Curiosity Quills Editor: Mark W. Woodring

BIO:Mark W. Woodring was born in a little town in central Pennsylvania before being whisked away to the far-off land of Texas at the age of 12. After graduating high school by the skin of his teeth, he reluctantly joined the US Air Force, where he spent 20 years traveling to such exotic locations as Austin, Texas, and Ogden, Utah (along with South Korea and various deployments to Saudi Arabia), while learning skills that have no practical application in the outside world. After he retired, he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah (which, ironically, also have no practical application in the outside world…..hmmm). Mark currently spends his time working as a technical editor for the US government while continuing to write for publication and his blog at MyOwnLittleShadow.Wordpress.com. He hopes to release The Cooper’s Son, a fantasy novel set in Arthurian Britain, sometime in 2015. Mark lives with his wife, college-student daughter, and three incredibly demanding cats in Utah.
1.      Tell us how you came to work with Curiosity Quills Press.Well, it's a simple tale. One you've probably heard a hundred time. As an aspiring writer, it seemed like a good way to get my foot in the door with a publisher. I also thought that editing other writers’ work might give me some much-needed insight into my own writing, which it has. I have learned a lot about my own writing. So when I hear that Curiosity Quills was looking for editors, I threw my hat in the ring, and here I am.
2.      What does your job entail? Generally, I simply read a manuscript and evaluate it for the usual suspects, like grammar and spelling, but I also provide insight and opinion on how interesting the story is, how the characters are portrayed and developed, how the plot flows together, etc. Most importantly, however, is the fact that I need to also be able to articulate any problem areas to the author, as well as provide some feedback on what, as a reader, I feel might add to the piece in a general sense. After all, it’s their work, and I don’t want to impose either my own ideas or styles onto it.
3.      What do you enjoy most about being an editor?I really enjoy when I have spent several long comments outlining problems that I see in a relatively short stretch of the piece, and the author comes back and says “Thanks. I knew that something was wrong, but I couldn't figure out what.” When I see their fixes and they’re good, I always like to throw them an “atta-boy!” for working it out. It’s always nice to feel useful.
4.      What have your experiences been like working with the authors?I have worked with a handful of authors for Curiosity Quills, and they are generally a very receptive lot when it comes to taking my comments. I tend to be a bit on the blunt side, mostly because of my professional background, and I don’t like to be misunderstood when I am addressing something. So often, I may highlight an entire paragraph and simply make the comment “Really?” But they seem to get my point, so….I had one particular piece I edited for Curiosity Quills (I won’t name it, but it’s coming out shortly), that I was really struggling to find things to suggest. Probably 80% of my notes were technical issues, as opposed to story/plot/character issues. Those are fun, because I get to read more continuously and get into the flow of the story, instead of stopping more often to address an issue that might be a show-stopper.I did work one manuscript (coming out in 2015, I understand) where I felt like that ratio was reversed. It was a great story idea that had a lot of issues in the execution, and I was really intent on giving the author everything they needed to get to where they wanted to be. I put in some overtime on that one! But the author was very receptive and made some good changes, and I think that they were happy with what I’d done for them.
5.      What is the hardest part of being an editor?The hardest part is actually two sides of the same coin. Sometimes I will read a manuscript and think “oh, this is so good, it’s no wonder I can’t get my stuff published.” Other times, I might read a piece where I think “Mine is as good as this. What the heck?” Definitely a challenge as a writer.From a purely editorial standpoint, the hardest part has to be reading a manuscript that I might not really be into personally. I know that sounds frivolous, but I think it’s true of most editors. Trying to read something that isn't in your wheelhouse is difficult. I haven’t found a manuscript yet that I hate, but some are just more appealing as a reader for me than others. In a way I guess this broadens my horizons as an editor.
6.      And what is the best part?The best part of being an editor is seeing a suggestion or comment I make turned into sometime 1-2 extra pages of great content that go beyond what I might have considered asking for. It almost feels like I’m inspiring the author, which isn't really part of the job, per se, but it’s nice when you see that response to your feedback in such a positive way. Every writer I've worked with has always expressed their appreciation for my feedback, and it’s a nice bit of validation to get.
7.      Last question; If you could bring any book/movie/TV show to life, what would it be and why?Oh, this is a terrible question! There are so many! I don’t know if it's world I’d want to have come alive, but I’d love to see a SINGLE, live action Hobbit film (damn you, Peter Jackson). Honestly, I still find the Rankin-Bass version to be better than the Jackson film. A simple, perfect telling of Tolkien’s tale.But, if I have to be serious and bring something to LIFE, there are actually 2:I would love to visit Stephen R. Donaldson’s “Land” from the Thomas Covenant series. I have loved those books forever!I’d also love to experience Roger Zelazny’s reality-bending world of the Chronicles of Amber. That is a series of books I would love to help adapt into a film/series. Actually, that would make a great TV show…..hmmmm….