How to Work With a Co-Author

By Cyndi Maxey and Barry Lyerly

NSA-Illinois member Cyndi Maxey and her co-author Barry Lyerly share some tips on how to co-author a book based on their book Training from the Heart, Developing Your Natural Training Abilities to Inspire the Learner and Drive Performance on the Job, (2000) ASTD Books, Alexandria, VA.
Share an overall philosophy.

Barry had been thinking about writing a book on training for some time based on his “insight to action” process. Cyndi agreed after some initial doubts about taking on such a huge responsibility. From the beginning, Barry and Cyndi knew that they shared a common training philosophy. The fact that Cyndi had been a learner in one of Barry’s train-the-trainer classes solidified their common ground, which provided a steady course.

Establish and agree on a time frame.

Working with a co-author is a real benefit to completing a book. What seemed like a daunting task of writing twelve chapters in six months (suggested by editor Mark Morrow) divided into six chapters apiece, which resulted in about one chapter (20 pages) per person per month. “I usually wrote for about a week out of the month from 5:30-9:00 a.m. each day to finish my month’s chapter,” says Cyndi. “There was other time spent in research.”

Barry usually wrote in the morning, as well. Barry explains, “I used the first part of the month to explore ideas and do research. The last part was used to write and revise copy.” Cyndi and Barry e-mailed and faxed ideas back and forth throughout the writing process.

Divide labor based on strengths.

The co-authors immediately divided the chapters based on interests and experience. For example, Barry had worked with service mottoes for years and Cyndi had always been intrigued by what makes a natural style of training. Each took six chapters and set up a very strict semi-monthly meeting schedule to review progress. They shared the hosting of the edit meetings and made them a priority on their calendars. Later in the process, Cyndi took on some marketing details (postcards, articles, and speech bookings) and Barry wrote proposals for national conference presentations.

Use an editor immediately.

Cyndi had taught English in the past and didn’t relish returning to that role as she read drafts of their work. Barry, while a good writer, admitted that he needed a good editor for punctuation, etc. Luckily, a talented local editor, Deb McBride, agreed to read the draft manuscript on a month-by-month basis. She provided a professional base for Barry and Cyndi to critique their work. Consequently, the final product turned into ASTD was much better because of her attention to detail.

Resolve conflicts quickly.

Though Barry and Cyndi have similar communication styles, their approach to projects differed based on years of “doing it their own way.” When conflict arose, they worked best when they talked it through and acknowledged differences. Future focus was important. For example, they differed on the extent to which they should use an attorney to review the publishing contract. Barry was unsure if one was necessary and Cyndi felt a thorough review was important. They compromised and used a neighbor who reviewed the contract for an affordable sum and provided valuable input.

Merge writing styles.

The co-authors felt it was important that the book have the same tone and writing style. Cyndi’s natural style was conversational and light in tone while Barry’s could sound somewhat academic. They decided on a fairly informal style.  At the conclusion of the process, people who read drafts were unable to tell who had written a particular chapter. “I think we had a subtle influence on each other’s styles that resulted in a nice blending,” notes Barry.

Weigh the pros and cons before you decide.

Both Barry and Cyndi agree that the pros outweighed the cons. Besides the division of labor mentioned already, other pluses included giving and receiving support. When one person was busy with his or her family or business, the other could pick up tasks, such as contacting the editor. When one got stuck finding a resource, the other often had a book or article to recommend. Another plus was their extended network of trainers who provided stories that added realism and interest. Finally, co-authoring inspired creative energy and insight. “Some of the greatest moments took place when we were brainstorming topics and approaches for the book,“ notes Barry.

It is important to consider the cons, too. Some cons may include having to share “top billing” with another person. Being flexible is another important consideration. If you are used to working on our own, it is important to be able to compromise and adjust your thinking. If you are not prepared to share the limelight and the good and bad times, then co-authoring may not be for you.

All in all, Cyndi and Barry recommend the benefits of co-authoring. In fact, they are already thinking about their next book!