What makes a co-writer?

[sarahrebecca58]

Simply put, what's is generally in the job description of a co-writer? I've heard of the term, though I've never heard of the situation in an explanation that was real clear.

The situation I'm thinking of is if you can handle characterization fine for general plot related things (for example a trans woman's plot completed plotted out), but one may have difficulties with the romance angle, assuming aromantic isn't what you're going for.

Lately with current stories (after my last three novellas) it seems like the need for this is becoming more obvious. Not because I can't write romance, but I'm slightly unaware of practical realities in terms of romance in comics. I'm manly familiar with romance insofar as specific manga I've read in my teen years.

Like I have a very limited perspective of romance, and mainly write non-traditional romance. Such as the realities of dating a girl with hypochondria thinking she's developing dementia in a more current story. But in general I find romance to be something of a difficulty for me. I'm more used to middle grade novels where romance isn't really a thing beyond hand holding and maybe cheek kissing.

[eschaefges]

Co-writers help write. There is no strict definition. Sometimes they are more 'co-plotters', sometimes they are 'super involved editors', sometimes they are writing half while you write half - it's whatever you want or need!

[sarahrebecca58]

I know I'm probably looking for semi-involved, meaning someone who has more experience in the aromatic/asexual spectrum among other LGBT aspects I'm unfamiliar with and it's effects on family.

But I'm not sure if I know of any that are also interested in both 'general fiction' and 'cyberpunk fiction', which puts me in kind a weird category.

General fiction with light cyberpunk elements in part one. And later Urban Fantasy and Heroic fantasy elements.

Ex. A college coed finding unrequited love in the midst of invasive hyper technical data-spheres.

I wasn't aware of the clashing genres going in.

One good with art to helps, though I can draw a lot more now.

[abbastudios]

There is no job description. It's just two or more people writing a story together.

How the two go about it is their decision and nobody's business.

[Aetherwing]

I have a co-writer. He works on the scripts mostly. I come up with the majority of the story, he just helps me put it to words. If it were a screenplay, it would be story by the two of us, scripts by him.

[eschaefges]

I am writing a series of Radio Dramas with a cowriter - we coplot together, then i write the script, then they edit/tweak/review. Every one is different!

[sarahrebecca58]

Are both writers able to have different strengths and weaknesses?

Like I can write women relatively easily, but I find writing men convincingly difficult. They either end up as caricatures, or just different from cis men in some way.

(Actually writing anything based on current gender ideals is weird for me.)

[Aetherwing]

Definitely! I'm better with female characters and interpersonal scenes, and my co-writer is good with humor and dialogue.

[danitasibert]

i have always thought that a co-writer helps with the story elements and/or helps with ideas that can help the main writer from writing themselves into a hole.

my sister is my co-writer for my comic along with being my editor, so if anything is missing she will bring it up and help me with sentience structure/ spelling!
but at times we have differences that can make us strong, she loves comedy and dumb humor (i do as well) but i am more into serious emotional scenes, so we try to gain this balance between the two to make a nice story.

[sarahrebecca58]

So like if I find myself in a hole regarding specific details like the outfits of 14th or 15th century peasant townsfolk, a co-writer who is more familiar with that historical context would be helpful?

(I think my current issue is one universe is like 21st century A.D., and the other universe is like 3136 A.D. that went back to a tech level like 15th century Europe.)

[AnnaLandin]

So like if I find myself in a hole regarding specific details like the outfits of 14th or 15th century peasant townsfolk, a co-writer who is more familiar with that historical context would be helpful?

It certainly would be! But it's always nice to do research for yourself, too. If you ARE looking for 14th-15th century peasant townsfolk clothing styles - and you aren't just using that as a random example - I'd suggest hunting down some old murals from churches; they sometimes feature crowds of townsfolk.

If you leave the entire research burden to your co-writer, you might end up coming up with scenarios/fashion choices/whatever that just don't fit in with the research, and you're going to have to go back and change it. If you both have at least some knowledge of the research material, there will be fewer revisions and changed decisions.

[tsukin]

I agree with what most people are saying here. Honestly when it comes to co-writing, it's sort of just however you two work it out to be. Like I knew two authors who just wrote every other chapter, tossed it at each other and then brutally edited them before tossing them back. So yeah.

That being said, I do agree with what @AnnaLandin said, and that research definitely helps. If you haven't tried it you definitely should, you may find you don't need a cowriter if you delve extensively enough. Plus in your situation, it may help to maybe post like a survey type question like this one in the forums. I'm sure people would probably respond and give you their experiences, and that'd probably give you a clearer picture of human interaction/relations

[sarahrebecca58]

And yes I meant that more as an example.^^ (My fairy universe has it's own environmental reasons for clothing choices, revolving around dwindling leather supplies.)

I think when the larger arc (beyond the script I currently finished) is rolling out, I'll mainly need help with figuring out how to sort through some of the more confusing romance sub plots I have. (Particularly around part II.)

[abbastudios]

That's not in your control and something that is inherent in every creative person. We all have things we're better at than others.