THE METAMORPHOSIS OF PLOTZ, CHAPTER TWO: COLLABORATION

Elbert: To coordinate our thoughts about characters, ideas for different plotlines and general musings, we used electronic mail. It was simple. Just type in Sandy's address, give it a subject name and start typing away, then attach any WORD documents.

Sandy: After a while, we had sent each other so much stuff that a Plotz Folder had to be created with separate files for our characters.

Elbert: The first correspondences became Plotz-1. When the novel was finished, we had gotten to Plotz-65.

Sandy: And that didn't count the specifically titled e-mail notes.

Elbert: Actually, that's how the title of the book evolved.

Sandy: You're not going to give away the ending are you?

Elbert: Oh, no. It's just that when I went to title the first set of notes I typed P ... L ... O ... T ... S. Out of the blue, here comes this lightning bolt of an idea -- why not a Z instead of a S?

Sandy: And Plotz was born, so to speak. However, it was not our intention to name our book "Plotz." With an outline and a suitable ending chapter in mind, we still didn't have a title.

Elbert: We finally decided on titling our book "Plotz" and co-wrote the very last segment of Chapter 24 to reflect the name. Other than the title pages, the word Plotz doesn't appear anywhere until Chapter 24.

Sandy: Then we began collaborating on writing the first drafts of chapters.

Elbert: We divided up writing tasks.

Sandy: It was like getting a school assignment ...

Elbert: Or a reporter's assignment ...

Sandy: He worked on Emerson chapters while I worked on Sally and Phae chapters. As soon as a particular chapter was finished, it was e-mailed to the other to read, proof, add ideas.

Elbert: And, when it came to introducing our newspaper reporters, Evan and Norma Rae, we were on our home turf and, I think, created two very interesting characters.

Sandy: We were able to give our readers some insight into the environs of a small-town newspaper, too.

Elbert: I think the successful penning of "Plotz" as a team was the willingness to compromise. I won't say we didn't argue ...

Sandy: It could've been really bad if we had been sitting behind individual desks in one room staring across at each other while trying to write a particular passage.

Elbert: Yeah. I remember a few times that I would've come across my desk to get to your throat ... Just kidding!

Sandy: We did meet face to face, whether at the chamber of commerce or at Burger King, to flesh out a few potential plot deadends. I think we were civil to each other, don't you?

Elbert: That's why a cup or three of "high-test" coffee is important when discussing plotlines.

Sandy: All in all, I think our collaborative effort has proven, despite a few wrinkles that were peacefully ironed out, that friends and business partners can work together -- and still be friends and business partners when the novel is finished.

Elbert: Yeah. Sort of like an Anson detente moment.

NEXT: getting that first rejection. Egads! Panic! Depression! What to do, what to do!