Adding a Little Structure to Collaborative Writing

Abstract

At first sight distributed collaborative writing seems a prime candidate for new types of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) system. Writing with others at a distance is a relatively new form of working, the task is complex with many conflicting requirements, there is a need for synchronous and asynchronous communication, and the participants must keep track of the emerging document and their own responsibilities. But I want to argue that these are all good reasons for not rushing to invent or use sophisticated programs to assist collaborative writing. Until the process of collaborative writing is better understood, writers should use existing media such as telephone, fax and electronic mail (email), and develop their own conventions to manage and coordinate the work.