Throughout this year, several bloggers will engage in a conversation here and on their blogs — asking questions of each other and responding. Others are absolutely welcome to join the conversation, as well. Learn more about the ladies of Blogversation 2012.

Today’s question comes from Lesley Ware, www.thecreativecookie.net.
On Twitter, Lesley is @creativecookie.
I’m certain that 2012 has been my most collaborative year ever. I’m working with a handful of amazing creatives to produce cool artistic projects and programs. All these relationships have been fruitful so far (only one got stale and needed to be dissolved).
I’m finding that collaboration is difficult to define when you’re not affiliated with an organization.  In my past life as a nonprofit program manager, collaboration was king. We often shared a formal agreement of how we would combine resources to reach a broader audience. As an independent artist I find myself trying to clarify the guidelines to a successful collaboration between two or more individuals.
So here’s my Blogversation question of the week:
Think about your past creative collaborations either on your blog, as an independent artist or in other settings outside a formal business structure, what are the two or three things that were established at the beginning of the relationship that helped you achieve your desired outcome? In a nutshell, what are the keys to a dazzling collaboration?
(I have my short list – and will share them at the top of the week, but I’d love to hear your ideas first)