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[00:00:00] Today, we're going to go straight into the topic of co-authorship. I'm sure many of you have pondered the idea of coauthoring and buck was someone out at some point. This could be because you're looking to combine your knowledge with someone else's expertise, or maybe you just enjoy working alongside another writer because of the many potential benefits.
[00:00:20] Whatever, the reason it's crucial that understand that co-authorship may not be a walk in the park and shouldn't be done on a handshake deal.
[00:00:29] I'm Zach Kristensen, and this is Beyond the book presented by Juxta book.
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[00:00:43] So thinking back to any group project, you've been a part of, remember there were times when the workload wasn't equally distributed or perhaps the expectations weren't clearly defined that led to some confusion and disagreement and maybe expectations felt like they were [00:01:00] violated.
[00:01:00] \Well, co-authoring a book can sometimes feel like an amplified version of that experience because typically group projects will end after the semester is over. But a book can go on for years.
[00:01:14] However, it's not always bad and having a coauthor can come with some many significant advantages. Think about the many shared responsibilities that you have to get a book done. There's diverse perspectives that can help make the book better and and there's potentially increased credibility when there's more than one author on a book. But like with anything, it also comes with its share of challenges.
[00:01:38] So So before you decide to move forward with co-authoring a book. Here are a few things that you need to consider.
[00:01:45] Why do you need a coauthor? Get clear on your reasons for wanting a co-author. Are you looking to fill any gaps in your knowledge and improve your writing abilities? Maybe you're seeking for added credibility. Understanding [00:02:00] your motives are going to help you better choose if you want to have a coauthor, have the right coauthor, or if there's another alternative.
[00:02:08] Next, treat it like a business partnership. Co-authoring a book has similar to entry into a business agreement. Ask yourself, would you go into business with this person? Just like in a business, you would consider how the decision making process works, how the equity is going to be shared, how the profits going to be distributed and who has final say on over what.
[00:02:30] Set clear expectations. Think of co-authorship has a marriage. It requires commitment and can be legally binding. You want to ensure that you and generally enjoy working with the other coauthor and that both of you have a clear understanding of each of your roles.
[00:02:45] Figure out each of your contributions. It's crucial to establish what each person will bring to the table. This includes factors like how you split the royalties, whether the time commitments that you'll do, are there any financial investments that need to be made and who's going to be [00:03:00] making those and how much and figuring out what's the unique value that you did each of you are going to bring to the book.
[00:03:06] As you dive into the book, you'll need to decide on the book structure and the voice. Will your book alternate between your voice and your coauthors voice, or will there be one voice. There's different approaches that work for different books so it's really essential decide on this early on, because it will save you time and a lot of headaches.
[00:03:26] If you're not sure if a coauthor is the right fit, consider what the alternatives are.
[00:03:30] Sometimes you may not need a full coauthor. If you need someone's contribution, but it's really into a limited portion of the book. You might consider just acknowledging them on the front cover of your book as someone you wrote the book with. Many times, you'll see the author's name and then you see with the other person.
[00:03:51] Now a word of caution as you consider coauthors. The more authors that are involved, the more complex the [00:04:00] project can become. I was involved with a project that had four authors on it and that was a challenge in and of itself, but then halfway through the project one author decided to leave the project.
[00:04:12] And then another coauthor was brought on. This created a lot of challenges and complications because there were stories from the author who decided to leave already in the book. So those had to be swapped out. It increased the cost and the timeline of the project by a few months.
[00:04:30] So in a nutshell, when considering a coauthor for your book, having clarity is key. Make sure all expectations about contributions, roles, structure, and how to handle potential complications are set up front. Being aware of these considerations can help you successfully navigate. What. This world of co-authorship because it can be highly beneficial.
[00:04:52] So as you contemplate co-authoring a book, remember to weigh the pros and cons carefully. After all, every successful partnership [00:05:00] starts with informed decision-making.
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[00:05:07] To further discuss how to best author your book.
[00:05:11] Visit juxta book.com to set up your author coaching session today.
[00:05:18] If you have any questions about a recent episode, I'd love to hear from you. Visit juxtabook.com/beyondthebook and click the appropriate button to leave your question and we will include it in our weekly Q&A episode.
[00:05:33] Your book is just one chapter in your author journey. Think beyond the book as you craft your path. Thank you for your questions and thank you for listening.
