Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of a Cowriting Team

Learn about a day in the life of a cowriting team with Resident Writing Coach Christina Delay and her writing partner, Julie Glover.

We���re often asked why and how we cowrite books.

For us, it began at Under the Volcano, a grill and bar across from the marvelous Murder by the Book bookstore in Houston, Texas. We sipped cocktails and sketched out the plan: We���d write nine novellas in one year, with the hope that publishing short and fast would yield some cash to fuel our author careers.

By the time we left, we were buzzing with excitement���ready to launch a supernatural suspense series that would leave readers with the same zeal we���d felt at the series���s conception.

Most of that didn���t happen. Rather, we ended up writing full-sized novels and launching our series over the course of several years (thank you, pandemic).

Plus, we had to figure out how to be coauthors.

Back to the original question��� When people ask how cowriting works, they���re usually wondering:

How do we blend our voices into one seamless story?
And how on earth do we actually write it together?The Daily Workflow

We begin with creating our characters, building our world, and structuring the story. Before we ever type ���Chapter One,��� we figure out who our characters are, what they want vs. what they need, how their world ticks, and where the plot’s headed.

Once we���ve got our plan, we dive into drafting. But instead of splitting the book by POV or assigning one person to plot and the other to draft, we take turns. One of us writes a scene or chapter, then hands it off. The other jumps in, edits, and keeps the story going. And so it goes���like a literary relay race.

We each work on the manuscript almost daily. Christina, a morning person, kicks things off while Julie, seven time zones away and a night owl, picks it up later, edits, adds her chapter, and then passes the baton back to Christina.

All this requires trust and communication. We leave comments, ask questions, explain edits, and offer ideas on what could come next right in the doc. But big changes? We check in first. And if we’re stuck, we chat���first on Slack, now on WhatsApp���or hop on a video call to share screens and update our outline.

The best part? Reading what the other person wrote. That spark of surprise and joy fuels our writing. ���OMG, that���s hilarious!��� ���Wow, I didn���t see that coming.��� That���s cowriting magic.

How We Handle Differences

Creative differences? Oh, we���ve had them. Plot turns, character choices, even comma placements have sparked spirited debate. Our process? First, we assume good intent. Then we pause and ask: What���s best for the story? Not: Who���s right?

When disagreements arise, we flag the section and talk it through���sometimes via long messages, sometimes on a call, and occasionally in all-caps reactions like: ���HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT!���

Trust, communication, and flexibility are key. We don���t dig in our heels���we collaborate. And if one of us feels strongly, we honor that.

Cowriting isn���t just about the writing���it���s about leaning into a partnership built on trust and creative chaos. We were true friends before we ever plotted a story together, but sharing a manuscript has added a whole new level. Some days, one of us hits a wall and the other jumps in with, ���Don���t worry, I���ve got us.��� Breakthroughs happen mid-walk, mid-rant, or mid-Netflix binge. And yes, sometimes the biggest plot twists come from a joke that sent one of us into a full-on laughing fit mid-sentence.

We���ve tackled tough edits and real-life curveballs with the same mix of humor, heart, and way too many voice notes. What started as friendship has grown into a creative rhythm���and a mutual mission to crack each other up along the way.

We also have small rituals. Friday wrap-up check-ins. Voice notes celebrating a great scene. We mark ���THE END��� with GIFs, celebratory emojis, and sometimes a glass of wine (across time zones).

Cowriting has taught us how to be better listeners and more empathetic storytellers���not just with each other, but with our characters, too.

What We���ve Learned

Cowriting has taught us that the story always comes first, but the friendship matters just as much. We���ve learned that flexibility isn���t a weakness, and editing each other���s work doesn���t dilute the voice���it strengthens it.

For anyone considering cowriting: always communicate more than you think you need to. Leave notes. Ask questions. Give your partner the benefit of the doubt. And remember, it���s not a competition���it���s a duet.

Want a deeper dive into our full cowriting process���tools, techniques, and the lessons we learned the hard way? Preorder our upcoming book Together, We Write! It���s packed with tips, real-world examples (from us and other authors, including Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi!), and encouragement to help you build something magical with your writing partner.

Have questions or your own cowriting rituals? Drop them in the comments���we���d love to hear them!

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