Actress Dyan Cannon was initially offered the part of Gloria Travalian but Cannon turned down the role because she felt the character was too "bitchy" and had played a "bitch" before. Later on, Cannon was given the role of Alice Detroit, and thoroughly enjoyed making this film and likened the experience to like "being on a cruise". And Tuesday Weld was cast as Gloria.
According to 'Coming Attractions' magazine, "The idea for the film emerged in a conversation between two lifelong friends, Israel Horovitz, writer of the screenplay, and Irwin Winkler, the producer. During their discussion of married life, they found themselves asking, 'What happens to a man when his wife runs off and leaves him with the children? Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) was one answer to this question; Author! Author! (1982) is Mr. Horowitz's answer, and it has special personal significance for him because of his own experience as a divorced father with primary responsibility for two of his three children".
Reportedly, during production, director Arthur Hiller and actor Al Pacino did not get along. Pacino once said of this, "...sometimes people who are not really meant to be together get together in this business for a short time. It's very unfortunate for all parties concerned".
The entire film was shot in New York except for the sequence where Ivan tries to get Gloria back, shot over several days in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
This film's lead actor Al Pacino made his New York stage debut in 1968 in "The Indian Wants the Bronx" which was a play by this film's writer Israel Horovitz. Both won Obie Awards for it and had remained friends over the years and took the opportunity here to make a movie together.
Ray Goulding: As Jackie Dicker. Goulding teamed with regular comic partner Bob Elliott for a 'Bob and Ray' cameo.
Bob Elliott: As Patrick Dickler. Elliott teamed with regular comic partner Ray Goulding for a 'Bob and Ray' cameo.