No matter whom you're collaborating with, working with others on a book project demands a professional relationship. Whether it's your spouse, your mother, your best friend, or a complete stranger, for the purposes of the book project you are business partners. That means you should share a vision for the book and respect each other's contributions and viewpoints.

The extent to which you can develop a professional relationship with your collaborator may be the determining factor in whether your experience is a dream come true or a nightmare. These days, it's easy for writers to collaborate with just about anyone just about anywhere. E-mail, fax machines, and low-cost long-distance telephone service make communication almost instantaneous and extremely simple; you don't even have to meet your coauthor in person in order to work together on a project. The opportunities for collaboration are no longer limited by location, so you should have no trouble finding someone to work with if this option interests you.

Collaboration can help improve your writing skills. A University of Michigan study in the mid-1990s found that students who collaborated on assignments became better, more flexible writers than students who worked on assignments alone. Computer-based collaboration via e-mail and message boards improved students' writing skills even more dramatically, the study found.

A Shared Vision

Collaborations work best when both parties agree on what they hope to accomplish with the project, beyond simply getting the book published. You should be able to find common ground on how to approach the subject of your book, what information to include, and what you want readers to take away from your book. Ideally, you and your coauthor should act as a team, working together toward the same end.

Fiction often presents stubborn challenges for collaborators. Often, no two people will view characters, plot, settings, or other novel elements in exactly the same light, and this can cause friction and frustration as the work progresses. Sometimes egos are harder to manage in fiction projects, as well; writers invest so much of themselves in creating a unique universe peopled by unique characters, it can be difficult for them to separate themselves from their creation. Fiction writers who can step back from their work and discuss it objectively with their coauthors tend to have an easier time than those who cannot detach themselves from what they have imagined.

Nonfiction carries different challenges for collaborators. Even when two authors agree on the overall message or theme of the project, discord can arise over questions of tone, subtopics, research citations, and hundreds of other details. You and your collaborator might disagree on how certain facts or events should be interpreted and explained, or even whether to discuss certain facts or events in your book. Again, the ability to step back from the work and discuss such disagreements as objectively as possible is an essential ingredient in successful collaboration.

Sometimes it's helpful to write a mission statement for your book that describes its scope and what you want readers to get out of it. If you and your collaborator agree on a mission statement, it can help both of you stay focused on your ultimate goals when disagreements arise.

Respect for Each Other

You don't have to agree on everything to have a successful experience with your collaborator. In fact, disagreement can lead to a better book proposal and manuscript — as long as it is done with mutual respect. You might be able to point out perspectives that your partner has overlooked; your partner might have information that you aren't aware of. Honest and friendly discussions often breed good ideas that otherwise might never come to the fore.

Having a thick skin is an asset in the publishing business, and it's especially important in collaborative endeavors. One of the advantages of working with a collaborator is that you get immediate feedback on your writing, but this can turn into a disadvantage if you're overly sensitive to criticism. You don't have to concede every point when your coauthor has a different idea, nor do you have to fight every suggestion from your coauthor. Give-and-take is an essential ingredient in successful collaboration; an open mind and a respectful attitude will ensure that your project benefits from it.