Michelle and Angelle, writing duo.
Michelle Angelle (pen name of two good friends: Michelle and Angelle.)
Genre: We write contemporary romance with rom-com laughs.
Publishing type: Indie published
Latest book: Wrong Guy, Right Room
Next book: Dear Pink release date April 2021
I wanted to explore what it’s like to write as a team this week. As a writer, I love to bounce ideas off my best friend (who is also my editor) so I sort of know what it is to write with someone else, but at the end of the day, my book is mine.
I asked Michelle Angelle what it was like to write as a team. See their answers below.
Jennifer Franz Griffith: What is your process for writing as a team?
Michelle Angelle: First, we begin with an ancient chant, and then do an incense ritual to clear our space. Totally JOKING! Between juggling kids, husbands, and part-time jobs, the writing time happens when it can. Luckily, we have one another on speed dial and chat often about crazy ideas. There is rarely a hello, just diving into work the moment we answer the phone. Since we write together, we share docs and emails constantly. While there is no specific process, there might be a little mind-reading.
JFG: How do you decide what stories to write?
Michelle Angelle: Twenty years ago, we started a book club and fell in love with the romance novels our group read. Inspired, and wanting to work together, we immediately started dreaming up characters. Unlike traditional rom-coms on the market, we wanted side characters that had agency and strong voices. Together, we imagined scenarios involving two lost loves forced together in impossible situations. We all have a “WHAT IF” person from our past and it's fun to fantasize scenarios. We keep a running google doc of story ideas to dip into for our next book. Luckily, we both have a lot of "WHAT IFs".
JFG: Do you write at the same time or take turns?
Michelle Angelle: We write at the same time. Sounds crazy but we work our book like an onion layering on top of one another using a shared document. Just like an onion sometimes there are tears.
JFG: What made you decide to write as a team instead of individually?
Michelle Angelle: It was an easy decision that happened over a morning brunch. Who wouldn't want to work with their best friend?
JFG: How do you settle a difference in the vision of a story you are working on if you have one?
Michelle Angelle: If there's a severe disagreement, we do the smart thing and consult our magic eight ball.
JFG: Anything else you would like to share?
Michelle Angelle: We often get asked questions from new writers. Our advice is read a ton. Write when you can without putting pressure on yourself. Be true to who you are in the process. Don’t get distracted by the outside world and what you should do instead of what you want. Listen and trust yourself.
Website: michelleangellebooks.com
Instagram: @michelleangellebooks
To purchase: www.amazon.com/Wrong-Guy-Right-Room-Romantic-ebook/dp/B08GV37QVR