and learn just how hard they're willing to fight for what remains of their shattered world.

As relationships are put to the test, second chances are given, and new life emerges, death lurks in the most unlikely of places. To survive, Dani and Zoe must accept that sometimes hope alone isn't enough.

Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks

...On co-authoring...

Co-authoring – The best decision I ever made and why aspiring authors should consider it.

By: Lindsey Pogue, co-author of Bestselling Sci-Fi Romance saga, The Ending Series

Although I’m not new to writing per se, I’m a newcomer to the indie, self-publishing world. And let me tell you, there is a lot to learn, and it’s constantly evolving. And if I’m being completely honest, although I’ve been writing most of my life, I wouldn’t have had the gumption to tackle publishing if it wasn’t for my co-author and partner in crime, Lindsey Fairleigh (LF). Yes, we’re co-authors and both of our names are Lindsey, spelled the same way and everything.

Oh, to be so inspired…and petrified. I always wanted to be a writer. In fact, I wrote my first YA manuscript in high school. But it wasn’t until 2011 that I decided to take that leap from aspiring to published author. Has self-publishing made it easier to reach my dreams? Yes! Is it a lot of hard work? Definitely! Am I afraid of failure? I was, but then I asked myself what would be worse: never trying and always wondering? Or taking the leap and being able to say, regardless of the outcome, “I did it”? And guess what, the sleepless nights, the fear of rejection, the brain farts and time crunches are all totally worth it! I have to work for someone anyway, so why not work for myself and take a chance on something that I love doing? LF and I were at a point in our lives where it just felt right and we had each other, so we went for it—110%. As a result of our dedication and belief in one another, we’ve created a bestselling series that we couldn’t be more proud of.

               That glazed-over feeling that hits you when you step into the ever-changing, self-publishing world


Our long story short. So, LF and I have known each other for a few years now, but when we first started writing—aside from our love of reading and watching True Blood—we didn’t know all that much about one another. So, co-authoring was really a leap of faith for both us. After bouncing ideas off of one another, we decided to embark on a fun side-project together, which has since blossomed into an amazing adventure. What was originally meant to be a blog, turned into a four book series, the first two are out now, After The Ending and Into The Fire.

Co-authoring, really? It’s definitely not for everyone. Writing with another person means there will be different and sometimes conflicting opinions, approaches, strengths and weakness. But partnerships also provide more ideas, different perspectives, someone to share the load and lean on when you’re feeling the woes of authorship. For me, co-authorship is exactly what I needed to get my butt in gear and stop sitting around wishing I could be a writer. Would I be as happy as I am now had I co-written with someone else? No, I doubt it, because LF and me just seem to mesh well. For whatever reason, we did have a connection—we do—and we listened to it. Look where we are now. It’s truly a wonderfully amazing gift to be able to embark on a project like this with someone else you trust.


Having a co-author helps me in more ways than one.

Accountability. I am one of those writers who has a hundred story ideas bobbing around in my head all day every day, so I struggle to stay focused on one story at a time. Only once, before The Ending Series, did I complete an entire manuscript. If you’re like me, sometimes it helps having another person in the mix, holding you accountable, who will help keep you focused. LF doesn’t babysit me, don’t get me wrong. You don’t want to let them down so you work your butt off as much as you can. A co-author helps to keep me motivated, holding me to my own standards and goals. If I know LF is waiting on my work, I get it done one time. If I know that she’s going to critique it, I try to write something to the best of my ability. With a co-author, a writer has to stay focused. I hate letting people down so it’s additional motivation.

Two heads, two perspectives. Let’s be honest, working with someone else is generally more motivating no matter the setting—talking things out and getting ideas out of my head is crucial in plotting. When you’re working with someone, one of you will find a plot hole while another comes up with the most awesome twist neither of you ever saw coming. Having a brainstorming buddy is one of the most important aspects of writing, especially when that brainstorming buddy is as equally invested in the project as you are.

A sense of security. Who doesn’t want someone around who is equally invested in the success of your project? It’s easier to take chances when someone is there by your side. I’m not talking about a supportive, significant other (although that is definitely important), but someone who feels as connected and accountable for your project as you do. The great thing about having a co-author is that there is someone to take the punches with you, someone to laugh or rejoice with when an occasion calls for it. There’s someone to talk to who knows exactly what you’re talking about and feels the way you do—someone who can relate to you. In working with LF, I have a partner to share failures and successes with, all of which are intimidating, especially for a first time author.

                                     That happy moment when you can celebrate your successes with someone


The “dark side”. Although I’ve been fortunate to have a great experience working with LF, I can see how things could get messy for some co-authors. As with anything, co-authoring isn’t always going to be furry puppy dogs and sunshine, so before you embark on a writing project with someone, you really need to consider the personality traits you share and what you foresee your differences being. There are also your different ways of writing that you need to consider, which gets tricky. LF is one of the writers that can get everything from her head down onto paper and it’s nearly a finished draft. I’m lucky if I can get most of my thoughts out fast enough, so for me, I need to revisit a chapter multiple times before I can say, this is the best it can be. So, working at different paces definitely proves challenging for me. You need to make sure you’re open and honest when it comes to feedback too, but if you don’t have thick skin, or at least aren’t working toward it, working together may be difficult to stomach. Keep in mind, you’re co-author should want the story to be the best it possibly can, so honesty WHILE practicing kindness is key.

                                                                                         How I feel when we're editing


Be the most creative you. Don’t let co-authoring define who you are as an author, but let it help you get to that place you want to be—use it to your advantage. Learn from your experience—from each other—and together you can create something more amazing than you probably thought possible. If you don’t feel like that’s the case for you, get out of your project and start your own. The last thing you want is to publish something with your name on it that you’re less than proud of. You’ll regret it, guaranteed.

Again, I know co-authoring isn’t for everyone, but it was the best decision I ever made…for my writing and for my life. I’m 100% happier now that I can write and follow my dream. So, whether it’s writing a blog or a book together, collaboration can sometimes bring out the best in a person, and can show us what our potential truly is.

While I still have to work a part-time day job in order to fund my passion for writing, it’s my hope that one day, this hair-brained decision LF and I had a few years ago will turn into something more and allow me to continue pursuing my dream and writing another adventure. Thanks, LF, for all your hard work, and for helping to make the last three years of our writing career absolutely amazing. I probably never would’ve had the guts to follow my dreams without you.