Introduction
Who We Are
Kevin J. Anderson, an international and New York Times bestselling writer, has more than 140 published books, over 100 short stories, scores of comics and graphic novels, and countless articles to his credit.
He has worked with dozens of coauthors, including his wife, Rebecca. His collaborators were chosen for a variety of reasons: because they had an area of expertise that would benefit a novel or story, because they approached him with an interesting idea or unfinished manuscript, or because they were close friends with whom he thought it might be fun to brainstorm and see what happened.
Rebecca Moesta, a New York Times bestselling author, has written or co-written more than thirty-five books, a handful of comics, and ten nonfiction workbooks, along with a smattering of short stories and articles. She has edited three young adult anthologies.
Together, we are Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta (Anderson), a pair of New York Times bestselling authors. Not only have we been married to each other for over a quarter century, we have collaborated on countless books, short stories, and song lyrics. We also teach writing workshops together, and we’re co-publishers of WordFire Press, LLC.
Considering the range of our experience in collaboration, it seemed only natural for us to write this book together, too. We hope our thoughts and experiences will help you become a successful collaborator, as well, and perhaps help you avoid some of the pitfalls.
Are Two Heads Better Than One?
Collaboration means working with someone else to accomplish or create something. It is an act of cooperation to reach a common goal.
Writing, on the other hand, is often a solitary profession, especially for those of us who write fiction. You’ve probably seen clichéd images of a wild-eyed writer, perhaps holed up in a cabin with no outside contact, staring in furious concentration at the empty page, with crumpled papers and torn up notes scattered all around. This stereotype holds elements of truth.
Most authors write alone, either in seclusion (e.g., a cottage, hotel room, or private office) or among people (e.g., in a library, the kitchen of a busy house, or a coffee shop).
There is no rule that says we have to scribble in isolation, though. If you find the idea of writing by yourself unappealing, there is an alternative: collaborate.
Some writers prefer to work alone, except for the company of their muse. Some don’t like to talk about their work in progress, because they’re afraid it might snuff out the creative spark. They don’t dare to share their core ideas, for fear someone might steal them. Some are skittish about giving a draft to test readers, because they worry that it could deflate the entire project.
Other writers, however, are more social. They believe that ideas are not a limited quantity and trust that sharing can enhance rather than diminish creative energy. Many writers nurture their ideas under the sunlight of input from their colleagues.
If you’re open to it and can be flexible about the process, your novel or story may benefit from having two (or more) heads instead of one. Writing can be a team sport.