Part II of II
(This article is a reponse to a previous one. Click here for Part I)
By Dave DeBord
Collaboration is where you and a partner, or partners, put your two or more heads together to produce a single script. Sounds simple, doesn’t. I’ll write something brilliant, you’ll think it’s great then you’ll add something magical and lyrical that makes it even better, then we’ll jointly add some finesse to bring it all together. Then we’ll sit back and collect the accolades.
The only problem with the above Alice in Wonderland scenario is that “it don’t happen that way.” That first something brilliant doesn’t quite have the same sheen when you show it to your writing partner. And the magical and lyrical stuff doesn’t come because there’s nothing to build it upon. And finesse? Forget finesse, how about a few basics like some sort of plot?
Collaboration is just like working to develop a script by yourself. You need a concept, a good story line, a dramatic arc, some conflict, a bit of resolution. In short: A story. The only difference is that two of you are chasing that elusive brass ring.
And one of the best things about writing with a partner is that you can no longer lie to yourself. You know what I mean. “I’ll include this great line of dialog even though it doesn’t really fit the script or the character but damn, it’s such a good line.” Your writing partner will ask you what the line means and you’ll realize as you desperately try to justify keeping it that the line truly is a loser and has to go. This is one of the many benefits of collaboration.
Fortunately for me I had a good collaborator for the ISA “In the Barn” writing project. Pat Boddy and I decided to try something together to see if we could work together and to see if we could produce something worthwhile. Pat explained much of our collaborative process in the previous newsletter. The only quarrel I have with her description is that she didn’t give herself enough credit for her excellent work. I’m lucky I had such a good writing partner.
We independently came up with some story lines and selected one after extensive discussion. We independently developed character sketches, and then began writing. Sometimes together at one computer, sometimes separately. Telephone discussions, face to face meetings, red lines, cross outs, margin notes, completely new pages, late nights, early mornings, and reading parts out load to each other moved us along to a completed script. That sounds so simple and quick but it took a couple months and it was difficult.
However, it was also truly rewarding. Seeing the finished product on the stage was a tremendous reward for all the hard work. As Pat noted, we don’t think we wrote “even a good play.” We know it needs a few more edits, a little more time to let the script set quietly, then a major review to see if it needs more than a few edits (which it does). However, my partner and I are up for that effort.
So, go ahead and try it. Get a partner. Yes I know you’re really good and don’t need anyone’s help. But, maybe there’ll be a little surprise. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll meet Alice and create something a little bit better than even you might imagine.