How Midnight Echo Selects Short Stories

Welcome to the fourth post in my series on short story editors. Recently an editor-friend of mine shared his editorial selection process on Facebook. Watching it was difficult at first because I hadn’t realised how emotionally draining the process of putting together a short story collection can be for editors – whether for an anthology or magazine edition.

So, over the following posts, I’m going to interview the editors of Fablecroft, Ticonderoga, CSFG, Aurealis and Midnight Echo to find out more.

Here’s what Midnight Echo editor-extraordinaire Geoff Brown told me about his process…

Firstly, some stats:

Midnight Echo #9

The title of your latest project: Midnight Echo #9.

Its release date: May 2013

Published: print and ebook, available from the Australian Horror Writers Association website. The ebook version will also be available from Amazon.

One-sentence description: Myths and legends in horror, and the depths that we can reach while writing them.

Great! Now let’s get stuck in…

1. What’s the hardest part of putting together a short story collection, be it for a magazine edition or an anthology?

Selecting the right tales. Ones that complement each other, yet also have power as a stand-alone.

2. What’s the easiest part of that process?

I don’t think there is an easy part. Maybe putting the table of contents together, once the final selections are made?

3. What’s the most emotional part (and which emotion)?

Frustration from reading the slush-pile and finding out that 80% of writers can’t read and follow basic submission guidelines.

4. Often editors have a vision for their collection, so select stories that support that vision. Do you ever worry that readers won’t ‘get’ your vision once it’s presented to them and, if so, how do you cope with that worry?

I don’t worry if readers see the vision, as I didn’t really have one in mind for my latest edited publication. I want readers to enjoy the stories, and to remember the magazine long after they’ve put it down. I want longevity for the stories I choose.

5. Do you read stories blind, or know which author wrote each story as you read? Why do you prefer that method?

I prefer blind reading, to allow the story truth to come forward without and prejudice. That said, sometimes it’s impossible not to recognise the particular style of a well-known author.

The only stories I read for ME9 while aware of the writer were the solicited authors: Jonathan Maberry, James A Moore and Robin Furth.

Geoff Brown

6. Once you’ve selected your favourite stories, how do you put them in order – by theme, by author, to develop a given theme…?

I try to follow a natural, thematic progression. Which ones carry on from the last, and where do they lead?

7. Have you ever rejected a story that then went on to achieve greatness elsewhere? If so, what did you think about that, and did you alter your processes to avoid it happening again?

Not that I’m aware of. There were a number of stories that didn’t follow layout guidelines, and they were rejected unread, so there may have been some great ones in that pile.  That said, each editor has different tastes, and what is great for one won’t make it with another.

8. How often do you second-guess your judgment?

Always. A good writer and a good editor will always have doubts. The doubt needs to be balanced with self-belief and faith, but must always be there.

9. If you had just one piece of advice for writers submitting to you, what would it be (apart from to follow your guidelines)?

Apart from ‘follow the guidelines’, I’d say to catch the editor’s curiosity in the first line, or paragraph. Don’t ramble on and expect an editor to keep reading with the hope of eventually finding a hook.

10. If you had just one piece of advice for editors thinking about putting together a short story collection, what would it be?

Leave yourself plenty of time after the end of the submission period, as there are usually quite a few last-minute submissions. If you’re not careful, you’ll be buried in stories to read.

Thank you Geoff – I’m sure all of the stories you select have longevity!

Just one thought, Zena… Can I also give you details of my memoir?

Of course you can, Geoff!

“Hammered: Memoir of an Addict”
by Geoff Brown

Title: Hammered: Memoir of an Addict

Published: Print and ebook by Legumeman Books. Available from Amazon and all good bookshops, both online and bricks-and-mortar.

One sentence description: Drugs, crime and ennui pervaded every part of GN Braun’s life, but he dragged his way out of the pit without resorting to God or alcohol or any of the other crutches people commonly use. Here is his story.

Wow – can’t wait to read it! It’s also interesting to note that a lot of editors are also writers – yourself a case in point. Thank you for sharing with us 🙂