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Writers are always in demand. Without a writer, there is no movie, television show, or docuseries, which is why as a director, producer, or even another screenwriter, you may find yourself entering into a collaboration with another writer to bring your project to life.
To help ensure you have the most productive collaboration possible, Wrapbook has created a guide to the particulars from setting up the initial agreement to navigating the writing process and beyond.
Before we get into the nitty gritty, we recommend downloading our free Writer Collaboration Agreement template that can be customized for both unscripted and scripted projects. This document will serve as a simple, solid foundation for your partnership, giving you a jumping off point from which you can customize the details to your unique partnership.
As with any collaboration, the most successful partnerships between a producer or director and a writer begin long before any words are put to paper. It’s important to take a beat and make sure everyone is moving in the same direction.
It’s also important to note that this guide assumes that both you—as producer, director, or other collaborator—will be a true partner and materially contributing to the writing process, not just giving notes. This is an important distinction, as it may impact author credit and residual payments.
With that in mind, here are some tips for getting your new collaboration off on the right foot.
Clear objectives and benchmarks are crucial when collaborating with a writer.
Let’s say you think you’re writing a gritty true crime series, but your partner sees the project as a story of loss that pulls on the heartstrings. To avoid these kinds of conflicts, sit down with your partner and discuss:
Agreeing to these points up front is a great way to align your expectations early and minimize potential conflicts down the road.
Along with clear goals, effective communication serves as the backbone of any successful partnership. Make sure you agree on:
It’s worth noting that good communication goes beyond logistics such as these. The best partnerships are built in an environment where ideas can be exchanged freely and both partners feel heard and valued. Only then is it possible to create a truly shared vision.
Take the time to make sure you and your partner are in sync regarding the core elements of your written project. For instance, if it’s a scripted narrative, effective communication is key to guarantee that you agree on:
Many writing teams will outline an entire project before they begin writing pages or scenes. This isn’t necessary, but it’s a great way to make sure you’re both clear on what happens from beginning to end.
If outlining the entire project isn’t for you, that’s okay. Just make sure that you take the time to discuss and clarify fundamental aspects of it before you begin. It can be a time consuming step, but one that will save you from major rewrites and disagreements down the line.
Every writing partnership is unique and it’s essential to find the distribution of work that makes sense for your situation. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, but there are critical details to consider:
Above all else: be flexible! Most partnerships require adjustments throughout the process as you both discover new preferences, strengths, and weaknesses. As long as your communication is clear, it’s okay if your workflow looks very different at the end than it did at the beginning.
All of the time and effort spent defining goals, roles, and the direction of the project can be worthless if you and your partner don’t have a clear way to keep track of and share ideas.
Even if you’re working together in person, it might be helpful to implement one or more of the following:
Once you’ve laid the groundwork for a successful partnership, it’s time to put this collaboration to the test.
If you’re new to writing, heads up: it isn’t easy. In fact, it can be downright scary—even if you’re writing a comedy. Great projects come from the soul, and collaborators need to foster a positive, encouraging atmosphere for creativity to flourish.
Here are a couple tips that might help:
When the agreed upon time comes to give notes on your partner’s work, be constructive in your critiques and specific in your praise. Nothing’s harder for a writer than broad criticisms such as “I don’t like it.” Instead, engage with specifics like “It might be more interesting if the inciting incident on page 10 evolves from the leads’ emotional conflict.”
One way to express your notes to your partner in a way that is both specific and respectful is to point out what you want more of. For example, “I’m craving more clarity about Jill’s relationship with her father.”
However you choose to say it, remember that you're not competing. You’re both working towards the same goal.
One of the joys of having a partner is discovering that some of the best creative breakthroughs come from unexpected places—even if that place is their brain, not yours.
Don’t dismiss ideas off hand. Even if something doesn’t sound right to you at the moment, chase it down. See what it leads to. Ask yourself if it speaks to the agreed upon goals. If it does, you’re probably on the right track.
You did it! You and your partner finished your project. It's gone through multiple drafts, the copy is sharp, the editing is crisp, and the story comes fast and furious. It's as good as it can be, and now it's time to figure out what comes next.
Here's are some points to consider:
Answering these questions will help you create a plan for achieving those goals.
While creative collaboration is exciting, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of the business side of your partnership. Your Writer Collaboration Agreement should address the following key areas:
This is a crucial element to agree upon in advance. For instance, with a screenplay, if both parties contribute to each draft, it should be credited as “Written by Person X & Person Y.” That ampersand indicates you are co-writers.
If one person wrote the first draft, and the other person wrote the second draft, then you would take a “Written by Person X and Person Y” credit.
Another essential element to put in writing. Determine the percentage of ownership and rights to the work. This includes copyright, subsidiary rights, and potential adaptations if applicable. If this feels like a thorny discussion, it might be helpful to get an entertainment lawyer involved.
Establish how you will tackle revisions and changes, especially if requested by outside parties before or after the project is sold (producers, studios, etc.).
Clearly outline payment terms, including any upfront fees, how you'll split potential sales, and arrangements for bonuses or royalties. For WGA writers, if you are being credited as a team, guidelines would stipulate you are paid as one entity and everything is split 50/50.
Make sure your agreement defines a process for resolving creative or financial disagreements. This could include mediation or arbitration clauses.
Specify conditions under which the collaboration can be ended and what happens to the project if that occurs.
One always hopes that a partnership won’t end early, but it happens. And when it does, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Discussing these details might feel uncomfortable, but remember, it’s in both of your best interests to protect yourselves and each other.
While our template provides a great starting point, it's never a bad idea to consult with an entertainment attorney to ensure your agreement is as comprehensive as possible.
Collaborating with another writer can be an incredibly rewarding experience that pushes both of you beyond what you’re capable of on your own. By following the guidelines in this article and using our Writer Collaboration Agreement template, you'll be prepared to navigate the challenges and reap the rewards of a successful writing partnership.
For more on working with writers, check out our interview on building the perfect writer’s room with Jon Stahl or screenwriting in the age of tech with Guy Goldstein.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Chris Cullari is a writer/director based out of Los Angeles. His most recent film, THE AVIARY, is available for streaming on Paramount Plus and Showtime. You can find him tweeting about monsters, pro-wrestling, and horror movies.
