A Vital Role in Authorship
Co-authors are usually sought for a particular purpose. They either contribute to the voice and style desired, or they provide the expertise, skills, and professional background or knowledge required for that particular topic, adding weight and validity to the subject matter and credibility to the finished work. Although authors may be called to write about a particular topic, they may find themselves painfully deficient to do so, needing help to fill holes, gaps, or validate content. The supportive author often has the credentials and expertise they’re seeking. Many supportive authors do not actively write bulk content. Content written by a co-author is often limited to the areas where their input is needed. More commonly they review, edit, advise, validate, and provide legitimate input or research toward the final project. Without their many contributions, the said work would fail and fall flat, losing all credibility. Therefore, the role of a co-author can be vital to a finished work, although they may not share in the glories of the completed project by virtue of copyright, royalties, or notoriety.
Common Types of Co-Authored Work
The following are common types of books which are frequently co-authored:
1.) Textbooks
2.) Documentaries
3.) Self-Help
4.) Professional non-fiction works in any particular niche (medicine, law, theology, etc.)
5.) Instruction or Resource manuals, also known as ‘How-To’ (ie. gardening, construction, travel, business, music, marriage, etc.)
Types of Co-Authorship
Roles of co-authorship require clear legal and creative boundaries. The types of co-authorship are as follows:
1.) Primary-Secondary: The primary author assumes the weight of the project in terms of written work, copyright, royalties, and any notoriety. The secondary author is merely supportive.
2.) Secondary-Primary: The supportive author assumes the bulk of the work either by agreement, necessity, or desire. However, in doing so they yield rights of their intellectual property and they do not receive royalties reflective of their work. The primary author, due to their genesis of the idea, maintains the majority of any rights, any royalties disbursed, and the notoriety for the completed project. Although this may seem unjust or unfair, this dual dynamic is actually quite common.
3.) Joint authorship: Each author holds equal weight and responsibility for the finished work, and both enjoy rights and royalties in equal measure.
4.) Tertiary: Three people endeavor toward a finished work. Such terms are negotiated carefully prior to engagement. Credits are often listed according to primary, secondary, and tertiary authorship. Royalties are distributed either equally among all, or they are disbursed by percentage in accordance with their contributed work.
5.) Collaborative: Works of more than three or four people are often attributed to a formal organization, institution, or company who hold the full rights and obtain royalties thereby. No particular rights are held by the individuals who contribute to the finished work or project.
Rights & Responsibilities
Co-authorship (dual authorship) can be a powerful creative dynamic, but it is also a very delicate legal matter requiring an enormous commitment by all parties involved. As with any project or work, there needs to be a clear mutual understanding of agreed terms, goals, and objectives between those who contribute to the finished work prior to any engagement. Those terms include issues of contribution, content, research, copyright, disbursement of royalties, and to whom the glory will be bestowed when it comes to notoriety.
One of the best examples of this dynamic is Julia Child’s co-authorship in Mastering the Art of French Cooking. When her peers approached her for help, they had been rejected by their publisher and were desperate. She had no idea what she was getting into. Although the origination of the project was birthed by them, they struggled with the content. They were French, and they needed an American author who understood French cuisine and spoke the language of their target audience. Julia fit the bill perfectly. Although she assumed a supportive role in the beginning, she shouldered the weight for its completion in the end. She finished the book as the primary author, which proved to be a tedious and laborious project. To their dismay, her peers ended up assuming the supportive role as secondary and tertiary authors. Such was unfortunate for all. However, Julia was justly credited in the end, and they settled rights and royalties accordingly. Such terms were painful to negotiate. However, this is the case many times with individuals who are not otherwise beholden to one another in relational terms, or who are novices in writing or authoring a work. They may have no idea what is truly required of them to complete the creative process from start to finish.
Authors can often enter into a writing agreement being very eager to supply the demand in an earnest desire to help, or to become a part of something for which they are mutually passionate. There’s something very cohesive and invigorating about working with another individual who holds a kindred aspiration or idea. Each fuels the other’s fire. It’s quite flattering and even inspiring to be asked for help, as there is a measure of expertise or critical ability assumed with that solicitation. However, collaborative efforts can wane once authors realize how incongruent their writing styles really are, or how much input is truly required of them despite prior agreements. This is where reality hits. Such contributions may outweigh the part they play creating unjust balances that breed contention, regret, and perhaps even legal issues. Once the creative juices are flowing, things begin to gel and fall into place naturally — but that doesn’t mean it’s on agreeable terms. At this creative stage it often becomes painfully apparent who ends up holding the bag. Thus, just and equal weights can be very difficult terms to pre-determine. What was agreed upon in the beginning may be completely unrealistic in the end. Once the project gets off the ground, the pilot may find themselves thrown out of the cockpit — or vice versa. The primary author may find themselves impotent. The secondary author may find themselves burdened. Someone who never intended to write the bulk of the book may indeed find themselves assuming that role. Therefore, co-authorship is best settled in equal measure from the beginning, unless circumstances are such that any prior agreement does not necessitate a collaborative contribution in providing or writing intellectual content.
If one person is being credited as the primary author, the secondary author will need to assume a position of submission to that person’s work, ideas, and goals, and contribute accordingly. The originator will ultimately be the guiding force. Usually, the one requesting co-authorship is the primary author. Co-authorship that is equal, or fully joint, is preferred. However, this is more frequently seen among married couples, family members, or close friends and colleagues who are indeed true equals in their niche or profession. If someone is not willing to yield their primary authorship to a peer upon whom they rely for help, it should be made clear before any negotiations take place.
Regardless of to whom the weight falls, co-authorship needs to be balanced according to agreed terms. The whole of any completed work should always be greater than the sum of any contributing individual’s parts. Each author needs to have a clear understanding of their role, what they can or are willing to contribute, and how much intellectual property they are responsible for in the end. Rights to the work, and any subsequent royalties must be negotiated and established prior to any contractural agreement, especially when working with people who are unrelated, and to whom we are not otherwise beholden in an intimate or legally binding relationship.
Terms of Request
1.) Experience: I will only co-author with experienced published authors.
2.) Terms of Contract: Contracted terms must designate each author upon equal terms of co-authorship with respect to content contribution, copyright, royalties, and notoriety.
3.) Areas of Interest: I prefer to co-author in the following areas of interest: Christian ministry, writing, communication, biblical studies, and theology.
If you still believe you need a co-author for your work, or a supportive author in a secondary or tertiary role, and I am the person you would like to request for co-authorship, you are welcome to submit an inquiry. To begin the process please send a requisition by clicking the link below, providing as much information about you and your work as possible, including objectives and goals, and the manner in which you are seeking support. If your request is something I can consider I will arrange for a formal interview via Skype.
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