On collaborations
Hello, this is important
Collaborations can be magic. I’ve participated in several creative collaborations and because I’ve chosen my collaboration partners wisely, I’ve always wrapped up the project better for having done it with someone else. But, there’s an issue with collaboration I want to dig into today and it is this:
Before you take on any creative collaboration, especially one for which there might be stakes for sharing your knowledge, ask yourself: are my collaborator are I legitimately filling in knowledge gaps for one another because we have vastly different knowledge sets, or am I collaborating because I don’t want to fully say this thing on my own?
This is extremely important because a collaborator who isn’t specifically filling in a knowledge gap for you (and vice versa) is in serious danger of being a security blanket, a hang-er on, or worse, a person with whom you ultimately must divide credit for an idea you could have very easily expressed by yourself.
Now, does this apply to fun writing collaborations outside of the opinion/persuasive realm? Not really, though it can actually apply to any creative endeavor. (I’ve especially this in the film and book realm when" “co-director” or “co-author” can also mean “babysitter,” “addiction counselor, “secretary” and “person who does all the actual work.” Is it okay to coauthor something? absolutely, but just be clear about why you are collaborating, and please, please hear this: when it’s about expressing your knowledge and experience, don’t be quick to share the spotlight just because it scares the shit out of you to stand in it. After all, the whole purpose of sharing your knowledge is to build your credibility and strengthen our voice in the public conversation.
