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Mary Rosenblum
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Ah, welcome all!
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To our Professional Connection live
interview.
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Kathryn Carroll is the Senior
Editor of Mysterical-E, http://mystericale.com a mystery e-zine, and
Editor-in-Chief of Mysterical-E for Kids, launching in Spring 2006. Her
stories have appeared in Woman's World, NEWN, Mystery Time and other
publications. She has published children's non-fiction in Wee-Ones and has
judged fiction in national contests. Just recently, Mysterical-E was named
one of the top ten fiction markets by the Predators and Editors
website.
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Kathryn, welcome! And
congratulations on your listing in the top ten Fiction Markets!
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi, Mary. Hi, writers
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Thanks for the
congratulations. That's a big honor
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for us.
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Mary Rosenblum
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That is so cool that Mysterical-E
was listed! But your ezine is gorgeous!
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Kathryn Carroll
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Thanks, Mary. A lot of the
look of our e-zine is due
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to Gin Elf, our illustrator
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Mary Rosenblum
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Gin Elf is a VERY cool name
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and I'm going to have to
exercise GREAT self restraint not to use that name in my current urban
fantasy novel! LOL
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Kathryn Carroll
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She's a cool gal.
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Mary Rosenblum
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She does a very nice job.
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Kathryn Carroll
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I think so too. I'm always
impressed by the illustrations
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she comes up with.
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Mary Rosenblum
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So how did you get to the role
of Editor? Did you begin as a writer, or did editing grab you from the get
go?
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Kathryn Carroll
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I've done almost every job
there is in the writing field.
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I started out doing direct
marketing advertising and
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went on to technical editing
and then to proofreading
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and freelance writing. I'm
still writing as well as editing.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Interesting. You know, most of
the top editors I’ve know...all of 'em as I come to think of it
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came to editing with writing
rather than starting as a writer and then switching over.
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I think they're very different
skill sets.
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Kathryn Carroll
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I think so too, and I think as
an editor I have to set aside my preferences in writing to do a good job.
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winona
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Well, Kathryn, you are a woman
of many talents. Impressive
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi winona. Thanks
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Mary Rosenblum
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I agree. And I wonder if that's
not part of what makes the really good editors good,
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that they aren't committed to a
preference...that they can see the potential in a wide variety of work?
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Kathryn Carroll
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I think that it helps to have
been through all the stages of the process.
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codeblue
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What is or was the most
rewarding???
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Mary Rosenblum
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What DO you like best about
what you do?
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Kathryn Carroll
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As an editor, I like to find a
really good story and get a good writer published. As a writer, of course,
I like to be published, but I also love the actual writing.
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Mary Rosenblum
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So question...what does the
editor do while the writer is writing? Can you shut her up or is every
story a team effort from the start?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Do you mean the editor in me
as I write?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yes. Exactly.
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Kathryn Carroll
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That's a tough one. I've
gotten better at just letting the writing come as it will at first and then
going back to revise, but I often have several paragraphs of the same
subject going at once.
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Mary Rosenblum
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I asked because so many novice
writers have a terrible time just writing, and not bogging down in editing.
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winona
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I can vouch for that, as a
beginner
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Mary Rosenblum
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You and many, winona!
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Kathryn Carroll
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I do know how that feels. I
think though that the editing should come after the writing. I've gotten to
the point where I really enjoy the revising process. I have a story I'm
working on now and it's completely finished but a new first sentence just
came to
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me the other night and now I'm
reworking the story to see if I like it better.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Cool.
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And I'd like to go back to your
answer...the first part of it
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when you said you really like
to find a good story and get a good writer published. I think that's how
most editors feel, but it's
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so hard not to see them as
uncaring when you're collecting rejection slips! Can you
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speak to what it means to find
a good story by a new writer?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Sure. First i should tell you
that at Mysterical-E and for the contests I have judged that we get many many
stories--more all the time.
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As I read through them, a good
story will really shine through because the characters speak in a different
voice or the details are compelling.
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When I say a different voice,
I don't mean that it has to be something I've never seen before, but a
character that really knows what he or she is about and "speaks"
confidently.
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I think there are a lot of
"new" writers out there that are very, very good and I know how
frustrating it can be to get rejections when you know your work is good.
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Mary Rosenblum
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No kidding. So what you are
saying is that it's not something 'unexpected'
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that stands out, but rather
something that is 'above the ordinary'?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Right. I think if the story is
handled with confidence by the writer, that is if she really knows her
setting, her characters, etc. it shows in the story. There's a kind of
freedom, I think is a good word, that I as an editor see in the story and
it
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all flows together to make an
excellent story.
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winona
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Rejections can be so defeating.
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Mary Rosenblum
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They sure can. :-) And they
never end. Do you have time to make personal comments, Kathryn, or do you
find you need to use a form?
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Kathryn Carroll
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I can make personal comments
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Mary Rosenblum
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Good for you!
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codeblue
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I would find editing easier than
writing...How about you??
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi codeblue. In some ways
editing is easier, but I have to take into consideration the writer's story
as I edit. I also do not like telling a writer that his story isn't right
for our magazine.
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dfitz
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What prompted you to start a
mystery e-zine as opposed to some other genre?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Actually, I got on board the
magazine after it had been proposed by the editor-in-chief, Joe DeMarco. I
was drawn to working for it, though, because I've always loved mysteries.
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winona
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How often have you published
someone new?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Our first issue was mostly new
writers. Since then we've attracted more published writers. But we publish
many new writers and I honestly find that some of their work is better than
the work by people who have said they are previously published.
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Mary Rosenblum
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You know the good Ezines are
offering a way in for new writers as the main short fiction markets fade
away. I'm very pleased with this rising new type of publishing.
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Kathryn Carroll
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I think that's very true. If
only we can find ways to pay writers what they deserve e-zines will be well
on their way.
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janecj333
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Can you tell us about your e-zine,
and when you hope to offer payment to contributors?
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Mary Rosenblum
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That's a real issue.
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Does your editor in chief have
any ambitions for making this a paying venture?
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This is such a NEW field.
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi janecj333, Our
editor-in-chief is looking into getting advertising, etc. that will help us
to pay writers. At this point we pay the writers who win our contests
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but the money actually comes
out of his pocket.
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Mary Rosenblum
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I think everyone is trying to
figure out how to make an Ezine a paying venture, right now. BUT...the good
Ezines do gain a reputation
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and that serves the author who
is trying to break in. :-)
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Kathryn Carroll
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I think that's true too. As I
surf the web, I see names of writers that we've published popping up on
other sites. I also think that websites are good references in cover
letters that you may send to hard-copy magazines.
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Mary Rosenblum
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They are indeed! I know many
editors personally and they read the good Ezines, they keep an eye out for
upcoming talent.
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We're talking print-mag and
book editors.
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Kathryn Carroll
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Right. I've published
children's articles in the Ezine Wee Ones and that has served me well as I
branch out.
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dfitz
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What would be the most
significant advice you could give a new writer who wanted to write for your
magazine?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yes, what do you look for in a
new writer's work?
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More specifically, perhaps,
than something beyond the usual
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi dfitz. I would say to write
the best story you can. Show your own personality.
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Don't worry about what you
think the editor is going to want. I would read an issue and see the
diversity of stories that we publish. We have several editors and we all
like different types of stories. I think we complement each other that way
and it's
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good for the writers too. At
M-E all stories go through our editor-in-chief and he sends them to me and
the other editors.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Do you each get a quota? How do
you decide who gets to include which story in what issue?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Ultimately, Joe decides what
goes in. We don't have a quota and each issue has run a different number of
stories based on the length of the stories and what we've received.
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So far it's worked well. We
have published a couple of stories that I may have passed on, but I also
realize there are a lot of varied tastes out there to satisfy.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Do you try to create a 'theme'
for each issue? Or just go for diversity?
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Kathryn Carroll
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We don't have a theme for each
issue, but each issue offers a contest that does have a theme. Mainly, though,
we go for diversity.
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geezer
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How many submissions do you get
a month?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi geezer, It's hard to say
since Joe sends me scores of stories at a time to read. I'd say for any one
issue we're getting around 70 stories.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Wow, you're really getting
quite a bit of traffic! That alone says a lot for the way your name is
circulating.
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Kathryn Carroll
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I think so too. M-E seems to
have caught on quickly. I do think we have very good stories and the art
work makes us stand out.
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speckledorf
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Is there a specific subgenre you
prefer over the others?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi speckledorf. I don't think
there really is any specific preference for our editors. If I had to name
some for myself, I'd say I like humorous mysteries and cozies, but I also
like the grittier ones too if they are well done.
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Mary Rosenblum
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For those of you who haven't
checked out the Ezine, I suggest you look. Each story is illustrated in
full color
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and the winter issue seems to
run to Christmas stories. J
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Mysterical-E
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You'll find their writers
guidelines and contest guidelines there, too.
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codeblue
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How long are the stories??
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Kathryn Carroll
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Generally the stories run
anywhere from short-shorts to about 4,000 words. We will serialize a longer
story if we really like it.
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winona
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Can I make a short story from a
story that wants to be a novel?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Ah, want to tackle this one,
Kathryn?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi winona, If you can make the
story complete within the form
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then I'd say yes. We have
gotten stories where it seems that the story is actually a precursor to a
series the writer wants to write or is part of a longer work. Those stories
seemed to have a "never ending" quality to them that made them
too unwieldy
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if you know what I mean. The
story really needs to work as a short story.
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Mary Rosenblum
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And if the story is too big,
doesn't the 'short' version read more like a summary than a real story?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Yes. The writer really needs
to include all the details, evidence (if it's a mystery) characters, etc.
that the story needs to make sense and be satisfying.
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winona
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Thanks, Kathryn.
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Can a romance be part of a
subplot in a crime/mystery?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Definitely, In fact I wouldn't
mind seeing some more romantic mysteries. That's one type of story that we
really don't get very much.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Aha...paying attention to this
tip are you? :-)
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So let's talk about editing,
Kathryn. How much editing do you do on most stories? Do you often ask
authors to make changes to plot or characters?
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Kathryn Carroll
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In the beginning we did more
critiquing of plot, characters because we got some potentially very good
stories that were just lacking strength in some area. Now, however, we
don't seem to need to ask for those kinds of changes
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and the editing takes the form
more of cleaning up punctuation, some grammar and some sentence structure.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Do you have a line where you
simply say 'too messy' and send it back, even if it's a good story?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Unfortunately that has been
the case. There have been stories where there is virtually no punctuation
or the structure is just not there and then it's hard to know what the
writer is really trying to say.
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If the story is really really
good and I can see the potential and it seems as if the writer can fix the
problems, then I'll send it back to him with some comments.
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Mary Rosenblum
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I appreciate you making that
clear. I think some aspiring writers really feel that a good idea is
everything
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and how they write it up really
doesn't matter.
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Kathryn Carroll
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I would say how they write it
up is nearly everything. It's like the 99 percent perspiration saying. In
fact you'd be amazed at how many "good ideas" are actually the
same as someone else's idea
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and the way it's written is
what makes all the difference.
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Mary Rosenblum
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How does that saying go? One
percent genius and 99% perspiration? Something like that?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Something like that. I can't
remember what the one percent is either--that says something, too, don't
you think!
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Mary Rosenblum
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LOL, it does! And that is so
very true of writing. It's not the idea, it is what you do with your idea.
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So I have a question? What is
your favorite story in the Winter Issue of Mysterical-E and why?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Ahhhhh! Let me think.
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I liked many of the stories,
but the one that I'm thinking of now is Dead Man Flying. I liked it because
it was set in the Bayou and the author did a good job of using vernacular
language with one character. The plot was well thought out and the
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characters were original.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Ah, thank you!
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Kathryn Carroll
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I also liked Double or Nothing
because although I should have seen the ending coming, I was surprised.
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ashton
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When you first sit down to read
someone's story...can you pretty much tell right away if the whole piece
warrants further attention? What's the hook you look for on the first page?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Hi, ashton, I'm sure you've
heard this before, but I really do look for an excellent first sentence or
paragraph. Something that's going to set the tone for the story.
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I do read the entire
manuscript, though.
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Mary Rosenblum
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What will throw you out of a
story and ensure a 'no thanks'?
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Kathryn Carroll
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I think characters or
situations that are simply unbelievable. Dialogue that doesn't ring true.
Also gratuitous violence or gore is a no go.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Tell us about your contest.
That has a theme, right?
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And it has a cash prize?
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Kathryn Carroll
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Right on both accounts. Right
now our contest is "Babes, Beefcake and Bullets." One of our
themes was "Blue Blood Cell." that one brought in some
interesting stories.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, I love Blue Blood Cell! And
the illustration for Babes, Beefcake, and Bullets is great. :-)
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You're going to get noir hardboileds,
I'll bet!
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Kathryn Carroll
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I'm sure and those are very
hard to pull off. I'm looking forward to reading the entries.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, they're hard to pull off
if you don't want a Xerox of Sam Spade, at least! :-) I hope you get some
good ones.
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Kathryn Carroll
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That's right. Hardly anyone
goes around talking like Philip Marlowe. Did they ever?! I'm sure we'll get
some good stories--we always do. J
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Mary Rosenblum
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So what advice would you give
for our aspiring writers who are still on the far side of the 'published'
barrier?
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What do you feel are the most
important things to work on?
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Kathryn Carroll
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I would say the most important
thing to work on is your writing itself. Make each sentence the best it can
be and create a dense, compelling story.
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On the business side of
things, it's important to do market research before you submit.
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You don't want to wait all
those agonizing months only to receive a rejection because the story didn't
fit the magazine.
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Be sure that your manuscript
is neat and professional looking. Always respect your work and the process
of publication.
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I know it seems sometimes that
writers and editors are adversaries, but that's not true. A good editor
really wants to publish your work.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Thank you, Kathryn, I think
that's very good advice!
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So do you have anything coming
out in other publications? I enjoyed your story of the parole-jumper on the
website, by the way. J
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Kathryn Carroll
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Thanks, Mary. The only thing I
know is coming out soon-ish (!) is a children's article in July. But I do
have some work out right now hoping to find a home.
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ashton
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When you find a story...an
author you like...do you keep mental notes of who they are for when their
work pops up again? I have this mental image of post it notes slapped all
around the monitor. J
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Kathryn Carroll
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I don't have post-it notes but
I do have a bunch of supplies from a birthday party all around my computer J.
I have a good memory for names and I will remember them when I see another
story of theirs. Of course it's always good to remind an editor
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that they've published you
before. A simple thanks for
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publishing my last story and
the title gets those memory juices flowing.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Kathryn, you have been a
delightful guest...even if I can't see you. :-) Thank you so much for
coming onto the website to spend this evening with us.
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I hope you come back again to
visit!
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sadie
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Thank you for your advice
tonight. These forums can be the shot in the arm I need to keep at it.
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Kathryn Carroll
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I would love to come back. I
wish the best of luck to all you writers out there. I hope to see some of
your stories.
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Thanks, sadie. Keep writing!
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Mary Rosenblum
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I have a feeling you will. :-)
I've sent some of my really strong mystery students your way.
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Thank you so much for coming!
And thank you all for joining us tonight!
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ashton
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Thanks for coming!
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Kathryn Carroll
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Good, I hope they mention you
in there letters.
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Thanks for asking questions, ashton.
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Mary Rosenblum
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I think you've done a nice job
of making editors more human for a lot of people tonight!
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Keep up the great work on the Ezine.
It is one of the nicest fiction Ezines out there.
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Kathryn Carroll
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Thanks, Mary. We are actually
real people! :-)
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Mary Rosenblum
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We'll let you rest your
fingers! Thank you so much for coming, and good night!
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Good night, all!
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Kathryn Carroll
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Good night!!
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Mary Rosenblum
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Have a great weekend, everyone.
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