Two minds, one book.
How to co-write successfully and avoid the pitfalls, with excerpts from a real co-writing diary. By Joanna Penn and J. Thorn.
Could co-writing a book be the right next step for you?
Co-writing can be an amazing experience when two minds come together to create something new in the world. Or it can be a painful process that ends in disaster.
In this short book, J. Thorn and I share tips on how to successfully co-write a book and avoid the pitfalls along the way. It includes excerpts from our private co-writing diary, written every day while we wrote the dark fantasy thriller Risen Gods, so you can see what the process is really like.
If you want to improve your writing skills and your productivity, co-writing might be the right thing for you.
Who this book is for
This book is for writers considering a collaboration: with a friend, a partner, another author in your genre, or a group for a multi-author box set or shared world. It’s also for anyone already co-writing who wants to avoid the common problems.
It covers the practical and legal side as well as the creative, so it is useful for non-fiction and fiction writers alike.
What you’ll learn
It is a short, practical book with an example agreement in the appendix. Here are the questions it answers.
- What is co-writing, and what are the benefits and the difficulties?
- How do I find the right person to co-write with?
- What should a written legal agreement cover before we start?
- What are the practicalities and process of co-writing and co-creation?
- What does a real co-writing diary look like, day by day?
- What happens if it goes wrong?
- What other types of collaboration and co-creation are there?
- How do multi-author box sets work, and how do I manage a multi-author collaboration?
Where to buy
Available in ebook, paperback and audiobook. Buying direct from my store gives you the best price on bundles and supports me directly. Thank you.
What readers say
★★★★★
This book is a fairly quick read, but it covers the full spectrum of issues authors might expect to encounter. For me, just the overview of the different approaches to co-writing plus the example agreement are worth the price of the book.
Valerie
★★★★★
Provides clarity on both the steps to consider but also it sensitively covers the pros and cons of joint authoring.
J. J. Noad
About Joanna Penn
I’m an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. I write non-fiction for authors as Joanna Penn, and thrillers, dark fantasy, horror and travel memoir as J.F. Penn.
I’ve hosted The Creative Penn Podcast since 2009, with interviews on writing, publishing, book marketing and making a living with your writing.
I have a Master’s degree in Death, Religion and Culture from the University of Winchester (2026) and a Master’s in Theology from the University of Oxford. I live in Bath, England.
About J. Thorn
J. Thorn is a bestselling author of horror and dark fantasy, a podcaster and a writing teacher. We co-wrote the dark fantasy thriller Risen Gods, the project behind the diary in this book, and have collaborated on multi-author projects since.
Articles on collaboration and your author business
These articles cover the business side of working with other authors.
- Your book is a valuable intellectual property asset
- Writing doesn’t have to be lonely: how to find a community
- Productivity tips: outsourcing, automation and virtual assistants for authors
- How to make a living with your writing through books and multiple streams of income
- How to write compelling characters
- Risen Gods, the novel J. Thorn and I co-wrote
Podcast episodes about co-writing and collaboration
These episodes of The Creative Penn Podcast cover co-writing, shared worlds, anthologies and working with other authors.
- Co-writing The Relaxed Author with Mark Leslie Lefebvre
- How to pivot careers, co-write books, and stay connected as a remote creative with Pilar Orti
- Writing short stories, publishing collaboration, and podcasting with Clay Vermulm
- Co-writing in a shared universe and changing indie business models with Martha Carr
- Writing fast, collaboration, and author mindset with Daniel Willcocks
- Writing and working together as a creative couple with Jeff Adams and Will Knauss
- Bundles, box sets and anthologies with Jamie Ferguson
Questions about co-writing a book
How do you find someone to co-write with?
Look for a writer whose work you admire, whose genre and pace fit yours, and who you already know a little, through a community, a conference or a podcast. Try a short project first. J. and I knew each other for years before we wrote Risen Gods together.
Do we need a legal agreement?
Yes, before you start, however well you get on. Copyright lasts for decades after death, so the agreement needs to cover ownership, revenue split, decision making, what happens if one of you wants out, and who controls the rights afterwards. There is an example agreement in the appendix.
How do you actually write together?
There is no single way. Some pairs alternate chapters, some split by character or point of view, some have one draft and one edit. The book covers the practicalities and process we used, including outlining, tools, deadlines and daily check-ins, so you can choose what suits you.
What if it goes wrong?
It happens, and the book has a chapter on it. A good agreement, honest communication early, and agreed exit terms mean a project can end without ending a friendship. The co-writing diary shows the frustrating days as well as the good ones.
Does this cover multi-author box sets and anthologies?
Yes. There are chapters on other types of collaboration and co-creation, tips for multi-author box sets, and managing a multi-author collaboration, including the four-author train project J. and I took part in.
Next steps
Get the free Author Blueprint
Join my email list and I will send you my Author Blueprint, with the steps on the author journey from idea to published book and beyond, plus my newsletter with tips on writing, publishing and marketing.
Listen to The Creative Penn Podcast
New episodes every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts: interviews and solo shows on writing, publishing, book marketing and making a living with your writing. Browse the podcast.
Watch on YouTube
Tutorials, interviews and full audiobooks of my non-fiction on The Creative Penn channel.