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How Does a Writing Partnership Work?

by LaLaLives
4 replies
I have a number of fiction and non-fiction manuscripts that I want to partner with another writer on to self-publish, but I'm not certain about how such a relationship works. Anyone experienced in this area?

Specifically, I'd like to know:

What's fair compensation on something I've already written, but would like a partner to help spruce it up, design a cover, publish and market?

Is it best to work with a partner in person or can a successful collaboration by Skype and email work well, too?

Does anyone have a partnership agreement that I can take a look at in order to familiarize myself with the terms that need to be addressed?

I've already published under my own Kindle Direct Publishing account, but is it necessary to create another specifically for the partnership?

Using KDP as an example, which writer controls the dashboard? Who receives payments? Who distributes payments between partners, etc.?

Is it necessary to hire a third-party to handle the above?

As you've probably guessed, I'm pretty clueless about this whole topic and any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!
#kindle book publishing #partnership #self publishing #work #writing #writing jv
  • Profile picture of the author Tinkerbell
    To most of your questions, you'll probably hear a lot of "it depends" answers, and those would be correct.

    In my opinion:
    Fair compensation for editing/sprucing, cover design, formatting, publishing, AND MARKETING would be 50/50 split. Writing is creative. Marketing is work. My daughter and I do a 50/50 split because I'm generous - she is my daugher. But here's how we do things. We divide the writing about half and half. I do the cover design, formatting, editing, publishing, and (very little) marketing. If I were to have the same sort of arrangement with someone outside my family, I would probably insist on a 70/30 split (70 me, 30 them).

    I believe a collaboration can be successful through Skype and email. Ultimately, I'd say it depends on the persons collaborating.

    You can use your own KDP account, and in doing so, you would be in control of the dashboard, would receive and be responsible for distribution of payments, etc. As long as you're comfortable handling this, I see no need to hire a third party, but again, this is my opinion.

    Sorry, I don't have a partnership agreement to share with you. Maybe someone else here has one they can share.

    Good luck!
    Tina
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  • Profile picture of the author Resale Rights Ninja
    You need a publisher. Plain and simple. Especially for fiction. Also as a publisher on amazon you can offer commissions to affiliates. Pay someone to create your cover.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris-
    The answers to most of your questions are "it is up to you" . . . up to you to find a way to make the relationship work well for both partners.

    One idea for making money from fiction . . . create a website, offer the first chapter for free, and a monthly subscription (such $1 per person) for further chapters. Then promote the first chapter using techniques suggested in this forum (there are lots of possible ways to promote it, reviews of similar books, forum sig.s on relevant forums, promoting the website itself using a blog, backlinking etc. and many more).

    Chris
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