Can two authors write one book together without losing their minds—or killing off each other's favorite characters? Authors Jeff Elkins and JP Rindfleisch IX return to The Author Next Door to discuss co-writing, building a successful creative partnership, and managing a large cast of characters across a book series. They're also celebrating Season Two of NRDS: National Recently Deceased Services, their queer paranormal comedy featuring an underfunded federal ghost-hunting agency, bizarre supernatural encounters, and plenty of dark humor. But writing together isn't always straightforward. Jeff and JP share their actual co-writing process, from brainstorming and outlining to drafting and editing. They explain why trusting your creative partner matters, how they handle unexpected story changes, and why a lengthy delay between books ultimately helped them become better writers. Angela and Cassie also explore a common challenge for authors: introducing too many characters too quickly. How many supporting characters does your first book really need? And how can you build a multi-book series without overwhelming your readers? Plus, it's Halloween season! The conversation takes a spooky turn with ghost stories, haunted locations, and a hilarious round of supernatural questions. In this episode: • 👻 How Jeff and JP co-write their paranormal comedy series • ✍️ Building trust and balancing different writing styles • 📚 Introducing large casts without overwhelming readers • 🎭 Managing multiple POVs and character arcs across a series • 🔀 Why outlines should guide your story—not restrict it • 🎨 How changing a book cover can affect in-person sales • 💡 What creative setbacks can teach authors about their craft • 🎃 Ghost stories, Halloween fun, and supernatural encounters Connect with our guests: 👻 JP Rindfleisch IX — Books and more: https://shop.jprindfleischix.com/ ✍️ Jeff Elkins — Books and writing: https://jeffelkinswriter.com/ 🎙️ The Dialogue Doctor — Improve your dialogue: https://dialoguedoctor.com/ ❓ Question of the Week: Could you ever co-write a book with another author, or would sharing creative control drive you absolutely crazy? Tell us in the comments! 🔔 Subscribe for more ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@TheAuthorNextDoor 🎙️ More about the podcast ➡ https://theauthornextdoor.com/ 📻 Find The Author Next Door on Authors on the Air ➡ https://soundcloud.com/authorsontheair 📬 Sign up for our newsletter ➡ https://linktr.ee/theauthornextdoorpod 🗺️ Connect with the hosts: Angela Haas – Choose-your-own-adventure storytelling 🚀💕 https://ahaaswrites.com/ Cassie Newell – Romance 🩷 https://ckdarling.com/ Young Adult 🧚 https://authorcmnewell.com/ 🔑 Keywords: co-writing a novel, writing with a co-author, how to write a book series, writing multiple POVs, large cast of characters, writing dialogue, Jeff Elkins, JP Rindfleisch IX, Dialogue Doctor, National Recently Deceased Services, paranormal comedy, indie author writing tips, author collaboration, writing craft Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7FHGMv3tHkw Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5g0rRRZWit4vpjq0Ku4Epg Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-93-writing-the-weird-together-with-jeff-elkins/id687959058?i=1000798531206
