Are you interested in collaborating with someone on a writing project, a podcast, or content creation? Collaboration can be a fantastic way to grow your message and reach a wider audience. However, finding the right partner can be a challenge. If you have a collaborative project in mind but you haven’t found a fellow writer or speaker to partner with, consider the following five questions to help you identify the right person.

1. Are they responsible?

One important quality to look for in a collaborative partner is responsibility. What have you observed about their work and their work ethic? Do they show up regularly for their audience? Do they follow through on promises and provide thoughtful, engaging work in a timely manner? Observe how your potential partner manages their time and stewards their message to get a sense of whether or not they would show the same commitment to a joint project.

2. Are they professional?

It’s also important that your...

If you’re a writer who is working towards publication, you’ve probably heard about the importance of building your platform. Essentially, a platform is your base of readers, those who read your work regularly via your blog, newsletter, or social media posts. Building a platform can be one of the most challenging parts of the writing life, but it’s a necessary one. Publishers expect us to build an audience for our work. 

If you’re struggling to build your readership, author and acquisitions editor Jennifer Dukes Lee offers practical advice for how to take steps towards publication — even with a small platform. 

Jennifer’s advice can be summed up with a single memorable phrase, “Grow slow.”  Read on for her practical tips on growing slow.

Show Up

First, we need to decide which platforms work for us and then show up regularly to serve our readers. Remember: Our goal is to share a message. Our goal is not to strive...

When veteran journalist Richard Lui decided to write a book on selflessness, he believed there was no better time than now to publish it. Richard sensed that there was a deep need for his book, and he didn’t want to wait the typical multi-year cycle to see it published. In order to get the book on bookshelves sooner, Richard decided the best approach to writing was a selfless one. So, he invited a team of collaborators to join him in the book writing process.

Richard says he viewed the project as a small start up, and brought in a team that helped him reach the finish line in the “fastest, most efficient way possible.” He started with hiring a coach he calls a book sherpa. His book sherpa, Nancy, was essentially the Chief Operating Officer of the book writing process and saw the process through from beginning to end.

The next step in the process of collaboration was to hire a team of ten diverse consultants with various areas of expertise. The team included a...

Are you a writer in search of a supportive community or looking for fellow writers to collaborate with you? Author, podcaster, and hope*writers member Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young found that joining hope*writers not only gave her the teaching she needed to grow in her craft, but also met her need for connection with fellow writers. 

Through smaller, member-driven hope*circles, Dorina deepened relationships with other members and collaborated with them in ways that helped all of them flourish as writers. However, like many writers, Dorina has to actively fight against comparison — even as a veteran collaborator. 

“My motto is collaboration over comparison. But if I’m ever in a spot where I’m feeling that inferiority, I have to pay attention to it.” — Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

Collaboration vs. Comparison

It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves and our work to others. This can keep us from collaborating because...