Allow multiple authors to collaborate on the same post. The Co-Authors module enables invitation-based collaboration, shared editing, and multi-author bylines on published posts.
What You’ll Learn
- How to invite collaborators to your posts
- How the invitation workflow works
- How to configure byline display
- Understanding co-author permissions
Core Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Invite Collaborators | Invite members by username or email |
| Shared Editing | All co-authors can edit the post |
| Multi-Author Byline | Display all authors on published posts |
| Invitation Flow | Email + on-site notifications for invites |
| Post Locking | Prevent simultaneous editing conflicts |
How to Invite Collaborators
For the Primary Author
- Create or edit a post
- Click Add Co-Author
- Search for members by name or username
- Click Invite next to the member
- Wait for them to accept
For Invited Members
- Receive notification (email and/or on-site)
- View invitation details
- Click Accept or Decline
- If accepted, the post appears in your dashboard
Invitation Status
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Waiting for response |
| Accepted | Co-author has joined |
| Declined | Invitation was rejected |
| Expired | Time limit passed (auto-declined) |
Co-Author Permissions
What Co-Authors Can Do
- Edit post content (title, body, excerpt)
- Upload or change featured image
- Add or modify custom fields
- Save drafts
- Submit for review
What Only the Primary Author Can Do
- Invite new co-authors
- Remove co-authors
- Delete the post
- Change post status (publish/unpublish)
Byline Configuration
Control how co-author names display on published posts:
| Setting | Example |
|---|---|
| Separator | “, ” (comma space) |
| Last Separator | ” & ” (space-and-space) |
Result: “Alice, Bob, Carol & Dan”
To reorder authors: Drag and drop co-author names in the post editor to change their display order.
Post Locking
Prevents editing conflicts when multiple co-authors work simultaneously:
| Scenario | Behavior |
|---|---|
| User A opens post | Post locked for User A |
| User B tries to edit | Sees “User A is editing” message |
| User A closes or times out | Lock released after 15 minutes |
| User B can then edit | Gets fresh lock |
Notifications
Co-author events trigger notifications automatically:
| Event | Who Gets Notified |
|---|---|
| New invitation | Invited member |
| Invitation accepted | Primary author |
| Invitation declined | Primary author |
| Post published | All co-authors |
| Co-author removed | Removed member |
Admin Settings
Configure co-authors at Member Blog → Co-Authors:
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Max Co-Authors | 5 | Maximum collaborators per post |
| Invitation Expiry | 7 days | Pending invites auto-expire |
| Allow Email Invites | Yes | Send invitations via email |
| Post Locking Timeout | 15 min | Lock duration during editing |
| Co-Author Can Remove Self | Yes | Allow leaving a collaboration |
Best Practices
| Scenario | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Team blogs | Set max 3-5 co-authors, enable editorial workflow |
| Guest contributions | Keep max at 2, disable self-removal |
| Magazine style | Enable byline ordering, use editorial workflow |
| Collaborative writing | Increase lock timeout to 30 min |