What You’ll Learn
- Where to find your invitations
- How to accept or decline
- What you can do as a co-author
- How to leave a collaboration
Finding Your Invitations
Method 1: Notifications
When someone invites you, you’ll receive:
- Email notification: Check your inbox (and spam folder)
- On-site notification: Click the bell icon in your profile
The notification text looks like:
“John invited you to co-author ‘Best Hiking Trails in Colorado'”
Method 2: Invitations Page
If your site uses the invitations shortcode, you can view all pending invitations on a dedicated page.
Method 3: Author Dashboard
Check your Author Dashboard for a list of pending invitations.
Accepting an Invitation
- Click on the invitation notification or link
- Review the post title and inviter
- Click Accept
After accepting:
- The post appears in your Posts list
- You can edit the content immediately
- The primary author is notified
- Your name will appear in the byline when published
Declining an Invitation
- Find the invitation
- Click Decline
- Optionally add a message (if enabled)
The primary author will be notified. You won’t see the invitation again.
What Co-Authors Can Do
| Permission | Co-Author | Primary Author Only |
|---|---|---|
| Edit post content | ✓ | |
| Change featured image | ✓ | |
| Edit custom fields | ✓ | |
| Save drafts | ✓ | |
| Submit for review | ✓ | |
| Invite new co-authors | ✓ | |
| Remove co-authors | ✓ | |
| Delete the post | ✓ | |
| Publish/unpublish | ✓ |
Leaving a Collaboration
If you no longer want to be a co-author (and the site allows self-removal):
- Open the co-authored post
- Find the Co-Authors section
- Click Remove Self
- Confirm your decision
After leaving:
- You lose edit access immediately
- Your name is removed from the byline
- The primary author is notified
Invitation Expiration
Invitations don’t last forever. By default, they expire after 7 days. If you miss an invitation:
- Ask the author to send a new one
- Check notifications regularly to respond promptly
Post Locking
To prevent editing conflicts, the system uses post locking:
- When you open a post to edit, it’s locked for you
- Other co-authors see “User is currently editing”
- Lock releases after you close the editor or after timeout
If someone else is editing, wait for them to finish or coordinate offline.
Co-Authored Posts in Your Dashboard
Posts you co-author appear in:
- My Posts: Alongside posts you created
- Profile Blog Tab: With a “Co-Author” badge
- You can filter to show only co-authored posts
Tips for Collaborating
- Respond promptly: Don’t leave invitations hanging
- Communicate: Discuss with the primary author about responsibilities
- Save often: Don’t lose work – save drafts regularly
- Be respectful: You’re working on someone else’s post
Related Documentation
- Inviting Co-Authors to Collaborate
- Customizing the Co-Author Byline
- Co-Authors & Collaboration Overview