June 11, 2025
Do you want to co-author a book? There are many good reasons people choose to co-author a book. Working with another author means having someone to shoulder part of the work. It also means a built-in proofreader, editor, and person to share ideas with.
Books by multiple authors are more common than you might think. Look at random titles on the shelves, and you may be surprised at how many feature more than one byline. These writers have found that blending their differing styles and viewpoints can produce amazing results.
Some co-writing teams have become famous. Bestselling thriller writer Nicci French is the pseudonym of the husband-and-wife cowriting team Nicci Gerard and Sean French. Julia Child wrote her classic “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” with a coauthor who lived in another country. If you have a trustworthy fellow writer lined up, and an interesting topic to write about, you have what it takes to co-author a book.
Every writer has strengths and weaknesses. Maybe one of you is great at coming up with plots that keep the reader guessing from one page to the next, but their writing leaves something to be desired. Maybe one of you is a superb researcher, and the other excels at organizing all that material. Your talents complement each other to produce a unified product that’s a combination of all your strengths.
If you’re scared to even start thinking about the work involved in drafting a book, you’re not alone. Many would-be authors don’t know when they’ll have the time to research, draft, and edit a book. With a cowriter, you’re splitting the tasks. The work becomes manageable and a lot less scary. A co-author can also function as a cheerleader who keeps you going when you hit obstacles.
With a co-writer, you’ll have twice the creative input. That means two people who can share everything from sudden inspiration to planned brainstorming sessions. Both of you bring different experiences and histories to writing. That combination will add richness and depth to your story.
Another benefit of having a co-writer is that you’ll automatically double your audience reach. You each have your social set, social media followers, and readers. By combining forces, you’ll broaden your reach. You may even find you’re being read by people you never thought would be interested in your book.
When you co-author a book, you prove you can stay committed to a project, manage your workload, and work well as a team member. These qualities enhance your reputation and authority. If you write nonfiction, a published book is an excellent way to prove yourself as an authority. If you’re a fiction writer, it proves you can meet deadlines and commit to your writing.
Your coauthor should be someone you trust and respect. You expect honesty and fairness when you ask the simple question, “What do you think?” Your coauthor should provide honest, constructive criticism, and you should do the same for them. It’s beneficial for both of you, and it results in a better book.
Your experience, background, and beliefs probably differ from those of your co-writer. Blending these experiences can give your book more nuance and sensitivity. You’ll get depth and interest by combining these perspectives into a single, cohesive narrative.
When you co-author a book, you quickly learn that your co-writer’s approach to writing, editing, and research may clash with yours. It’s an excellent opportunity to see a new way of doing things. Working on a book together will force you to learn collaboration and diplomacy.
Authoring a book comes with many uncertainties. Will readers buy it, will reviewers like it, will it sell more than a handful of copies? It also involves financial risk because of the investment in time and money you make. When you share those risks, they become more manageable.
Writing can be a lonely business. Many writers find it difficult to keep going through self-doubt, isolation, and bouts of writer’s block. When that happens, a coauthor is a built-in source of support. You encourage each other to keep going and stay focused on the final goal.
Writing a co-authored book is a wonderful way to leave a legacy in both your names. Your collaboration worked. It produced a book that is your shared story, and this book will leave an impression on your readers.
While there are benefits to co-author a book, certain challenges are bound to crop up when two or more people work on a project together.
You may disagree with each other about the book’s tone, style, and level of reading difficulty. In writing a fiction book, you might clash over the plot or characters. You may have differences over the book’s central theme or viewpoint.
You must set a solid foundation from the start. Remind each other that, despite your differences, you have a single, shared vision for the book. For minor issues, you may have to let some things go. For bigger differences, you’ll have to find ways to compromise.
Make sure you’re both doing the same amount of work. Early in your collaboration, set up rules about who will handle what. Maybe you enjoy researching while your coauthor enjoys finding illustrations and artwork. One of you may have more free time to devote to the work, and one may be a faster worker.
Find ways to balance your skills and interests to keep things fair. Set clear expectations, and be sure to check in with each other regularly.
Becoming a book co-author means scheduled phone calls, video chats, and other forms of regular check-ins. Even in today’s digital world, you’ll need in-person meetings. If it’s difficult for one of you to find time for these, your book will suffer.
Be sure you both have the time to devote to your goal of finishing a book. Set a timeline, and check in with each other to make sure neither is overwhelmed by other commitments.
Differences in work style can frustrate both of you. If one of you is super-disciplined and willing to work with tight deadlines while the other is more laid-back and casual, that difference can derail an otherwise good partnership. Learn to accept differences in working styles.
How skilled are you at handling criticism from editors, reviewers, or readers? Authors need to be prepared to hear constructive critiques from professional editors. If your coauthor is bad at hearing these responses, can you step in to handle the revisions? If they can’t bear to read negative reader reviews, you may need to share your coping strategies.
Unfortunately, many former friendships have fallen apart when conflicts about ownership, royalties, and contracts arise. Be sure you’re on the same page about all these issues before you begin.
Every partnership has its difficulties. If you’ve decided to co-author a book, be prepared to take the good with the bad. By resolving conflicts early in the process, you’ll find it a rewarding experience that brings out the best in both of you.
Get your co-writer on board, and start the process. A good coauthor will share the work, keep you on track, and complement your writing style. When it’s time to print your book, find another great collaboration by working with Publishing Xpress.
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