Joint writing, community writing, or collaborative writing? These concepts have something in common: they are all about writing that does not happen alone. There are different perspectives on the concepts, but the key is the presence of others in some way. Joint writing is the collaborative work of two or more authors with the goal of producing a joint text. This is about writing together. However, it is not always a question of co-authorship and the production of a common text.
There are different ways to use the support of others in writing. You can support one another in different ways: give feedback, develop ideas together, edit text, and discuss texts. Discussing writing problems or challenges can also be part of the writing process.
According to some, writing is always somehow about writing together, as writing is about communicating with others. After all, the text always has a goal and a reader.
Joint writing requires common rules. It is a good idea to first agree on a platform to write on, make, and decide on a schedule. At its best, a text is something that no one alone could have created. In co-writing, you also learn from others and can get new tools. A community writer is required to have the ability to build a common text and work with others.
Many working life texts can be characterized as communal. Organizational development plans, strategies and brochures are devised together, and reports and statements are commented on.
During your studies, you may write a project report or do a joint learning task together with another. The thesis can also have two authors. Co-written articles are part of academic writing. For this reason, it is also justified to practice community writing.
Interaction no longer requires the presence of another in the same space. On the other hand, a lot of different texts are produced online. For example, various wikis or other online platforms can be used not only for studying but also for research, projects and working groups. Writing and reading online is perhaps more communal than ever before.
Community writing is different. You can do the whole writing process together, with everyone reading, discussing, and writing. Authors can also write their own draft texts, which are put together after being commented on and edited. One option is for the authors to first make a plan on who does what, according to which everyone writes their own part. The texts are then combined either together or in such a way that one of the authors does this by themselves. Community writing takes place even when the writing process has a leader who comments and leads the process.
In communal writing, the final text should always be coherent and whole. Before co-writing, it is important to agree on a schedule, divide the workload, and give feedback. Process-like writing is suitable for community writing. If the text is written in a publication, for example, it is a good idea to find out in advance the instructions on the layout of the text, citations and titles.