Cowritten

Cowritten is an adjective describing a work produced through joint authorship by two or more writers. It is commonly used for books, screenplays, songs, articles, and other media created through collaboration. The term can also function as the past participle of the verb to co-write.

Spelling and usage vary. The form co-written with a hyphen is common in formal writing, while cowritten without a hyphen appears in some sources and older texts. In practice, collaboration can range from tightly integrated writing to parallel drafting later combined in revision, with contributors sharing ideas, dialogue, and structure.

In copyright terms, a cowritten or jointly authored work is typically treated as a joint work, with each author holding a share of the copyright. Rights, royalties, and credit are usually defined by agreement or contract, and disputes may require negotiation or legal resolution. The degree of control each author retains can depend on contractual arrangements and local laws.

Notable examples include The Talisman, a 1984 novel by Stephen King and Peter Straub; Good Omens, a 1990 novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett; and Leviathan Wakes, the first novel in The Expanse, written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck under the pen name James S.A. Corey. These works illustrate how cowriting can blend distinct voices and approaches to produce a unified narrative.

See also: co-authorship, joint authorship, collaborative writing.