Okay, imagine we’re sitting down with a cup of coffee, and I’m just telling you all about this wild idea I’ve been thinking about – writing a fantasy novel with someone else. It sounds crazy, right? Because when we picture “author,” we usually picture someone hunched over a keyboard, all alone in their little writing cave. But for fantasy? With all its dragons and magic and sprawling worlds? Teaming up might actually be the secret sauce.
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. It’s like going on an epic quest – there are treasures, for sure, but also nasty monsters and traps. But I’ve been thinking a lot about it, and I want to share everything I’ve learned about co-authoring a fantasy novel, from the awesome parts to the terrifying parts, and how you can actually make it work.
Why Team Up on a Fantasy Saga? The Cool Stuff!
Think about it: building a whole world from scratch is HUGE. When you have another brain (or two!) in the mix, it’s like a superpower.
So Many Ideas, My Head Might Explode (in a good way!)
Seriously, this is one of the best bits. You know how sometimes you get stuck, or your ideas feel a bit… same-y? Well, when you’re brainstorming with someone else, it’s like an idea factory. Picture this: one of you thinks magic should be super strict, like a science, and the other sees it as wild, elemental energy tied to feelings. Instead of picking one, you smash ’em together! Now you’ve got this incredible magic system that’s got both structure and wildness, and it’s way cooler than anything either of you would have come up with alone.
Here’s a real-deal example: Let’s say I’m all about classic elves and dwarves for our world. But my co-author? They’re obsessed with unique creatures and suggest building a whole society of sentient, glowing mushrooms underground, and then, get this, a bunch of sky-sailors who eat the sun for energy. What?! Instead of going “nope, too weird,” we find a way to make it all fit. Now our world has forests, mountains, and mushroom cities and sky-sailors. It’s so much richer, so much more original. Ideas just bounce off each other and explode into awesome new stuff. It’s like instant writer’s block cure!
Our World Just Got a Whole Lot Deeper (and more believable!)
Fantasy worlds need to feel real, right? Like you could step into them. When two of you are building it, you can get so detailed. Maybe one of us is really into epic history, mapping out empires rising and falling, keeping track of who betrayed whom. And the other? They’re super good at imagining all the crazy plants and animals, how the weather works, what types of mountains exist.
For instance: Let’s say we’re writing this massive epic with five warring kingdoms. I could take ownership of all the political drama – who’s related to who, ancient grudges, secret alliances. Meanwhile, my partner could design all the unique monsters and creatures in each kingdom, where they live, what they eat, maybe how they’re used in war. We’re filling in so many blanks together, making sure everything connects. It’s impossible for just one person to hold all that in their head and make it feel truly lived-in. Our world becomes a character itself, not just a backdrop.
Our Characters Are WAY More Interesting!
When you’re writing on your own, you might fall into the trap of writing characters that are a bit too similar, or who think like you do. But with a co-author? You automatically get different perspectives. Maybe one of us is awesome at writing the dark, moody hero, and the other is brilliant at creating that witty, optimistic rogue.
Picture this: We decide to have two main characters. I write all the chapters from the super serious, knight dude’s point of view. I make sure his internal thoughts, his struggles, his voice is consistent. Then, my partner writes all the chapters from the mischievous, morally gray sorceress’s perspective. Her voice is completely different, full of sarcasm and ambition. Because we each own a character, they both feel incredibly real and unique. You get to see the story from such different angles, which makes everything more complex and fun.
We’ll Actually Finish This Thing! (Faster, too!)
Writing a novel alone, especially fantasy, feels like running a marathon. Writing an epic fantasy? That’s like a super-marathon, uphill, in the mud. But if two of us are sharing the load? It makes it so much easier. Instead of me writing 100,000 words, we each write 50,000. It’s like having a writing buddy to keep you going.
Like this: Once we figure out the whole story, we could literally take turns writing chapters. While I’m working on Chapter 3, my partner is already researching cool magic stuff for Chapter 4. We’re doing things in parallel, so the first draft just flies by. And if one of us hits a rough spot, like life gets in the way or we just have zero inspiration, the other one can pick up the slack or focus on editing. The project doesn’t just stop dead in its tracks.
Instant Feedback Loop! (No more awkward beta reader hunts!)
You know how you finish a chapter and just pray someone will read it and tell you if it makes sense? Well, with a co-author, you’ve got a built-in reader! As soon as I finish a section, I can send it to my partner, and they’ll read it with fresh eyes, pointing out weird spots, plot holes, or things I never even thought of. It’s like editing on the fly.
For example: I finish writing a scene where our hero sneaks into a fortress. I send it to my partner, and they immediately go, “Wait, how did he get past those guards? And shouldn’t they have reinforced that wall after the last attack?” They also notice I missed a chance to hint at the villain earlier. This means I can fix it right now instead of finding out much later when it’s a huge rewrite. We’re just constantly making each other’s work better, catching problems before they become massive headaches.
Someone to Keep You Going (and remind you you’re not crazy!)
Writing can be so lonely. You’re just in your head with these characters, and sometimes you question everything. But when you have a partner, you’ve got someone who gets it. Someone to cheer you on, commiserate with you, and kick your butt when you need it.
Imagine this: I’m halfway through, totally burnt out, thinking our whole story idea stinks. My partner won’t just say, “Aw, too bad.” They’ll say, “Okay, let’s take a break, then let’s brainstorm the most exciting, killer parts coming up to get you hyped again!” We can even set small daily goals together so we feel like we’re moving forward. It’s like having a personal trainer for your book, but they actually understand your fantasy world. So much better than trying to motivate yourself every single day.
The Dark Side of Collaboration: When Two Becomes Too Many
Alright, so that all sounds pretty great, right? But here’s where we get to the monsters in the cave. Teaming up sounds awesome, but it can blow up in your face if you’re not careful.
My Vision vs. Your Vision: The Never-Ending Clash!
This is the big one. What happens if I think our story should be super dark and gritty, like a messed-up version of Westeros, but my partner wants it to be all shiny and optimistic, like classic Tolkien? We’re both going to be pulling the story in different directions. Every plot point, every character choice, becomes an argument.
Think about it: I’m picturing a world where heroes are just as messed up as villains. My partner wants clear good guys and bad guys. So, when our main character has to make a tough choice, I want them to make a really morally ambiguous one, but my partner wants them to do the “right” thing. If we can’t figure out a way to compromise, the book is going to feel like it’s fighting itself, or one of us is just going to feel totally artistically suffocated. If we don’t have a shared compass, we’re just gonna drift, or worse, crash.
Did You Even HEAR Me?! Communication Breakdown!
You gotta be great at talking to each other. Not just about the story, but about how you talk about the story. If I assume something, or I’m not clear with my feedback, or if we misread each other’s tone in an email, it can lead to a huge mess.
This happens all the time: I send my partner a scene and say, “Needs more tension.” My partner thinks I mean action tension, so they add a huge, unnecessary sword fight. But I meant emotional tension, like internal struggle! Now we’ve got to rewrite the whole thing, and that conversation to clear it up? Awkward as heck. If we’re not super clear and listening to each other, little misunderstandings just blow up into giant problems.
Who’s Actually Doing the Work Here? (Resentment Alert!)
It’s really easy for one person to end up doing way more work than the other, even if it’s not on purpose. And when that happens, the person doing all the heavy lifting gets really bitter, really fast. And the project just feels unfair.
For example: I’m hitting all my deadlines, staying up late, totally dedicated. My partner, though? They’ve got a crazy day job, or personal stuff comes up, or maybe they just aren’t as motivated. So they miss deadlines, send over half-baked stuff, and I have to constantly nudge them. After a while, I’m gonna feel taken advantage of, and I’ll start wondering why I’m doing all this for a “shared” project.
Our Writing Styles? They Don’t Mix!
Everyone writes differently. One of us might write snappy, fast-paced action. The other might write really flowery, detailed descriptions. And if those styles don’t mesh, the book is going to feel jarring. It’s like reading one book, and then suddenly, halfway through, it feels like a different author took over.
Here’s the rub: Imagine I write with lots of modern slang and a really casual tone, even in a fantasy setting. My partner, though, uses super formal, old-fashioned language, like it’s straight out of a medieval text. When you read it, it’s going to be really confusing! One chapter is loose, the next is stiff. We then need someone (or one of us) to spend a ton of time painstakingly blending our voices so it sounds like one unified story. It’s a huge amount of extra work.
Who Owns What? And Who Gets the Money? (Legal Nightmare!)
This is the dragon you absolutely have to deal with upfront. Who owns the book? If it gets published, how do we split the money? What if one of us did more work? What if one of us came up with the original idea? If you don’t nail this down before you start writing, you are inviting a disaster.
Seriously, listen to this: We write an amazing book, it gets picked up by a big publisher. Now we’re discussing the contract, and suddenly, my partner says, “Well, I actually did 60% of the writing, so I deserve 60% of the money.” And I say, “But I came up with the whole world concept, and my edits were crucial!” If we didn’t have a piece of paper signed by both of us saying exactly how it’ll be split, this can blow up the whole partnership and even stop the book from ever seeing the light of day. Get it in writing from day one!
Saying Goodbye to My Creative Control
When you write alone, you’re the boss. Every word, every plot twist, every character arc is 100% yours. When you collaborate, you have to compromise. That cool backstory you spent weeks creating for a minor character? Your partner might say it bogs down the pacing and needs to go.
Here’s how it feels: I’m totally obsessed with this super tragic backstory for a character – it makes them who they are! But my partner thinks it’s just extra fluff that slows things down. Even if I feel strongly about it, I might have to let it go for the sake of the whole project. You’re constantly negotiating, and that can feel really stifling if you’re used to having total creative freedom.
We Never Sync Up! Scheduling Nightmares!
Trying to get two busy people to consistently work on the same thing is like herding cats. Life happens! One of us might get slammed at work, or have a family emergency, or just get sick. This can completely derail your timelines.
Like right now: We decide we’re both going to dedicate 10 hours a week to the novel. But then my freelance work triples, and my partner’s kid gets sick. Suddenly, our perfectly planned schedule is a mess. Deadlines are missed, and we’re both frustrated. You need to be super upfront and communicative about your availability, and have a plan for when things inevitably go sideways.
How to Actually Make This Work: My Playbook for Success
Okay, so we know the good and the bad. So how do you walk into this dragon’s lair armed and ready? You plan, plan, plan!
1. Pick Your Partner Like You’re Picking a Life Partner!
Seriously, this is the most important step. Don’t just work with your best friend because you both like fantasy. You need someone who actually works well with you creatively.
Here’s what I’d do:
* Read their stuff. Get your hands on anything they’ve written. Do you like their style? Can you imagine your writing blending with theirs?
* Talk about your “fantasy” dreams. What are your favorite books? What do you hate about the genre? What kind of story do you really want to tell? This is where you find out if your visions are similar enough, or too different.
* Stalk their work ethic (nicely!). Are they organized? Do they actually finish what they start? One flaky partner can sink the whole ship.
* How do they communicate? Texts? Calls? Do they like direct feedback, or do they get defensive? Figure out how you both like to talk.
* A “test drive.” Before we commit to a whole novel, let’s write a short story together, or even just one chapter. See how it feels with low stakes. You’ll learn a lot.
2. Sign a Contract! Like, a Real One!
This is NOT optional. Before a single word of the book is written, you need to write down ALL the rules of your partnership. This is your shield against future arguments.
Here’s what needs to be in it:
* Our Big Vision: What kind of fantasy is this? Who are we writing it for? What’s the main message?
* Who Does What: Who’s in charge of world-building? Who’s drafting scenes? Who’s editing? Who’s doing the annoying marketing stuff? Be super specific.
* Who Owns the Book: Is it 50/50? Are we joint owners? This gets tricky, so be explicit.
* Money, Money, Money: How do we split everything? Advance, royalties, movie deals, audiobooks – every single penny. What if one person ends up doing more?
* How We Solve Fights: What happens if we fiercely disagree? Do we flip a coin? Does one person have the final say? Do we bring in a mediator?
* Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines: Write down all the major milestones and when they need to be done.
* “What if it all goes wrong?” This is the hard part. What happens if one of us quits? Can the other person keep writing it alone? How do we split what we’ve done?
* Get it Signed: Treat this like a legal document. Seriously, consider talking to a lawyer about it.
3. Outline, Outline, Outline! (Your Shared Map!)
You wouldn’t go on an epic quest without a map, right? Well, this outline is your map. It makes sure you’re both headed in the same direction.
My outlining strategy:
* The World Bible: We need one massive document where we log literally everything about our world: magic rules, history, characters, locations, languages, weird creatures. It’s our fantasy bible, and we update it constantly.
* The Whole Story, Step-by-Step: Figure out the entire plot from beginning to end. Every major twist, every character’s journey, every side story. Use Google Docs or Scrivener so we can both mess with it.
* Scene Breakdown: For really important parts, let’s plan it out scene by scene. Who’s in it? What happens? What’s the point of the scene?
* Character Ownership: Maybe I take the lead on developing one set of characters, and my partner takes the others. It helps keep their voices consistent.
* Keep Revisiting: Don’t just outline once and forget it. We need to keep going back to it, adjusting it as we write.
4. Make Our Writing Sound Like ONE Person Wrote It!
This is tough because we both have our own “voice.” We need to make sure the reader can’t tell who wrote what.
How we’ll do it:
* Style Guide: Let’s agree on tiny things like how we capitalize magic words (“The Mage’s Guild,” not “the mage’s guild”). And common spellings, punctuation, general tone.
* The “Voice Smoother”: One of us (or we take turns) needs to be the designated person who reads through everything and makes sure it all sounds consistent. They’re the one who smooths out the edges.
* Shared Language: Let’s make a list of common fantasy terms we want to use, or even new words we invent for our world.
* Read It Aloud: This is magic. If we read each other’s sections out loud, it’s so much easier to catch awkward sentences or spots where the voice just feels off.
* Be Open to Feedback: This is huge. When one of us says, “This part sounds a bit weird,” it’s not an insult! It’s making our book better. We need to be able to hear it and give it constructively.
5. Talk, Talk, Talk! (And then talk some more!)
Bad communication is the silent killer. If we’re not constantly talking, clearly and respectfully, this whole thing will fall apart.
My communication rules:
* Regular Meetings: Let’s have a set time every week or two to just talk about the book. No excuses, we stick to it.
* Right Tool for the Job: Quick question? Text. Detailed discussion? Email. Big brainstorming? Video call. Let’s agree on what we use when. No vague messages!
* Feedback Rules: When we give feedback, it needs to be specific and helpful. “This section was confusing because X” is much better than “This sucks.” And always focus on the work, not the person.
* Listen, Really Listen: Before I respond to something, I’ll try to repeat what I heard to make sure I actually understood. “So you’re saying the dragon needs to breathe more fire, not just smoke?”
* Write Everything Down: After a discussion, I’ll send an email summarizing what we decided. No “I thought we agreed on…” later.
6. The Editing Marathon (Together!)
Once the first draft is done, the real work begins. We need to edit everything like hawks to make sure it’s perfect and seamless.
Our editing plan:
* Two Passes: Once the first draft is done, one of us reads for the big stuff – plot holes, character arcs. Then the other reads for the little stuff – typos, awkward sentences, flow.
* The “Unification” Pass: Once it’s all drafted, one of us takes over and does a final super-meticulous read-through to make sure all the different voices are completely blended. No seams visible!
* Get a Pro Editor: We have to get a professional editor once we’re done. They’re a neutral third party who can see all the things we, as authors, are too close to see.
* Track Changes Is Our Best Friend: Seriously, every edit needs to be tracked. We need to see exactly what changes were made and be able to accept or reject them. So important!
* Read the Whole Thing Aloud: The whole book. From beginning to end. This is the absolute best way to catch weird phrasing and notice if anything feels off or inconsistent.
So, yeah. Writing a fantasy novel with someone else? It’s not just splitting the work. It’s about building a shared world, a shared vision, and a shared journey. It’s hard, no doubt about it – it’s like any intense relationship, full of ups and downs. But if you find the right person, and you go into it with a solid plan and really open communication, it can be amazing. You can create something so much bigger and richer than you ever could alone.
It changes writing from that solitary, lonely thing to a shared adventure. And for me, that sounds like a story worth telling.