Screenwriting Partnerships: How to Make Them Work
A lot of screenwriters find success as part of a writing team. Dynamic duos like The Coen Brothers, The Duffer Brothers and David Benioff and D. B. Weiss are all proof that sometimes two heads can be better than one.
Think of it as having the best benefits of getting married, but making half of what you would if you were writing solo. So you want to make sure it’s the right path for you.
The right collaborator can make the process of scriptwriting more productive, creative, and frankly more fun. But the wrong collaborator can turn the writing process into a perpetual nightmare.
If you’re toying with the idea of collaborating on a script, here are 5 tips to help you find a writing partner who’s the “write” fit, will enhance you’re writing, and make it a less lonely endeavor:
1. Taste matters
Maybe you write comedy and you’ve found a potential partner who is as passionate about funny stories as you are. Great! Now before you make any commitments, dig a little deeper: do you both have the same sense of humor? Do you think the epitome of comedy is, Bridesmaids but they think it’s Being John Malkovich? Before you jump into a working relationship you need to make sure both partners speak the same “storytelling” language. This doesn’t mean you need to agree on everything - sometimes differing points of view can create a more dynamic script. This doesn’t even mean you need to write in the same genre - maybe you specialize in horror and your partner writes comedy so you mash up your genres to create a great comedy-horror. But shared taste matters. If one writer is striving to make a summer blockbuster and the other is trying to create an arthouse festival darling, it’s going to be frustrating. I don’t advise it.
2. Boundaries, rules and expectations
A lot of writers consider getting into a writing partnership with a friend. Of course two people with an existing relationship can turn into a successful writing team (plenty of siblings and married couples have found great success as writing duos). But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Even if you’re the most objective person on the planet, the creative process is highly personal. Emotions can run high, and navigating those emotions when you also have a relationship outside of writing together can be extra challenging. Is your writing career worth losing a friend – or marriage – over? So the more boundaries, rules and expectations you layout at the beginning the better. Schedule clear writing dates, have rules around communication (maybe you make it a rule to not talk about work on weekends), and lay out your expectations for the working relationship. I know one writing duo that didn’t discuss their personal goals and expectations from the outset and found out too late that one writer’s goal was to sell a TV script and part ways, while the other’s MO was to get staffed as a writing team. Be clear about your goals and needs from the start, and then stick to respecting each other’s boundaries.
3. Find a process that works for you both
Once you find a writing partner who has similar tastes and you’ve come up with some healthy boundaries and expectations it’s time to write! Every writing team’s process is unique to them. There is no right way to go about it. Some writing teams sit in a room and verbally hash it all out while one person types, others split up the scenes and work on their respective parts solo. However you go, outline some basics before you start writing to make sure you stay on the same “page” (I couldn’t resist). Craft a logline together, decide the basic plot structure, main characters, and write a scene-by-scene outline so you are both working off of the same story map. Then decide how you’re going to tackle the first draft, and dive in. If the process you try doesn’t work, you can always change it up until you find one that does.
4. Self-confidence and humility
To create a lasting career as a screenwriter you need to have the confidence to stand behind your work, and the humility to receive and incorporate feedback. These qualities can be even more important when you’re part of a writing team. Working with a writing partner is a lot like working in a writers room, you have to be confident enough to put your ideas out there, and humble enough to truly listen when your ideas are challenged. Like any relationship, compromise is key. So find a partner who can put their ego aside, and stay focused on what’s most important: creating the best story possible.
6. Celebrate every win
Whether it’s just finishing your first draft or selling a script - find someone you want to celebrate every ‘win’ with. A writing partnership can be a lifelong relationship so look for someone who works hard, but who you would also want to share a glass of champagne with when you finally win that award, sell that movie, or get hired on that TV show.
Are you part of a screenwriting team? How do you make it work? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!