Episode 263 - Collaborate and Create with Michael La Ronn
November 5, 2024
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Michael La Ronn discusses COLLABORATE AND CREATE, including COLLABORATE AND CREATE, including the intricacies of collaborative writing, and the importance of formal agreements when co-authoring a book. Michael highlights the necessity of having clear contracts to avoid misunderstandings and ensure smooth transitions in case one collaborator is unable to continue. They delve into practical writing tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word, and discuss strategies for managing long-term collaborations, including effective marketing and promotional efforts. Emphasizing professionalism, clear communication, and adaptability, they share insights on leveraging each collaborator's strengths, assigning tasks based on expertise, and navigating the logistical challenges of joint promotional activities. The episode underscores the value of initial agreements, shared philosophies, and the application of organizational tools for successful collaboration.
Michael La Ronn has published many science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He built a writing career publishing 10-12 books per year while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings. Visit his fiction website at www.michaellaronn.com and his resources for writers at www.authorlevelup.com.
Links
Guest's Links:
https://www.authorlevelup.com
https://www.youtube.com/authorlevelup
Companion Episodes:
Episode 261 - Navigating Collaborative Storytelling with Todd Fahnestock (on collaboration on fiction)
Matty's Links:
Affiliate links
Events
https://www.authorlevelup.com
https://www.youtube.com/authorlevelup
Companion Episodes:
Episode 261 - Navigating Collaborative Storytelling with Todd Fahnestock (on collaboration on fiction)
Matty's Links:
Affiliate links
Events
I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Michael! What do you think is the most important factor for a successful co-authoring partnership: chemistry between authors, detailed planning, or something else?
Please post your comments on YouTube--and I'd love it if you would subscribe while you're there!
Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!
Summary
This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael La Ronn about the intricacies of co-authoring a book, drawing from their personal experiences collaborating on "From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker." The discussion is a deep dive into the collaborative process, exploring everything from initial agreements to writing, editing, marketing, and distribution strategies.
The podcast underscores the importance of formal agreements when beginning a co-authoring project. Michael stresses that having a written contract keeps everyone honest and organized. The contract should cover critical aspects like royalty splits and decision-making authority–who has the final say if disagreements arise. Matty adds that these agreements prevent confusion over time, as co-authoring projects can stretch over years.
With the contract in place, the next step is coordinating the writing process. Both Matty and Michael found the process of selecting tools for collaboration surprisingly challenging. They experimented with Google Docs and Microsoft Word before deciding on a more effective method. They recommend creating independent drafts that funnel into one person for assembly, reducing repetitive content and improving efficiency. Matty uses the analogy of "digging the clay out of the sand" to describe this stage, emphasizing how essential it is for collaborators to continuously communicate and adjust.
The conversation shifts to discuss logistics, a critical element of maintaining a smooth workflow in co-authoring. Matty and Michael liken their method to airplane pilots passing control to one another. They emphasize using project management tools like Trello for task tracking and coordination, noting its usefulness in maintaining a centralized repository of project-related information.
In discussing marketing and distribution, Matty highlights their initial plan to use Draft2Digital for its royalty-splitting capabilities, but the ultimate decision to switch to distributing direct on Amazon because of discrepancies between the D2D and Amazon requirements regarding royalty levels and the additional management and promotional levers that managing Amazon books directly on KDP offer. They learned the importance of staying flexible and adapting their strategies as necessary.
The duo explores how each author's marketing strategies can diverge while still supporting the same project goals. Michael points out that both authors can bring their audiences to the new work, even if it means using different platforms or marketing strategies. They agree that it's vital to pull "in the same direction" to maximize the book's reach.
Matty and Michael also delve into the complexities of joint promotional appearances. While fun, these can be logistically challenging. They agree it's often more practical to appear individually, coordinating efforts to ensure consistent messaging.
The podcast concludes with reflections on their journey. Michael acknowledges that the chemistry between them made the collaboration smoother, while Matty appreciates the efficiency they have gained through consistent processes. They contemplate simplifying future projects by focusing on well-defined scopes, as they had with their current collaboration, limited to non-fiction topics.
In summary, Matty and Michael offer a comprehensive overview of their co-authoring experience, providing invaluable insights for anyone considering a similar partnership. They discuss tools, techniques, and philosophies that can help aspiring collaborators anticipate and overcome potential challenges, ensuring a project that not only succeeds but thrives.
The podcast underscores the importance of formal agreements when beginning a co-authoring project. Michael stresses that having a written contract keeps everyone honest and organized. The contract should cover critical aspects like royalty splits and decision-making authority–who has the final say if disagreements arise. Matty adds that these agreements prevent confusion over time, as co-authoring projects can stretch over years.
With the contract in place, the next step is coordinating the writing process. Both Matty and Michael found the process of selecting tools for collaboration surprisingly challenging. They experimented with Google Docs and Microsoft Word before deciding on a more effective method. They recommend creating independent drafts that funnel into one person for assembly, reducing repetitive content and improving efficiency. Matty uses the analogy of "digging the clay out of the sand" to describe this stage, emphasizing how essential it is for collaborators to continuously communicate and adjust.
The conversation shifts to discuss logistics, a critical element of maintaining a smooth workflow in co-authoring. Matty and Michael liken their method to airplane pilots passing control to one another. They emphasize using project management tools like Trello for task tracking and coordination, noting its usefulness in maintaining a centralized repository of project-related information.
In discussing marketing and distribution, Matty highlights their initial plan to use Draft2Digital for its royalty-splitting capabilities, but the ultimate decision to switch to distributing direct on Amazon because of discrepancies between the D2D and Amazon requirements regarding royalty levels and the additional management and promotional levers that managing Amazon books directly on KDP offer. They learned the importance of staying flexible and adapting their strategies as necessary.
The duo explores how each author's marketing strategies can diverge while still supporting the same project goals. Michael points out that both authors can bring their audiences to the new work, even if it means using different platforms or marketing strategies. They agree that it's vital to pull "in the same direction" to maximize the book's reach.
Matty and Michael also delve into the complexities of joint promotional appearances. While fun, these can be logistically challenging. They agree it's often more practical to appear individually, coordinating efforts to ensure consistent messaging.
The podcast concludes with reflections on their journey. Michael acknowledges that the chemistry between them made the collaboration smoother, while Matty appreciates the efficiency they have gained through consistent processes. They contemplate simplifying future projects by focusing on well-defined scopes, as they had with their current collaboration, limited to non-fiction topics.
In summary, Matty and Michael offer a comprehensive overview of their co-authoring experience, providing invaluable insights for anyone considering a similar partnership. They discuss tools, techniques, and philosophies that can help aspiring collaborators anticipate and overcome potential challenges, ensuring a project that not only succeeds but thrives.
