British Comedy Guide

To collaborate or not to collaborate

Does anybody one here co-write, I see on profiles users looking to collaborate but does anybody actually do it?

Almost finished my first Sitcom pilot ready for sending off to the writer's room and am fully expecting it to come back in pristine condition without a comment. I liked the first draft but have been messing around with it so much these last few weeks I'm starting to hate it. First scene starts with two of the characters in bed and now after multiple rewrites the entire thing revolves mainly around sex, something the original first draft didn't do.

Way I see it I have two options.
Send it off as is and expect it returned without comment but hope for at least a few scribbles of constructive criticism on the pages.

Send it to another writer to work on as a co-writer and hope something good comes out.

Would have sent it to Morrace as he rewrote some of my stuff before and he seems to be awesome when it comes to editing, but Morrace has goneTeary

This collaborating thing is starting to get more and more appealing, would force me to stop doing stupid stuff like eating or sleeping and do more writing. How do you find the right sort of person to collaborate with?

If it is not good enough to send it off, don't send it off - until it is.
:)

Quote: Marc P @ July 3 2009, 9:03 AM BST

If it is not good enough to send it off, don't send it off

Post it on Critique instead! With a caveat about it only took you five seconds to write! :)

Quote: chipolata @ July 3 2009, 9:54 AM BST

Post it on Critique instead! With a caveat about it only took you five seconds to write! :)

'caveat' had to Google that.

Nobody wants to read 52 pages on critique.

Has the title 'Missing Links' been used before? Googled it but can't find anything.

I don't like writing with other people. There, I said it. The reason is I am a in the flow person and that's hard with someone else interupting with their stuff. I'm not saying there aren't some good results but I personally feel I work better alone.

Sounds like you're looking for an editor, rather than a co-writer. Maybe put it away and start something else instead and return to it later.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ July 3 2009, 10:09 AM BST

Sounds like you're looking for an editor, rather than a co-writer. Maybe put it away and start something else instead and return to it later.

Not really, just thinking two minds work better than one.
The best sitcoms are often written by more than one person, ie Blackadder, Red Dwarf etc..

Quote: hey_nonny @ July 3 2009, 10:12 AM BST

Not really, just thinking two minds work better than one.
The best sitcoms are often written by more than one person, ie Blackadder, Red Dwarf etc..

Yeah, but they tend to start the project together. Personally I think it's really hard to take on something someone else has practically already written as a co-writer rather than in the role of script editor. But maybe some people would prefer to do this?

I get the impression that the people who collaborate on this site do so largely on sketches. It'd be interesting to see how many work together on bigger projects.

Thanks to this thread, I now have 'Ice, Ice Baby' in my head.

Thanks a lot. :(

Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ July 3 2009, 10:08 AM BST

I don't like writing with other people. There, I said it. The reason is I am a in the flow person and that's hard with someone else interupting with their stuff. I'm not saying there aren't some good results but I personally feel I work better alone.

:O so we are never going to see Bernie and Snowdrop episode 2 Teary

I have worked with people (and am working with people) on various projects, I LOVE collaboration and it has created some of my favourite projects, see above.

I think it can only improve your work.

Quote: Rob H @ July 3 2009, 10:28 AM BST

Thanks to this thread, I now have 'Ice, Ice Baby' in my head.

Thanks a lot. :(

All right stop collaborate and listen
Ice is back with my brand new invention
Something grabs a hold of me tightly
Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly
Will it ever stop yo I don't know
Turn off the lights and I'll glow

I think 'bouncing ideas' around with someone else can produce some brilliant ideas. And so can drugs. :)

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ July 3 2009, 10:39 AM BST

I think 'bouncing ideas' around with someone else can produce some brilliant ideas. And so can drugs. :)

I like your old avatar better, Dolly.

Quote: hey_nonny @ July 3 2009, 10:31 AM BST

All right stop collaborate and listen
Ice is back with my brand new invention
Something grabs a hold of me tightly
Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly
Will it ever stop yo I don't know
Turn off the lights and I'll glow

Stop it!!! Angry

Quote: chipolata @ July 3 2009, 10:39 AM BST

I like your old avatar better, Dolly.

I don't know: this one's sexier. ;)

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