I've been recently considering an effort to look for someone to write with. I've never done it before, and I'm just wondering, those who have, how have you found the process to work? Fluid or not? Also, how did you find said partner? I'd love to work with someone but I don't particularly know anyone in my group of acquaintances who could potentially be interested in that.

Thanks in advance.

I find cowriting harder than writing on my own. I did it once with Shelton and that actually was a pleasure. Other than that, all my attempts have failed. The only way that works for me is me stamping out a first draft and someone else rewriting it. In short, cowriting is way harder than doing your own thing.

I cowrote a sitcom pilot with a fellow SSer who approached me since he thought my writing was different or similar enough to fit in well with his. It was easy to work on since it was his project but open to any input or ideas. He worked on it at night and I worked on it during the day. The work flowed well but the script was a first draft - very much a first draft.

So, my experience was similar tp Pia's first go. Very fun and we kept building off each other.

From time to time, a collaborative effort or game will take place here on SS. Check out the collaborative writing section of the discission board for past ones.

If you're serious about this, write a few shorts in your area of interest, look for others of similar interest and try writing a short together. It never hurts to ask.

A writing partner is worse than a wife. He takes half you payday, but without any sex.

Obviously you should only collaborate with someone you know or know of well enough that you know that you'll not only get along but that you can improve on each others work. No need to go collaborate just for the sake of it. In that case the experience will more than likely be unproductive and unrewarding.

I find collaborations really amazing if everything works. In an ideal situation, all of the collaborators find that the end result is more than the sum of the parts. The benefit of more than one writer should be exponential.

But if it is not, you probably should just go it alone. Since a bad collaboration will just waste your energy on the wrong things, mainly maintaining the collaboration rather than the actual writing.

I co-wrote a script with someone; it's not something I want to do again except, maybe, with Janet.


Phil

I've never done it, but I suspect if you do it, it can't be a 50/50 thing. Someone needs to be the primary decision maker. So whether that's 60/40 or 80/20, someone has to have final say. Or you could get locked in an argument.

It's something I'd personally love to do, but never quite got round to.

My biggest disappointment in my formative filmmaking career thus far has been my inability to find a group of collaborators to develop ideas with and bounce ideas off.

It's a dream of mine to have a small team...couple of writers, me,maybe a couple of actors who can improvise...so we can knock out creative scripts with ease.

I saw a pro say you should collaborate with people who you think are better than you...forces you both to up your game.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films I saw a pro say you should collaborate with people who you think are better than you...forces you both to up your game.

I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment.
I'm at my best when I'm the novice in the room.
Where I have to go 120% just to try and keep up.
It's the best environment for me to learn in.
I get excited, work harder, and it does tend to be "contagious".
That kind of enthusiasm can fire up a room and off you go!

E.D.

Brett, I'm glad I have been able to do that for you!

Was once approached by someone to co-write a script.

It transpired "co-write" was a euphemism for "You Do All The Work While I Criticise Everything You Do"

I terminated the arrangement pretty sharpish.

Quoted from SLM Was once approached by someone to co-write a script. It transpired "co-write" was a euphemism for "You Do All The Work While I Criticise Everything You Do" I terminated the arrangement pretty sharpish.

Sounds familiar....


Phil

Quoted from grademan I cowrote a sitcom pilot with a fellow SSer who approached me since he thought my writing was different or similar enough to fit in well with his. It was easy to work on since it was his project but open to any input or ideas. He worked on it at night and I worked on it during the day. The work flowed well but the script was a first draft - very much a first draft. So, my experience was similar tp Pia's first go. Very fun and we kept building off each other. From time to time, a collaborative effort or game will take place here on SS. Check out the collaborative writing section of the discission board for past ones. If you're serious about this, write a few shorts in your area of interest, look for others of similar interest and try writing a short together. It never hurts to ask.

I second what Gary says, "Write a few shorts..." These are good bones to build upon and I don't think you can go wrong in using "the short" as a lego piece to build with and upon.

Gary and I have worked together and it has went quite well. He's been very forgiving with me and he has a solid logic that brings us around to "the point" which (he knows) I fly away from with great ease.

It really depends. Some people can work together; some people can't. My advice is:

Don't listen to anyone else in this regard, but find your own truth. It might
well be that you have the perfect writing partner just around the corner from you. And... and this is a big AND... Even if you and "another writer" seem to
be very different, don't strike them out as non essential. Because of your differences and only because of your differences, you may very well be:

The Perfect Couple/or triplet or whatever-- to write together.

Sandra