How I’m Writing A Detective Story Series with a Writing Partner

Writing fiction with a writing partner, Lon Casler Bixby, may throw off some people. We don’t just collaborate, but we write closely together. We’ve published a short story, three detective novels and are editing our 4th novel in the Tom Stone Detective Series.

Our 3 novels on display — each one written together

OUR WRITING ROUTINE

My phone chirps at the appointed time, usually 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m., and Lon’s face appears via Facebook messenger. I prop the phone against an old Rolodex card file and we begin our work.

I read, Lon listens and interrupts, and we smooth out awkward phrases, correct typos and find the places we need to strengthen our stories.

Facebook messenger has made it easy for us to read, stop, edit. We live about 14 miles apart — I’m in Pasadena and Lon is in Burbank — but the drive took about 30 minutes each way if I went to his place. So that was an hour we can now spend writing and editing.

How We Started

Lon’s film and photo skills have helped shape the stories.

When Lon Casler Bixby asked me to turn his script Stone Cold, a detective script, into a novel in early 2015 I was apprehensive. I had just started reading regularly in the…