Collaboration: How NOT to Commit Murder

Many moons ago, a younger cousin requested help with his writing. He’s a marvelous storyteller, enjoys roll-playing games, and, like me, is a Ren Faire denizen, but his writing was what he calls organic—aka weak, wordy, and wandering, in need of industrial-strength honing. Since he’s more like a brother than a cousin, I agreed.

I had several advantages:

I am the elder. Cousin remembers the days he, along with my brothers, was put in my charge. Old habits die hard.

I have more experience. At the...