You all know I absolutely love a good collab. I mention it all the time. It can be challenging but I find it has a number of rewards you won’t get any other way. It forces you to adapt your writing style to someone else’s and to consider your explanation and description as if you’re talking to someone in the room.
It allows you to have an actual debate or conversation on a subject but teaches you to format and edit it so people that weren’t part of it would still follow and understand. You can’t plan out your posts as your partner’s insights are unpredictable so it instills flexibility and fluidity to your writing. And it allows you to get some exposure as well!
However, there are some pitfalls and collaborations can become a burden if you don’t plan them out well. I’m no expert on the subject, these are just 5 tips I’ve picked up in my time to make things go more smoothly.
5. Get to know the other person
If you approach someone through their blog, make sure to read a fair amount of varied posts. Don’t just go by the last thing they posted and the blogs popularity. You don’t want to accidentally end up collaborating with someone who has a completely opposite moral standing. Or maybe you do, that could make for interesting posts, but you should know if that’s what you’re in for.
If you’ve the one getting approached, do the same. Read their blog and about page. Ask questions. It’s very flattering to get offered a collab but that’s no excuse to not do your homework.
4. Evaluate your availability
This post or series is not like your usual stuff. There’s someone else counting and waiting on you. You’ve read the other person’s posts so you have an idea of the breath and format of their content, can you keep up with that? Don’t start a collab if the answer isn’t a self assured YES. You need to know you’ll have the time to take care of your side in a reasonable delay.
We all have busy lives, the other person too, so if your circumstances change and you’re no longer available, make sure to tell your partner as soon as possible so they can figure something out if needed.
3. Communicate
I like to use Twitter dms for collabs but anything will do. Discord channel (also good), texts, line even emails is fine. Just as long as you don’t disappear on the other person. Answer whenever you can, check in, coordinate your take on the topic.
It doesn’t have to be long drawn out conversations but believe me, a Li communication goes a long way. A simple question with a few words for an answer can mean the difference between breezing through a post you love writting or sitting for hours in front of your screen wondering what to do next!
2. Know what you want
Link – I am of those that think light preparation is the key to success. To me the one most important thing is figuring out what you want to collab on and why. An essay on pro communist messaging in anime? Brilliant! Why are you choosing to work with this person on it. You don’t have to tell them but knowing in your own head is helpful in framing your expectations.
If you want to collab with someone first figure out what you want to collab on. You did the research, you want this thing you should propose at least a rough idea you guys can go on. The other person has no clue this is coming so it’s not very fair to make them do all the work.
If someone wants to do a collab with you but doesn’t have any concept at all, make sure you know what you’re getting into.
1 – Have Fun
I just spent 4 points making collabs sound like vaguely menacing chores but if you just get those few things down, they can actually be very rewarding and so much fun. There are a number of series I’ve enjoyed considerably more because I got to watch the virtually with a review partner and pick them apart afterwards. There are topics I would never have dreamt of or dared to touch without a partner in crime.
Collabs are really fun and on of the cherished experiences I take away from the blog. Like parties. And like parties they can also be tedious.. so make sure you actually want to go so you don’t end up sitting in a corner wishing you were somewhere else.
So there you have it. As long as you know what you’re getting into, collabs can really be a wonderful way to switch things up on your blog and reinvigorate it. I strongly encourage you to try it out for yourself! For those of you that have, do you have any good tips?
