A frequent question from prospective authors is whether their book project needs one or more co-authors. Some books are served best by a solo author if collaboration seems excessive or would add unnecessary stress. Still, others may benefit from co-authors who might complement or enrich the project.

Adding a co-author may come naturally. You add people who you already work with or who have already given you input on the project. You may meet someone at a conference or panel and realize you research and write in the same area.

If you do not find yourself naturally adding a co-author, you may conduct a search. You could poll your colleagues to see if anyone knows someone who would be interested, or ask an editor or your publisher if they know of a worthy co-author for your project.

Regardless of the path, this is a considerable decision. You are tying yourselves together for not only the initial drafting of the book but for future revisions and editions. Co-author relationships can easily impact the quality of work product and the smoothness of your publishing experience. 

So, should your book have a co-author? If so, who should join your project? When attempting to answer these questions, consider these factors.

What is the value added by the co-author?

The best starting point for the decision-making process is to identify the value added by a specific co-author. Value added can be directly related to the subject matter: they have an expertise that you do not, they bring a new perspective, they have credible classroom tools for the course, etc.

A co-author might also bring benefits beyond subject matter expertise to the table. For instance, someone with a great reputation may have a high level of visibility and credibility in the area. You may also complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Additionally, a younger co-author could contribute to later editions after the retirement of an author. When the authors’ shared approach is consistent, it is more likely that the book will continue to be updated and adopted upon someone’s retirement.

When identifying the value added by a co-author, think a little outside the box. Go beyond their expertise and think of some of their other qualities and contributions. Move forward with a co-author where they add distinct value.

Does this co-author’s inclusion change the project? If so, is there room for compromise?

It is rare that you will find one co-author who sees everything exactly as you do, let alone multiple.

There needs to be a candid discussion surrounding expectations for the project. The discussion should include items like topical coverage, pedagogy, organization, methodology, faculty support materials, and more. If you and the co-author(s) identify a point of contention, you need to determine if you can compromise before you continue with the writing project. 

For instance, imagine that you and a potential co-author both want to write a torts law casebook. You believe that casebooks with a doctrinal focus and a notes/questions structure are the best. Meanwhile, your potential co-author wants to include more skills-based material and use a problems-based structure. These two approaches to the same material, even when discussing the same exact cases, generate two distinct books. 

Discuss whether you can meet somewhere in the middle. You may be able to consider a hybrid approach where you have a doctrinal focus but skills-based supplemental materials or online components.

If you cannot compromise, your partnership will not work. It’s not that one idea is superior to the other, they are just too different to create one book. You can part ways and continue your search.

What does my capacity and schedule look like now and in the future?

Writing a book, no matter how well you know the subject matter, is a lot of work. The process is long (months to years) and demanding. If you currently have multiple projects or responsibilities or you anticipate that you will in the future, it’s advisable to consider a co-author.

Dividing the work can ensure you meet deadlines and short turnarounds that you couldn’t meet on your own. A co-author may even make it possible for you to write a book you would not otherwise have the time to put together. 

Keep in mind, too, that ancillary materials like a Teacher’s Manual, assessment material, and online content are common components to coursebooks today. These items require additional time and attention from authors, including additional writing. When calculating your level of availability and assigning tasks, these additional components need to be part of the equation.

Identifying the due date for manuscript completion can be a good starting point. Agreeing on this deadline will help ensure you are both on the same page. If your due dates are far apart, it might mean that you have different goals and should not pursue the project together. 

How compatible are we to work together long term?

What they say is true, just because you like someone, it does not mean you want to live or work with them. If you add a co-author for any reason, whether it be their expertise, time, or novel perspective, you need them to complete high-quality work and do so in a timely manner. 

A co-author who fails to meaningfully contribute or who struggles to meet deadlines creates stress for everyone else involved. Moreover, when you have a person working on the project who does not meet the initial expectations, it defeats the purpose of their inclusion.

As such, you really want to objectively analyze how it is to work with someone on a long-term, many-year project. 

Ask questions like:

• Does this potential co-author meet deadlines?
• Do we share a similar creative process and writing process?
• How accessible is this potential co-author and are they a clear communicator?
• How well does this potential co-author write and will their work require a lot of additional editing?
• Is this potential co-author self-motivated or will they require a lot of oversight?
• How many demands does this potential co-author have on their time?
• Does the potential co-author respond to requests and communications in a timely way?
• Will this potential co-author respect my professional/personal boundaries?
• How does the potential co-author handle constructive feedback or criticism?
  
  

Lastly, if others have authored with your potential co-author in the past, it may be wise to get their input on the experience. 

Will adding a co-author enhance our book’s “reach” and attractiveness to publishers?

Publishers love books. Yet, a publisher cannot take to print every potential book that comes across the desk. Marketability and profitability are, of course, factors that publishers care about. 

“Reach” is your level of visibility or how far your work will reach based on your experience, credibility, network, self-promotion, and similar factors. When reviewing a proposal, editors consider each author’s “reach” as a factor toward marketability and profitability. As a result, “reach” is a big factor, and something that usually drives people to become co-authors.

In reality, authors and publishers share these goals. Authors have great ideas and novel methods that they want to share. Publishers want to help authors accomplish this. 

Co-authors mean more eyes on the book, more course adoptions, and greater student use. Schools usually have avenues for promoting their faculty’s work. By adding co-authors from different schools, you open more networks. In the same vein, authors who are prominent on social media can go a long way in garnering book buzz.

Co-authors naturally amplify the audience. Each time you or any co-author speaks at a panel or receives an award, for example, the book garners attention. Similarly, adding authors helps achieve regional, racial, and gender diversity. 

The more adoptions and greater audience you have before publication, the more favorably your proposal will be viewed by publishers. 

How will authors split the royalties or other payments?

Money can be a source of contention. 

At the outset, even before you go to contract, you want to confirm the pay structure with the publisher (whether royalties, a fee, an advance, etc.). Then confirm how payments will be disbursed between co-authors. 

If one co-author is contributing more to the project, they might receive a larger percentage of payments. If co-authors are contributing equally, there may be an equal split. If the book has a book or series editor, their cut will need to be taken into account. 

You do not want to find yourself halfway through a project to discover that money is a divisive issue for your co-author relationship.

Still unsure? Take a test run.

If all of the above components seem settled, but you still aren’t sure whether you and your potential co-author’s stars align, you can work through a few early stages of the book as a test.

First, articulate a detailed table of contents for the book. If you are deeply diverging on what should be included or excluded, this may be a red flag.

Second, devise your general chapter structure and work on a sample chapter together. Examine how your tone and writing styles mesh. Consider how you communicate about issues, changes, and subject matter. This is a small taste of what writing further chapters will be like for you both, and whether you want to continue to work together.

As with other items on this list, both the Table of Contents and Sample Chapter can be submitted with your book proposal. So, if you stay a team, this process moves your project along.

Bonus Tip: Don’t take it or make it personal.

When you are mixing personal and professional relationships in any setting, things can get dicey. Keep this process as objective as possible. Do not demean or belittle anyone and what they bring to the table. Remember that reasonable minds can differ, and that choosing not to write a book with someone does not mean you think any less of them as a professional. 

This tip is a two-way street. You cannot take things personally that may be discussed about the project and you cannot make things too personal when discussing your thoughts with a co-author. Mutual respect is key and will build a solid foundation for your working relationships moving forward.