Saturday, May 18, 2019

The Greatest Treasure #Co-Authoring #Brainstorming

"The Greatest Treasure is the One Given Away"


Many years ago, a gem of an idea for a short story to be included in a collection came to mind. I discussed it with my niece Julie Reece-DeMarco (we had co-authored several highly successful gift books). She pointed out that the idea was too good for just a short story. We brainstormed ways to expand, then I tossed the notes in a "consider-after-meeting-pending-book-deadlines" file. 

Months later I dug out the notes. Excited, I asked Julie if she would like to co-author. Many of the best expansion ideas were. She enthusiastically agreed. We began writing, observing eight important ground rules that make the difference between co-authoring a delight or a disaster.


1. Find someone whose "writing heart" matches yours. Discuss your core values and what you want readers to take away from your project.


2. Choose a co-author with equal dedication to high, professional standards—one who will never settle for less than the best writing.


3. Vow to work until you are both satisfied. Julie and I spent a great deal of time "getting it right," even concerning a certain word or phrase.


4.    Never co-author with anyone who sees his/her work as carved in stone.

5. Handle "unequally yoked" appropriately. When I co-authored with new writer Anita Corrine Donihue (now a best-selling devotional book author) she brought her gift book entries to me. We discussed and I polished. Julie, however, had already won writing awards. She was able to produce near-final-drafts. She also "red-penned" my work and invariably made good even better!

6. Have a clear understanding that the project must represent both authors. Julie's and my novella, The  Heirloom, combines our best talents. Its almost-lyrical voice is neither hers nor mine, but truly "ours”.

7.   Never partner with a writer who "wants to be a writer," but doesn’t really want to write, just to be published. 

8.  Discuss financial arrangements and other details up-front. Example: My name would be listed first on book covers because I was the more established author, even though "Donihue" comes before “Reece” alphabetically. 

* * *

The rest is history. When Kregel issued The Heirloom in 2002, as a beautiful, color-illustrated, hard cover, coffee table novella, one reviewer compared it to Catherine Marshall's beloved novel, Christy. The title became a Crossing Book Club Selection and has just been reprinted in Kindle and paperback by Forget-Me-Not-Romances/Winged Publications. The premise is simple--and heartwarming.

The HeirloomThe Great Depression of 1929 has closed bank doors and forced people out of work, paralyzing many parts of the country. The tiny mountain town of Spruce Hollow, North Carolina, hasn't escaped its crippling grip.

When Thanksgiving arrives, Pastor David Allen looks over his faithful congregation in despair. How can families with holes in their shoes and no food to put on the table be thankful during the holiday season? But David has no idea how God will use him to give hope to those in the Hollow and beyond.

An unforgettable tale of struggle, hope, and incredible events by award-winning authors at their best in a fictional story that could well be true.


 The Heirloom available at

 

 

 

5 comments:

Sandra Nachlinger said...

Good advice for anyone considering co-authoring a book. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

Colleen L. Reece said...

Co-authoring can be a boon or a bust. Both my experiences have been great!

Renee Riva said...

Reading it right now!!Love the cover! :)

judy said...

Wise words re co-authoring. I co-authored some nonfiction pieces in the past, and my writing partner expressed concern before we began that our friendship might suffer. Just talking about those things in advance made all the (positive) difference. I'm glad you had the opportunity to republish The Heirloom. The new incarnation is a handsome (lovely cover), compact (read it in two sittings) embodiment of "all things work together."

Colleen L. Reece said...

Thanks, Renee and Judy. This one is special to Julie and me.