The Power of Collaboration

With Other Authors

Collaborating with authors can mean many things - Socialising with Authors, Podcasts, Sharing a table at Markets, Author Events, Sharing Ideas, Reading ARCS, Providing Feedback, Joining Writers' Groups. Read on to see how the power of collaboration can help you with marketing and selling your books.

As writers, we know it is a solitary pursuit - you, your ideas, and the blank page. There is a way to boost your marketing and sales of books, something you may not have thought of – The Power of Collaboration. The Power of Collaboration can boost your reach. When you work with other authors, you create opportunities that may not happen going it alone. Whether you are just starting or have a few books out, look for collaboration opportunities; it is a powerful way to boost your author brand and sales.

A small group of aspiring authors attending a Sydney Authors Inked event, where authors are interviewed or share their writing and publishing journeys.

Here are some collaboration tips:

1. New Perspectives and Ideas

No matter how creative you are, it's easy to get stuck in your own style or thought patterns. Collaborating with another author gives you a different way of looking at things. I have collaborated with author interviews, spoken on podcasts, at author events, and shared a table at local markets. Sometimes, a single conversation with another writer can unlock ideas to help both of you because sharing writing ideas can be an effective way of improving your writing and keeping you motivated.

2. Skill Sharing and Learning

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Maybe allowing your dialogue to flow naturally doesn’t come naturally to you, but you’re great at world-building. By working with another author, you will naturally learn from each other, picking up tips and techniques to assist you with your writing. You may learn how to add plot twists, adjust the pacing of your story, or just be more productive while you are writing.

Being part of Sydney Authors Inked has helped me to share my writing experience with aspiring authors and readers. We are a group of Sydney authors who do interviews and talks where we speak about our writing journey. Many Australian authors have been interviewed by our team, and we are always happy to collaborate. If you are interested in chatting with us, send an email to sydneyauthorsinked@gmail.com.

Sydney Authors Inked logo. A group of Sydney authors assisting aspiring authors in their writing journey.

3. Expanded Reach

Collaborating can be rewarding in many ways. When you collaborate, you can tap into each other's audiences. Co-writing a book, running a joint promotion, or hosting an author event together introduces you to different readers. Continuing to collaborate and meet more like-minded people with keep increasing your reach, something that can improve your follow count on social media.

4. Accountability and Motivation

When you are writing, you are on your own. We need this solitary time to create our stories.  Having someone to reach out to keeps you motivated and on track. Collaborating means you also increase your tribe, all the people who will be there to help when needed. Your writing tribe will always have your back.

5. Emotional Support

Let’s talk about reviews. Specifically, bad ones. We all get them, and these cause us to doubt our abilities and create setbacks. This is when you turn to your tribe for support. Of course, when you receive good reviews, your tribe is there to celebrate with you. Their encouragement, honest critiques and suggestions are all useful to improve your writing.

6. Creative Experimentation

If you want more scope in your writing, like changing genres, then this is where collaborating with another author really helps. For example, I write in the genres of contemporary, young adult and science fantasy, so I am equipped to help someone who hasn’t written in these genres. This is something you can have fun with, maybe write a children’s book where you have only written adult dramas?

Collaborating will enhance your skills, and your individuality remains intact. Some see writing as a competition and other authors are to be feared. I have not found this to be the case, the many authors I have met since self-publishing my debut novel have all been willing to help. Whether it's co-writing a novel or taking part in an anthology, joining a podcast, giving your books away on another author’s website, or simply brainstorming ideas over coffee, working with other authors is great.

If you haven’t collaborated before, consider the authors in your tribe and discuss a collaboration or how you can collaborate within your group. It’s never too late to start that conversation.

Happy writing (and collaborating)

Maria P Frino