As writers seeking fame or fortune, most of us picture ourselves taking a solo journey to our book signings and book tours. We imagine doing these things alone, reaping the awards alone. We don’t imagine working with partners or collaborators. That’s why it was such a surprise to me when a year ago, I began working with my writing partner/collaborator, Nancy Naigle. I knew from the moment I met Nancy Naigle that she was going to be a great friend. Optimistic and encouraging, she is a great support and a good motivator, something that comes into play in her job as a senior VP for the Bank of America.

.

Over time, I got to know her better and we’ve been roommates on several occasions for a conference and a writing retreat. We became co-writers when she decided that a novel I’d written was too good to be shelved while I pursued other writing projects. Pushing me to work on Inkblot further, she put her strengths into our co-writing after suggesting that we try a joint venture.

.

While my experience and abilities as a photojournalist deal with grammar and writing tightly, Nancy is strong on dialogue and discipline. She’s great at sending out manuscripts to contests where our work has been reviewed and given scores by agents and editors. Comments from judges have helped us fine-tune the novel to send out again. The name of the game in writing is to never give up. When you write with someone else, they can help you pick yourself up and dust yourself off when you get discouraged. There is a lot of contact between us in anything writing craft related. When I see interesting websites for writers or come across great networking twitter members, I pass them on to Nancy and she does the same. She is big on goal setting and having written for the newspaper for years, I am used to deadlines. We meet to plot and plan and Nancy makes timeline charts and moves sticky notes around to help us decide the order of action. Dividing up chapters to write initially, we lay down the bare bones for each section. Over time, we add to these chapters and fine tune them. There is always room for improvement in this process.

.

If one writer has too much work to do in other areas, a partner can jump in and offer to work on the manuscript an extra amount of time. We have shared the writing of this novel, each of us bringing different abilities to the table. I think it’s a great blend of skills and a union that I feel was destined to happen. I am grateful for having met Nancy and feel fortunate to work with her.

.

The last contest our co-written YA suspense novel, Inkblot, was entered in, our book came in 5th in competition against 26 novels. Four novels ranked as finalists and ours fell right beneath it in the number five slot. Taking the comments that judges made, we are tweaking it to submit again.

.

It’s a win/win situation working with a writer whose dedication and drive matches your own. There’s a certain magic in it. In a way we feel like parents, sending our “baby” out into the world when queries or contest entries go out. I can’t wait to get started on book two in our Headline Hunters series - and neither can she.

.

Thank you for reading JWorld Café, the Poetica Magazine Blog

Phyllis Johnson, Guest Blogger

.

Phyllis Johnson writes a weekly column for The Virginian-Pilot newspaper. Her work has also appeared in Tidewater Teacher magazine, The Sun, Woman's World, and Contempo magazine. She is the author of three books: Hot and Bothered by It, a book of midlife humor, Being Frank with Anne, a poetic interpretation of the Diary of Anne Frank, and Twelve is for More Than Doughnuts, a spiritual book of poems and essays. She is currently marketing Inkblot, a YA suspense novel co-written with Nancy Naigle. The mother of two daughters, she lives in Virginia with her husband and black lab, Maggie. Please visit her website: www.phyllisjohnson.net  - Linda Pressman, Blog Editor