Screenwriting : Writing with a partner by Stanley Pomianowski

We do the switching like you. We work out the outline together then divide up the scenes. Who ever has the idea for a scene does the first draft, then the other person does the rewrite. Surprisingly, very little fighting over changes. If you both keep in mind that you must do what is best for the story, then it all starts to work. Think of the script as a child. You must do what is best for the child and put your egos aside. If you don't like a change you must prove that it best for the script overall.

I would also say that everyone has a different process. You have to find best what works for you. I know some who outline and then take a scene each and I know others who simply have to be in the room together.

Stanley, Steven, Richard. Have you guys all met your collaborators? Do you live in close proximity? Is it via social media? Is it personal meetup then via social media? Just curious, I'm not against social media collaboration when it comes to actual works I'm just not sure enough of myself to navigate through social media navigation for actual works yet. Also were all of you working writers or at least working in some aspect of the biz before attempting such collaborations? With that said I think it's cool Stage32 recently got it's youtube and I'm getting up some bravery to try the new enhanced chat soon. I love stage32's building, building, building philosophy in and of itself. How did you guys get through the apprehension of social media collaboration and what tools did you use? Perhaps nobody has or had this apprehension. Instinctively for me personally (perhaps it has a bit to do with my age of 42 and only started using a personal computer around 2003. As far as social media I think I got a facebook around 2009) I think I need to be physically immersed in some aspect of the business before trying such endeavors and maybe that's part of the generation gap. I'm enthused about social media collaboration with actual work just not real eager. In some respects perhaps I'm luckier to have blended attitudes too. Heck I don't know and there was probably a seminar about all this somewhere in the past. I know this is a long winded question with a lot of points but I can only learn from other's experience. Hey, if you don't get back to me no problemo and if it takes a while to answer this no problemo there too. Oh and thanks because stage32 is the first screenwriting platform of social media I ever tried and I have learned an immense amount of social media stuff over the last year or so, especially being as stubborn as I was and still am at times. Michael L. Burris "Life is way too short not to look at the lighter side of it." & "I'm trying my damnedest not to fly around like a blind bird."

Hey Michael. I personally have not collaborated with anyone on the writing of a screenplay, but I certainly know many who have. And, yes, I have heard of writers meeting on social media and, eventually, collaborating. Clearly, I'm a huge proponent of networking. In a digital world, I believe it's imperative if one is to create a competitive advantage. Having said that, networking is all about cultivating relationships. That takes time and a concentrated, focused effort. I commend you on taking the steps to embrace social media as a weapon in your arsenal.

You write the best way that suits you.

A team is special when all players know their role and accept it to compete at a higher level. Basically… who's Batman and who's Robin? You can't have two Batmans.

Uh… there's no back seat in the Batmoblie.

I've only written with a partner once, and it wasn't for me.... But I just did an interview with a very successful screenwriting team: http://creativescreenwriting.com/the-fault-in-our-stars-written-in-six-d...

I have an writting partner and when we write its either i'll start out writting or he'll start out writting we come up with great names and great story lines. We about that life . Were simular in our writting of genre and i believe thats what been making it work hey stanley just keep doing what you guys are doing it sounds like its working great to me.

Allle: Let history record that I said this to you on this evening, March 27, 2015. That's a damn fine, well thought out post. Dear Stanley: During 2014, I took on three rewriting projects. For one of them, I signed "A writer's collaboration Agreement", which I had my attorney rework to take out things I didn't like. One of the projects was for a European television show with very uneven writing. Some of it downright awful. I found all three experiences unsatisfactory, yet I'm keeping an open mind. I've also had four screenplays optioned and made changes to all of them at the request of the producers. One of the producers, Steve Roeder offered many ideas and about 50% of them were very solid. Though I did the writing, his ideas brought greater dimension to the work. But in most cases, nothing's going to get to market without other people putting their stamp on your writing. So far, that's been my experience. Best of luck on your collaboration.

"Safe" in what sense?

George - I think both writers have to have an account and Sign In when using Writer Duet, so the only people who can see the writing is the two writers... no one else. Think that's how it works.

@ George - Here's why screenwriters shouldn't worry about other people "stealing" their ideas: http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip352.htm.

Great share, Lauri!

George: If you're writing a sequel to "Gone With The Wind" let me know.

Hey George. As soon as someone submits for any of the available jobs, you'll receive an email.

George: Holding my nose. Not Scarlett, I'm mean write a feature GWTW II. Seriously though, what's your project about?

George - by "job" you mean someone to help you out for free?

George, I don't know the rules of your Housing Authority but Kickstarter funds are not meant to be your 'income', they fund your project - just don't tell the HA about it. As to the other elements, Lauri's point is that any writer, yourself included, creates value by writing, what we create has value, so it's reasonable to be paid or at least have an expectation of where payment will come from. So you may find someone willing to look at your project and consider writing but to be honest, most writers have a ton of their ideas of their own and will work on them for free rather than someone else's ideas. Also, If you are going to advertise for a writer, with no pay involved, then stating the following "I do not want to hear any crying or complaining about my terms. You can either accept them or not." is likely to get you no responses, if you aren't paying, you should look to be more negotiable and seek to work out a deal that benefits you both. You are clearly passionate about your project, which is great, and there are a ton of resources out there to help, so why not have a go at writing it yourself... then you'd have something to interest Producers with.

Okay George, my last try for you. Ignore Kickstarter and your house and food stamps. Look at all the free online resources that will help you learn to be a screenwriter and write the story that you are so clearly passionate about. Hey, I'll even read the first 10 pages for you once written.

I second that. Anthony is a bright lad. And, he's a real gent.

Aw shucks you guys, I'm blushing ;-)

I've actually written with a partner, we worked on two pilots, one of which ended up at FX. We worked the same way. Outlined together then switched drafts. It a way it's easier than writing alone because you have someone else to "kill your darlings".

No. And, he didn't pay me, though I did the lion's share of the work. It was a spec collaboration. Meaning both our names were on it and we shared equally in it, if it had been picked up we both would have benefited. George, I've read some of your previous comments on this and I have to ask, "how many times and in how many ways do you THINK you've been screwed over"?

If you were staff writers on a network show, you might be assigned a storyline or two. You might try doing it that way. Split up the story lines between you and then assemble the script. Once that's done, you might give each other notes on storylines or take a whack at rewriting them for each other. It sounds like an assembly line but the work does move a lot faster.

George, you may be confusing your terms. If you want someone to write your idea into a script then you are looking to hire a screenwriter, usually you'd pay them to do the work. If you write with another writer, as per Ross's situation, then you are collaborating and are (usually) equal partners, who would share the payment should the script be optioned or sell.

Thanks for all the comments everyone!

Google Docs - Outline Google Docs - Script Google Docs - Characters - Every time a character gets a name, a short bio gets built here. Google Docs - Notes - Any notes for any random ideas that might fit the project. Scenes, jokes, people... Why G-Docs? Because it can be accessed anywhere, from any computer with almost no risk of lost data. The OUTLINE is done first. Without the outline, we do not continue. The outline is done in a brainstorming session, usually over a meal. For the script, each person takes a color. I write a scene, the other rewrites the scene or adds to it. With assigned colors changes can be spotted at a glance. If there's controversy about the rewrites, have a conversation, make a phone call. Work down the outline 1 scene at a time. Not saying it's the best method, just the method that's worked for me with 4 different collaborators on 7 different projects.

Wordpress, 18 bucks a year. You can instantly publish, have hard copies and a private innaccessible library that beats cloud or g-docs. Just an opinion of course. I believe there is a way to give each pdf doc. a password as well if you do share. Really not sure and still exploring. I've heard there is a shell for password entrance protection as well much like blocking tracking on a phone but I never enter a password in a public domain or via wi-fi. I never hook a phone number up to it either. Honestly networking via social media is great, even awesome but I just won't pull the trigger when it comes to actual work. I also have a notorized paper from when I started to give my physical location massive protective. To each their own though. In all honestly 70-80% of what I do is probably not worth the paper or megabytes required for storage but you never know and even if only 20% is gold; why risk gold rush fever. I keep all drafts from scribbled hand dated ideas scanned in, to finished registered works and sometimes even registries leading up to finished works. Here's the thing even if nothing I've done thus far comes to fruition it's good habits to secure work in my opinion. It's not about fear of theft it's about not being careless I guess is what I'm saying. If you're not careless in the way you treat your work you're also less likely to be careless in the way you write is my mindset. Well back to writing for me, hope everyone does well in and enjoys their endeavors. Michael L. Burris "Life is way too short not to look at the lighter side of it." & "I'm trying my damnedest not to fly around like a blind bird."

A folder is made with a working title for the project. The folder gets the 4 documents listed above and the entire folder is shared. In fact, that's how every plot is born. If I get any idea for a story that instantly strikes me as a story worth telling, I build a folder with the 4 documents and fill the notes page with every detail I can muster in the initial awakening brainstorm; then get back to my regularly scheduled day. They are not all one doc - they are completely exclusive folders. Each folder shared only with the appropriate people who are collaborators. I could offer advice and guides, but would not be comfortable offering links to the folders themselves.

I've got good and BAD collaborating stories. The good ones, we wrote to our strengths. I was better with dialogue and characters, like the meat of the story. And my partner was good about the skeleton of the story. The big picture visuals and set up. The BAD ones.....our writing styles were so opposite it kept us stuck and eventually the project and writing partnership was dropped. You both need to have a general outline of what you want the story to be, the main focus of where each scene is supposed to take the character. It will be easier to work together from there.

Outline. We each write sequences. Swap, evaluate, redo. It's slow but we get there.

We are writing the script on spec. Someone asked about pay. Right now we are just writing for "fun" but we will split any sales evenly.