Just throwing this out there….
First, there is no cost.
You do not have to be an established writer.
You do not have to be previously published or even to have written a novella or novel before.
You only have to be a writer who loves to tell a good story in English. If you’re intrigued, please read on.
Well over a decade ago I sort of collaborated with a traditionally published novelist. I wrote a few of the characters and major scenes so the author voice would be different. And yes, that was several years before I wrote and published my own first novel.
That novel was published by Delacorte Press, which has since been absorbed by Dell and then Random House. I won’t name the novel or the novelist, so please don’t ask.
But in retrospect, especially from the viewpoint of practice, it was a wonderful learning experience for me. Today (October 25, 2024) I’ve written and published 97 novels, 10 novellas, and over 250 short stories.
Ever since that quasi-collaborative experience, I’ve often wondered what it would be like to truly collaborate with another novelist.
The way I envision a true collaboration is this:
1. I will partner with another writer in writing a novel in any commercial genre: mystery, thriller, SF, western, horror, or psychological suspense… even ‘high fantasy’ or romance.
If you have other genres in mind, please email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com and ask.
Please, no ‘splash and gash’ horror and no erotica. Nothing wrong with those; they are just not my personal cuppa.
2. We will alternate writing major scenes.
A major scene might take a chapter or it might take three or four or more. My own chapters will typically be 1100 to 1800 words long. Yours can be shorter if necessary.
So either I or the other novelist will write the novel opening and the first major scene, then send the manuscript to the other writer, who will write the next major scene, and so on.
3. No time requirement or limit in days, weeks, or months. The novel will wrap when it wraps.
I have more time available to me to write, so people think I write ‘fast.’ Not true. I write about 1200 words per hour (about 20 words per minute). You write at your own speed and in the time you have allotted.
4. Each writer will read the whole story from the beginning each time the exchange is made, but each writer will cycle over only his or her own scenes.
5. Each writer may suggest additions (no deletions) to the other writer re settings or scenes, but no ultimatums. The final decision for any scene is up to the writer of that scene.
6. Absolutely no conscious, critical-mind revisions or rewrites.
Conscious, critical-mind revisions and rewrites can affect future scenes and force the other writer to resort to the conscious, critical mind in his or her scenes as well.
7. The novel will be suspenseful.
This doesn’t go to genre. I mean only that the reader will be enticed to keep turning pages. This is a requirement of any good novel in any genre. Yes, even literary.
8. Barring any unforeseen emergencies or major or minor life rolls, my partner will write until the major scene is finished or s/he writes to an intentional break in the story. We each owe that efficiency to the other.
For example, if my partner writes a great, anticipation-evoking cliffhanger like “The door squealed open,” and then sends the manuscript back to me, I will assume that’s an intentional break and launch a whole different scene.
I will not complete the other writer’s scene and s/he will not complete mine. (See #2 above re chapters and the length of scenes.)
9. I write almost every day anyway.
So for me this will be in addition to and apart from my writing of other novels, novellas and short stories. It can be the same for my partner or not. That’s none of my business.
10. No royalty split. The copyright to the novel will belong to my partner. Period.
Upon completion of the novel, the partner will publish the novel (I’ll help if s/he wants me to) under the partner’s own name or pseudonym.
I will require only that somewhere on the cover and in the front matter, we state ‘written in collaboration with Harvey Stanbrough, author of’ and whichever of my series or other novels (my choice) comes closest to matching the genre of the novel we wrote together.
11. I might mention the collaboration and what I’ve personally learned or am learning from it in The New Daily Journal from time to time, even during the process.
If I do that, I will not mention my writing partner’s name or even his or her initials unless s/he wants me to and gives me explicit permission to do so.
12. I’m really anxious to make this happen, so…
If this idea intrigues you but you don’t feel you’re ‘ready’ or ‘experienced enough’ to do this or that our ‘author voices’ don’t match or some other silly thing, email me with your concerns at harveystanbrough@gmail.com.
And I say ‘silly thing’ not to be demeaning but because good writing is good writing no matter your previous experience.
This can be a great learning experience for both of us. I hope someone will take advantage of it.
So there it is. Any takers?
As I said at the top,
- This is open to anyone who writes in English.
- There is no cost.
- You do not have to be an established writer.
- You do not have to be previously published or even to have written a novella or novel before.
- You only have to be a writer who loves to tell a good story.
If that’s you, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com with a general, overall story idea (one or two sentences will do) and what you believe the genre will be. (I don’t lack for ideas, but this will be your novel, not mine.)
Also, whether or not you want in, if you have any questions about this that I didn’t answer above, please feel free to email me and ask.
This offer will remain open until I remove this notice.
Thanks for listening.
Harvey