Comments on: Question of the Week: Collaboration http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/ where writers come to play Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:43:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Carmelo valone http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3783 Carmelo valone Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:30:56 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3783 Yes, I have collaborated with numerous writers. My first collaboration was quite awkward as me and the person had no balance, he was domineering and couldn't take criticism. I just helped a friend finish her book more of my giving her serious notes for three years, not exactly a partnership, but that went quite well, her book with be out in Septmber. Currently I am collaborating with an ex-lawyer turned writer on a TV Pilot and it seems to be going well. Writing is a lonely biz, so it's best to try and work well with others. But some projects you just have to do on your own, ie 'pet projects' (My memoir is my pet project) :) Carmelo Yes, I have collaborated with numerous writers. My first collaboration was quite awkward as me and the person had no balance, he was domineering and couldn’t take criticism.
I just helped a friend finish her book more of my giving her serious notes for three years, not exactly a partnership, but that went quite well, her book with be out in Septmber.
Currently I am collaborating with an ex-lawyer turned writer on a TV Pilot and it seems to be going well.
Writing is a lonely biz, so it’s best to try and work well with others. But some projects you just have to do on your own, ie ‘pet projects’ (My memoir is my pet project)

:)
Carmelo

]]> By: Jonathan Evison http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3602 Jonathan Evison Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:39:37 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3602 ...as much as i like the concept of "team," i've watched a lot of good ideas die by committee over the years...even in film i've found, the smaller the crew, the better execution . . . …as much as i like the concept of “team,” i’ve watched a lot of good ideas die by committee over the years…even in film i’ve found, the smaller the crew, the better execution . . .

]]> By: gayle brandeis http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3371 gayle brandeis Wed, 17 Jan 2007 07:40:37 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3371 Collaboration can be incredibly fruitful, but it can also be tricky. Several years ago, a good friend and I decided to choreograph a three-part dance together. It practically ended our friendship--we had very different ways of working (I was more let's-improv-and-see-what-comes-of-it, and she was more let's-plan-every-move) and this resulted in many tearful misunderstandings. Fortunately our friendship survived and we still love one another dearly--we've since collaborated on some short stories, which has proven to be a much better shared form for us. I also co-wrote a short story with my friend Sefi Atta, and that was a joy. A different sort of collaboration--I've co-organized benefit concerts and other events, and love sharing the planning with other people, seeing where each person's talents can fit and shine. I think there needs to be a good fit from the beginning, a shared vision, but also an openness to follow the other person in unexpected directions(and enough clarity to guide the person back to middle ground if necessary.) Collaboration can be incredibly fruitful, but it can also be tricky. Several years ago, a good friend and I decided to choreograph a three-part dance together. It practically ended our friendship–we had very different ways of working (I was more let’s-improv-and-see-what-comes-of-it, and she was more let’s-plan-every-move) and this resulted in many tearful misunderstandings. Fortunately our friendship survived and we still love one another dearly–we’ve since collaborated on some short stories, which has proven to be a much better shared form for us. I also co-wrote a short story with my friend Sefi Atta, and that was a joy.

A different sort of collaboration–I’ve co-organized benefit concerts and other events, and love sharing the planning with other people, seeing where each person’s talents can fit and shine. I think there needs to be a good fit from the beginning, a shared vision, but also an openness to follow the other person in unexpected directions(and enough clarity to guide the person back to middle ground if necessary.)

]]> By: mikel k poet http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3369 mikel k poet Wed, 17 Jan 2007 06:15:07 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3369 I ve collaborated with musicians...my words...their heart and soul...the most recent collaboration is one I have ongoing with musician, writer and painter Clark Vreeland...our piece called "Quit Ur Bitchin'" can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/mrmrsdamagedgoods I ve collaborated with musicians…my words…their heart and soul…the most recent collaboration is one I have ongoing
with musician, writer and painter Clark Vreeland…our piece
called “Quit Ur Bitchin’” can be heard at

http://www.myspace.com/mrmrsdamagedgoods

]]> By: Gail Siegel http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3363 Gail Siegel Wed, 17 Jan 2007 03:00:07 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3363 I've never collaborated, per se. But I've benefitted enormously from workshops, from editors, and from my writing group. On the other hand, I'm not someone who incorporates every suggestion, or even brings revisions back to my writing group. I know I'll never please everyone, anymore than everyone would write the same story give the same topic. So I try to remember the comments that strike me most deeply, and revise accordingly. I’ve never collaborated, per se. But I’ve benefitted enormously from workshops, from editors, and from my writing group. On the other hand, I’m not someone who incorporates every suggestion, or even brings revisions back to my writing group. I know I’ll never please everyone, anymore than everyone would write the same story give the same topic. So I try to remember the comments that strike me most deeply, and revise accordingly.

]]> By: LaurenBaratz-Logsted http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3343 LaurenBaratz-Logsted Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:30:12 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3343 My husband Greg Logsted and I collaborated on "Fred," the lead short story in the just-published Johnny Cash theme anthology LITERARY CASH. And right now I'm in the early stages of a collaboration with Greg and our almost-seven-year-old daughter that could be a nine-book series. My husband Greg Logsted and I collaborated on “Fred,” the lead short story in the just-published Johnny Cash theme anthology LITERARY CASH.

And right now I’m in the early stages of a collaboration with Greg and our almost-seven-year-old daughter that could be a nine-book series.

]]> By: Jason Boog http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3331 Jason Boog Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:15:51 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3331 Funny thing, I collaborated over the weekend... Along with the help of a few friends last Sunday, we held a mad-cap storytelling reading in a cozy Manhattan bar. The place was packed with a mix of established writers, fledgling writers, musicians, friends and family of writers, hip East Villagers, and a couple crazies. Nothing went the way we planned--lots and lots of readers showed up, the microphone almost broke, the reading lamp broke, and the reading stretched pretty long. But we pulled it off, and I think next week some people will come back. After spending the last six months typing away for web publications, there is nothing more refreshing than a roomful of people who want to hear good stories. I love the Internet, but I love the real-life community feeling even more... Funny thing, I collaborated over the weekend…

Along with the help of a few friends last Sunday, we held a mad-cap storytelling reading in a cozy Manhattan bar. The place was packed with a mix of established writers, fledgling writers, musicians, friends and family of writers, hip East Villagers, and a couple crazies.

Nothing went the way we planned–lots and lots of readers showed up, the microphone almost broke, the reading lamp broke, and the reading stretched pretty long. But we pulled it off, and I think next week some people will come back.

After spending the last six months typing away for web publications, there is nothing more refreshing than a roomful of people who want to hear good stories. I love the Internet, but I love the real-life community feeling even more…

]]> By: Susan Henderson http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3330 Susan Henderson Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:14:15 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3330 Ah, I love these answers. And welcome to those of you who are brand new here. I'll link everyone on Friday when I do the weekly wrap. I'm fixing one last chapter on my book, for those of you who've tried to get in touch with me. I've been an absolute hermit. Tonight, if you're at KGB, I'll see you there. Bringing this chapter with me on the train, determined to get it right. Thank God no one is as hard on me in real life as I am on myself. Ah, I love these answers. And welcome to those of you who are brand new here. I’ll link everyone on Friday when I do the weekly wrap.

I’m fixing one last chapter on my book, for those of you who’ve tried to get in touch with me. I’ve been an absolute hermit.

Tonight, if you’re at KGB, I’ll see you there. Bringing this chapter with me on the train, determined to get it right. Thank God no one is as hard on me in real life as I am on myself.

]]> By: Bruce Hoppe http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3278 Bruce Hoppe Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:22:42 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3278 Following up on patry's thought, "...and then readers who make a story their own as they interact with the characters and bring their own experiences and perceptions..." I'm intrigued by this notion of writing as contribution to the collaborative Jungian collective consciousness idea. A certain sense of anticipation for me, i.e., OK I've done what I can with this novel, now let's see what "la gente" will do with it. On another level. I work shopped my first novel as part of my MFA. "Oh no!" you say, "Doesn't he know that a camel is a horse that was put together by a committee?" But here's why it worked for me. I write about the contemporary rural heartland--not a topic that rates particularly high on the applause meter of the much of the readership which is mostly coastal/urban.(H.L. Mencken is supposed to have once said of Willa Cather, "Why would I want to know anything about Nebraska?") By using the MFA workshop, composed as it was of mostly urban, fairly sophisticated readers, I was able to test how the thing would "play in Peoria." I learned that what I was doing was connecting with this mini test group. Further, upon reflection on their comments I discovered why it was working. I had stumbled, unawares, upon an old Falkerian strategy--that one can reach a wide audience with content based in some obscure corner of the world by infusing it with modern language. Following up on patry’s thought, “…and then readers who make a story their own as they interact with the characters and bring their own experiences and perceptions…” I’m intrigued by this notion of writing as contribution to the collaborative Jungian collective consciousness idea. A certain sense of anticipation for me, i.e., OK I’ve done what I can with this novel, now let’s see what “la gente” will do with it.

On another level. I work shopped my first novel as part of my MFA. “Oh no!” you say, “Doesn’t he know that a camel is a horse that was put together by a committee?” But here’s why it worked for me. I write about the contemporary rural heartland–not a topic that rates particularly high on the applause meter of the much of the readership which is mostly coastal/urban.(H.L. Mencken is supposed to have once said of Willa Cather, “Why would I want to know anything about Nebraska?”) By using the MFA workshop, composed as it was of mostly urban, fairly sophisticated readers, I was able to test how the thing would “play in Peoria.” I learned that what I was doing was connecting with this mini test group. Further, upon reflection on their comments I discovered why it was working. I had stumbled, unawares, upon an old Falkerian strategy–that one can reach a wide audience with content based in some obscure corner of the world by infusing it with modern language.

]]> By: Sarah R. Roundell http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3227 Sarah R. Roundell Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:45:57 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/15/question-of-the-week-collaboration/#comment-3227 I had loads of fun writing a screenplay with one of my closest friends. The words just fell into place and it was probably one of the quickest pieces I've ever finished. The result was amazing as the two of us melded so well that you can't see who wrote what. I'd love to write something like that again, but it feels like a once in a lifetime thing. So looking forward to Wednesday in the park! I had loads of fun writing a screenplay with one of my closest friends. The words just fell into place and it was probably one of the quickest pieces I’ve ever finished. The result was amazing as the two of us melded so well that you can’t see who wrote what. I’d love to write something like that again, but it feels like a once in a lifetime thing.
So looking forward to Wednesday in the park!

]]>