Teamwork makes the Dream Work
When you picture screenwriting, you probably see yourself alone in a cabin in the woods, with a typewriter and a whiskey…. I know I do. Sadly I’ve only lived that set-up once in 20 years of writing. And it lasted less than 24 hours.
More often than not, screenwriting is a team sport. Co-writing and collaboration are pretty common arrangements in this industry these days. And even when you’re the one and only writer on a film, as soon a project gets traction you better believe there’s going to be a lot of cooks up in your kitchen.
Whether that’s good or bad comes down to who you’re working with and the attitude you bring. So, grab your whiskey and let’s dive in.
Finding a Match
Most writers are happy (well, not happy but fine) writing solo. But some of us like to pair up once in a while. Have a creative fling on a project.
If you’re looking for a creative partner, it’s much like finding a romantic partner. You want to find someone you agree with and who excites you. You also want to find someone who won’t leave you holding the tear-soaked pages of your unfinished screenplay.
All my creative partnerships have arisen naturally out of circumstance. I have approached people i want to collaborate with.
Situationships
There are writing teams who mate for life. These are those lucky few who find the yin to their yang, and never look back. If you have found this rare kinship, you can stop reading now and ride of into the sunset, you magnificent bastards.
Most co-writers and collaborators are in situationships like these:
- Writer’s Rooms – The most common collab on the market. You and 3 to 12 other creatives come together to write a TV show under the leadership of the showrunner.
- Talent-Led Projects – When building a. project around a star or comedian, you’ll often work with them to write the script.
- Adaptations – Authors, journalists, playwrights… you might be paired with the owner of the IP to bring it to screen.
- Director/Writer Projects – Sometimes a director has a great story idea, and needs a partner to get it on the page.
- Students/Friends/Siblings/Lovers – Working on a passion project together for the first time and hoping their relationship survives.
You don’t always get to choose your dance partner but if you’re both passionate about the story, and committed to getting ‘er done, you can still boogie-oogie-oogie.
The Upside of Co-Writing
Thankfully there are some perks to a writing partnership.
- Different Perspectives: Two heads are better than one. Co-writing means you get a whole other perspective, sense of humour and style to apply to the story.
- Shared Workload: Writing can be a grind. With a partner, you share the heavy lifting.
- Boosted Creativity: You’re bouncing ideas off someone else. You take something they say and run with it, that sparks another scene or line of dialogue.
- Accountability: Having a writing partner keeps you on your toes. Deadlines become a team effort, and there’s less room for procrastination.
The Downside of Co-Writing
It’s not all rainbows and margaritas of course…
- Creative Clashes: Disagreements happen. But that’s just part of the process. And if you feel strongly about something, this forces you to justify and vocalize why.
- Dividing the Work: Who does what? Sorting out roles can be tricky, but it’s crucial to avoid stepping on each other’s toes.
- Consistent Voice: Keeping the script’s voice consistent with two writers is challenging. But by the time you’re in later drafts you’ll have ironed our the kinks.
Making It Work
I’ve had the opportunity to co-write and collaborate a bunch of times in my life. It requires some form of ego death to share a creative vision with someone and give yourself over to a back-and-forth process. Here are some hot tips from someone who’s lived to tell the tale:
- Talk It Out: Communication is key. Be open and honest about your ideas, concerns, and feedback. And be sure you are aligned on the the story, theme and tone before you begin.
- Set Clear Roles: Decide who’s doing what. Maybe one of you is great at dialogue and the other is a plot wizard. Play to your strengths.
- Stay Flexible: Be ready to compromise. Flexibility is your friend here. Remember, it’s about making the best story, not just your story. When in doubt, do it both ways. You write the scene your way, they write it theirs… swap, read and discuss what’s best.
- Regular Check-Ins: Have regular meetings to review progress, brainstorm, and resolve any issues.
- Use Collaborative Tools: Google Docs, Final Draft, Celtx—these tools are lifesavers. They let you both work on the script simultaneously and track changes.
Screenwriting isn’t always a solo gig. But I promise, it doesn’t have to end in a murder-suicide. Embracing co-writing and collaboration can lead to richer stories and more complex characters. Just look at the Daniels, it doesn’t get richer or more complex than that.
So, whether you’re working on your next big script or teaming up for the first time, remember: collaboration isn’t just about blending talents; it’s about creating something bigger and better together.