Writing with a partner vs. solo

TimCollins

TimCollins

Well-known member
I've always tried to get my co-producers to co-write with me. They're extremely into it in the concept stages but as soon as they see a blank page and realize it's time to "do work" their attention span checks out. So, I've always been the one to do the actual writing (which I don't mind).

But, my question is do you guys find it easier to write with a partner or alone? What are the pros and cons? And if you do write with a partner, how do you go about doing it smoothly and effectively?
 
Depends on the partner, but usually I am better off alone. Other people are great for bouncing ideas off of and for getting feedback on your writing though.

For me it is always way more time consuming to get through it with a partner. It can be rewarding though and you might come up with something that you wouldn't have if you went solo.
 
TimCollins said:
I've always tried to get my co-producers to co-write with me. They're extremely into it in the concept stages but as soon as they see a blank page and realize it's time to "do work" their attention span checks out. So, I've always been the one to do the actual writing (which I don't mind).

But, my question is do you guys find it easier to write with a partner or alone? What are the pros and cons? And if you do write with a partner, how do you go about doing it smoothly and effectively?
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Sounds to me that neither of you guys are decicated writers, which is a problem IMO.

Writing in teams can be helpful, especially in comedy IMO.

I would address the issue first just why it seems your "team" doesn't have a writer in it? Perhaps you guys can sub it out to people on this site or others?

EJ
 
EJ Pennypacker said:
Sounds to me that neither of you guys are decicated writers, which is a problem IMO.

Writing in teams can be helpful, especially in comedy IMO.

I would address the issue first just why it seems your "team" doesn't have a writer in it? Perhaps you guys can sub it out to people on this site or others?

EJ
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Well, I would consider myself a dedicated writer seeing as how I pretty much eat, sleep and breathe my screenplays. I love writing and I dedicate countless hours to it as I'm sure many others on this site do. All I was saying is when I try to include others they seem to run for the hills when it's time to "work". I would not consider them "dedicated writers" but as for myself, there's is no question that I am as dedicated as one could possibly be. Our team most definitely does have a writer in it.
 
EJ Pennypacker said:
...Writing in teams can be helpful, especially in comedy IMO...
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Agreed.
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I took from your post "So, I've always been the one to do the actual writing (which I don't mind)." that you weren't exactly jumping for joy over writing, so that's my bad.

Producers are producers, they normally want writers to write while they produce. If you guys have roles that are firm then it's up to you to write alone by the sounds of it.

Unless I'm mis-reading this post, it's like asking someone who's a fireman why nobody like a postman isn't doing his job as well. After all, a postman is meant to be delivering the post right, not putting out fires?

Regardless, may I suggest that after you get the clear from the concept stage that you write up either a treatment or an outline. Then you present that to your producers for comments and notes.

Then after you've shaped that to an agreement, then you move forward with a first draft, then repeat the process.

Sorry if this post(s) are coming off flipant. I just dont see how you can expect people to work with you - who arent writers - when it comes to writing. Just take what they want, ran away with it, then come back when it's done.

EJ
 
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EJ Pennypacker said:
I took from your post "So, I've always been the one to do the actual writing (which I don't mind)." that you weren't exactly jumping for joy over writing, so that's my bad.

Producers are producers, they normally want writers to write while they produce. If you guys have roles that are firm then it's up to you to write alone by the sounds of it.

Unless I'm mis-reading this post, it's like asking someone who's a fireman why nobody like a postman isn't doing his job as well. After all, a postman is meant to be delivering the post right, not putting out fires?

Regardless, may I suggest that after you get the clear from the concept stage that you write up either a treatment or an outline. Then you present that to your producers for comments and notes.

Then after you've shaped that to an agreement, then you move forward with a first draft, then repeat the process.

Sorry if this post(s) are coming off flipant. I just dont see how you can expect people to work with you - who arent writers - when it comes to writing.

EJ
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Sorry if my choice of wording confused you. It's not that I feel like I'm the one burdened with the writing job. It's something I love to do and have no problem doing alone. It just seems when I'm discussing my ideas with my friends (co-producers) they are very interested in helping until they see a blank page. I'm confident in my writing abilities but sometimes (for comedy as other have said) I feel it would be easier to have someone there to bounce ideas off of.

With your fireman and postman analogy. It's as if I'm saying "Hey, why don't you try putting out a fire or two while you're not delivering mail. You may find that you enjoy it as much as I do and who knows we may be happier with the final product working as a team."

You don't sound flipant, it's just that I do consider myself a dedicated writer and I'm surprised that my post made it seem otherwise.
 
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I'm a writer, and I love to write, I'm not half bad at if...or so I've been told haha. As for the partners thing, I do write a lot of my stuff by myself, I have a few Feature ideas, and a lot of short ideas that I work on alone.

On the other hand, my friend and partner, who is a writer/director, work on some stuff together. One of us will write a first draft, then hand it off for the other to revise, get some new insight on it, add some scenes we think of, things like that, then switch it back over and let the other add any new ideas they have, take out stuff that they dont think works. All the while we bounce ideas off each other and take each others words to heart on what we will do while revising.

So yes I do think there are Pros to working with a partner, but always have your own ideas, and work on writing alone, cause when push comes to shove if you're used to writing with a partner and you have to write alone, things could get tough quick.
 
This may seem like an ignorant question, and I apologize if thats the case, but how exactly does one go about writing with other people? I am about to start a script with a fellow student at my university and I was wondering what the best way to go about it is?
We both use Celtx so if we were to go down the separate writing then putting it all togeather at the end route it wouldent be to much hasslle, but I was wondering if people on here find it better to litterally sit togeather and write?
Any tips or opinions would be much apreciated!
 
Never done collaborative screenwriting myself. You might decide or flip a coin as to who has final say on what ends up on the page or not, look at who has the most experience. Perhaps first each brainstorm and write collaboratively using google docs or Movie Magic Screenwriter; both allow collaborative writing over the net. MMS even allows it in real time. Google docs is simple and free.

nevill said:
This may seem like an ignorant question, and I apologize if thats the case, but how exactly does one go about writing with other people? I am about to start a script with a fellow student at my university and I was wondering what the best way to go about it is?
We both use Celtx so if we were to go down the separate writing then putting it all togeather at the end route it wouldent be to much hasslle, but I was wondering if people on here find it better to litterally sit togeather and write?
Any tips or opinions would be much apreciated!
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IMO typically different people take different sections (maybe ten pages at a time) and they write them up that way.

EJ
 
I haven't personally worked with a writing partner, but Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio have a great blog. It's a great resource that I'm almost hesitant to share :-p. They have a great column on this very issue:

http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp18.Me.and.My.Ampersand.html

As for the basic dynamics of how it works, I'd imagine you and your partner think up a concept and draft a scene outline together. Then, you divy up the scenes and write them separately, combining and revising in the end.
 
Personality is the most important thing - you and your partner need to have the same attitudes to whatever you're writing. Do you laugh/cry at the same things, do you agree when a line is too long ar too boring or too illogical etc? If not, writing together will be a waste of both of your times.

As to actually doing the co-writing, this also depends on your personalities - you may work best both in the same room sitting at a computer together, giving each other instant feedback, floating ideas before anything even gets typed. Or you may do better taking turns, e.g. e-mailing each other the latest manuscript after working on it - that will enormously benefit from some sort of version tracking in your software so that you can see what the other has changed. Or both, as I do.
 
I used to include other people in my process, but I had some bad experiences with it where I found myself "writing to specs" instead of a personal vision. It tended to generate a product that was neither fish nor fowl at the end.

I did this with two different partners on two separate stage plays. One is sitting in a drawer; the other was stripped for pieces that ended up in other projects later on.

Generally I will do a bit of concept-testing with some friends, give them the "TV Guide blurb" and guage general interest. Talk to people in doing needed research, that's all. No more people till it's done. Experience has taught me to do the heavy lifting alone.

I like working on a 'corporate model', where specialists pool their efforts at the appropriate intervals, and otherwise work in their own areas. Expecting a producer to write, IMO, is like expecting the gaffer to do it. If he wants to, great, if not, that's fine.

Just my $0.02 USD Cheers, :beer: Jeff
 
It's a little ironic, isn't it? On the indy level of production, writers actually welcome some collaboration from others. On the mega-money level, there are so many people clamoring to hack apart the script that writers pull their hair out trying to find directors, producers, and actors who'll try to stick to their original ideas!
 
Eximious said:
It's a little ironic, isn't it? On the indy level of production, writers actually welcome some collaboration from others. On the mega-money level, there are so many people clamoring to hack apart the script that writers pull their hair out trying to find directors, producers, and actors who'll try to stick to their original ideas!
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See, that's why indie productions are so much better. Usually the writer, director, and producers are a very close-knit group that has a very solid and similar view of what the film should/will be. When you get into mega-money Hollywood level films, the writer, director and producers have all been hired separately by the studio and they may not know each other at all and have completely different opinions on what should be done with the film. Thus causing chaos on the set and a disorganized final product.
 
Good question. To write alone or with a partner?

Good question. To write alone or with a partner?

This is going to be a writing stereotype and my on personal narrow viewpoint. Feel free to stop reading now. Cool you're still reading. Television writers have more success as partners. There are writers that work as teams like husband and wife real state teams. In movies when you see 3 or 4 writing credits that usually means a writer(s) were fired and new blood brought in to fix the script.

Writing a script with a partner is like a marriage. There will be ups and downs along with disagreements. If you're lucky you will find a person that you can work with. That's a tough road.

I write at all hours with no set schedule. I like that freedom of working on a script solo. The downside to working by yourself is you have to be prepared to spend long hours alone in your head. There won't be that different opinion or perspective if you get stuck. No brainstorming with another voice. As my editor/coproducer friend tells me. When you write alone it's all on you.
 
I think your observation about TV writers is a good one. I'd also add that television writers seem to have more power over the final product. I'm a secondary source on this, but TV doesn't strike me as having the same "cult of the director" mentality as big film. Plus, once a show is established and actors hit their groove, how much can a director really change?

As for indy vs. big budget films, if Hollywood screenwriters forge bonds with popular directors, producers, or actors, I don't see why that sense of cohesive indy production can't be transmitted to a bigger budget. Maybe I'm a little naive.

That said, sorry for hijacking the thread. Writing partners, you say? I'd be willing to work with a writing partner just for the ability to have a solid, respectful critic always helping me improve my craft. There's also the responsibility / motivation factor. Plus, in criticizing my partner's work, I would be mastering my own knowledge (you teach what you know type of deal). Sounds like a good deal if you can find the right partner.

In that sense, I guess you guys / gals (and some kind folks at DoneDealPro) are all my writing partners :beer:
 
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