I was going to add a picture here. Maybe I will later...
Someone once commented on how difficult it seemed to collaborate on storytelling. At the time I really didn’t give it much thought. After all, when you team with someone who thinks the same way you do, has a relationship with the characters the way you do, it is easy. Isn’t it? I thought some more about it in recent days and realized that easy has nothing to do with it. There is so much more to collaborative storytelling than meets the eye.
What you may not consider with regard to our storytelling is how much goes on behind the scenes. A large portion of collaborative writing has less to do with writing and more to do with brain-storming. Beth and I will have countless discussions about a particular thread or chapter, where the story arc is going, what works and what doesn’t, what is out of character or makes sense, etc. While the final product may be a (hopefully) clean and polished piece there was a lot of discussion and editing that went on prior to one of us uploading and posting. Sometimes a piece was scrapped because in the long run, it didn’t work. But it is always a joint effort.
I wonder sometimes what people think regarding our process. Has anyone ever wondered just how the hell we do it? Did you imagine that one of us writes and the other edits? Did you think we take turns? Color me curious...
I am grateful that Beth and I have been able to mesh our visions into a cohesive story that has not only lasted for over three years but has resulted in “spin-offs” as well. We do not write a legacy, it is a serial, a living breathing day in the life revolving around Cooper. Everything we write touches or stems from his story. It has changed directions many times, sometimes going where we had not anticipated.
Most important, it has been filled with pure joy.
YES! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteNo idea if anyone wonders, but it is never one of us writing and then the other one writes. It's not a round robin thing. Every single piece is discussed and mutually created.
I could have said a lot more in this post. But I didn't. Too editorial.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have been endlessly curious how you two work together. It seems you each claim a spin off blog but still obviously must work together even on those.
ReplyDeleteHow did you two even get started? Did it start with a guest appearance or a cross over? Did you just start talking and decided to work together?
There is never a difference in quality, though sometimes I think I can tell the writing styles apart.
My memory about how it started: it was on TSR. I was writing some awful thing. We both decided to get out of there. Gayl started something fabulous, and I clung to my awful thing, and somewhere along the way we both just wanted to try to make it work together.
ReplyDeleteSo we did. We both knew there wasn't going to be a clean cut, but we went for it.
LOL Lunar there are myriad spin offs but since we are working with the same characters we try to stay true to the story as we see it. Everything we write separately affects the rest so we talk about it.
ReplyDeleteI think it is easy to tell our writing styles apart although we do try to mesh it as well as we can. Sometimes I think we do a very good job of it, to the point where maybe you can't tell who wrote what. But for the most part, yes you can tell.
I can only imagine the hours you two spend weaving threads, adding, cutting, writing, rewriting, etc. However long it takes you guys make it seem effortless and I love every bit of it.
ReplyDeleteThat really means so much to both of us Muzegoddess. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI have wondered about that. I got the feeling that you looked at each other's stuff and talked about it, but I can tell the writing styles apart.
ReplyDeleteI think it's amazing. You guys must be really close friends - it shows.
Thank you Stacy! Our styles are distinctive but we do try to blend it as much as we can.
ReplyDeleteThrilled that you can see the connection!
I think there's something very fun about collaborative writing. There's a lot to it (agreement, being open to another's opinions on the direction of the story, the physical part of writing and taking shots, etc) and in the beginning it had to be hard to find a commonplace. Now, and after three years, does it get any easier? I feel like it would because you and Beth know each other well, each of your styles, connection to each character, etc.
ReplyDeletewhat do you feel is the hardest thing about working with someone?
I think that collaborating with someone is a challenge, so I think that it's important to write on your own as well and exercise that freedom to write and do whatever you want.
all in all, your collaboration is great, a real accomplishment..but more so is the work you provide for us. The two of you have really created something that I find incredibly witty, creative, and above all, a joy to read. so, thank you.
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ReplyDeleteI can't even begin to imagine how it works...I mean, it must involve so much communication every day. Plus, a whole amazing level of honesty to say "Hey, that thing you did won't work". The fact that you've been doing it for so long is also unimaginable to me. It's interesting that the main element of your stories is a guy in a band, because bands require similar bouts collaboration.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know how you do it, but the results are wonderful!
Xtina: You know we did write separately for awhile but merged storylines. Even then we were mindful of where we both going with it. And because we started taking the red pencil to each other's work it just made more sense to merge it to one blog with side stories. And even with those we both contribute when we can.
ReplyDeleteAs for whether it gets easier, it never was hard. At least it never felt difficult. And I think because these characters are more than pixels to us (they are living, breathing people in our heads) and that we both understand who they are, it makes it easy to stay true to character.
I think the hardest thing Beth and I have ever faced is...well I don't even know if I want to put it out there. No, I don't think I will. I will say that we do write on our own. You may not ever see it posted. Or maybe you have. I certainly hope I have never held Beth back from writing what she wants. I don't think I have...
Rachel: There is a lot of communication! There has to be for us to put something out there. We've both scrapped work because in the end it was wrong for one reason or another. There are no egos here. We can both be stubborn at times but ultimately there is never a problem. And sometimes we can't see down the road or climb out of the ditch and we help each other. Sometimes a simple phrase opens things up. Sometimes it's a Welcome Wagon. Doing something really stupid that gets one of us creating.
And yes, everything revolves around Cooper...and that one Dark December...hehe. Sorry, couldn't resist.
I'm rambling...
Thank you, guys, for supporting both of us. It means a lot. Gosh I hope Beth will put her two cents in here too. I don't want to speak for both of us! LOL!
The hardest part is probably technical. It's difficult to keep both game worlds identical. From the clothes to the NB decor to the characters themselves, everything has to be the same.
ReplyDeleteWriting together is a pleasure. It's wonderful. It's exhilarating. Although we both understand the characters, we come from different places and tend to see them in slightly different ways, and that's a fascinating experience. It's never been hard to write together, and I certainly don't feel constrained. I love writing like this and wouldn't want to do it any other way.
I hadn't thought about the technical but that is true. And I guess I hadn't considered the difference in how we may understand characters because of how we view them. Our relationship with them makes a difference, that's true.
ReplyDelete