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Editor Interview: All Due Respect Magazine

This interview is provided for archival purposes. The listing is not currently active.

Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.

A: No apology crime fiction

Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?

A: Beat to a Pulp, Needle, Yellow Mama and Crimefactory are consistently excellent for the length of fiction ADR publishes. I also enjoy flash sites like Shotgun Honey, A Twist of Noir and Thrillers, Killers n Chillers.
Note: I will be the editor of this publication starting in April of next year. I'm reading all new submissions. Alec is now the editor of Pulp Modern.

Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?

A: Jim Thompson and James Cain. The darker, the better.

Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?

A: For one thing, we tend to publish longer stories. (Though the submission guidelines also stipulate that writers can submit three flash fiction pieces to be run together -- I would love to see more of these.) What we do is down and dirty crime fiction -- and that's it. I think All Due Respect's scope is somewhat narrower than similar publications.

Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?

A: Read a few of the stories at ADR. That way you won't be wasting your time. Or mine! ADR has a specific niche -- fiction that is about crime. Make sure that plenty happens in your story. The characters should be taking actions that lead to a conclusion. I don't want five pages of people talking unless it's absolutely riveting stuff. Same thing applies for back story - unless it's absolutely essential, ditch it, as it slows down the pace. Make sure your prose is clean and flowing. And lastly, of course, read the submission guidelines.

Q: Describe the ideal submission.

A: Any story that examines the very worst human behavior in a non-judgmental manner. Brutality is good. Gore is OK as long as it's necessary. Think of the kinds of stories you know the cowards in Hollywood would never put up on the big screen. Think of the kinds of stories no major magazine that relies on corporate money for advertising would ever have the spine to publish. If you've written a story that's received standard writing shop comments such as, "I couldn't sympathize with the main character," or, "Your protagonist doesn't learn anything. What's the point?", that story might have a good chance at All Due Respect. We're not here to make people feel good about themselves. We're here to show truth the best way possible-- through honest fiction.

Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?

A: Sending in stories that aren't right for this particular publication. I don't want to see police procedurals, or cozies, or whodunits, so please read a few stories at the site to find out what it's all about. Also, proofread more. Once I've seen three mistakes, my inclination to accept a piece plummets.

Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?

A: Not much. Send a nice greeting, tell me where I can read your previous publications, then step out of the way and let your story do the talking.

Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?

A: I read all of every submission, unless they've clearly violated the submission guidelines in a way that makes the piece unfit for publication. (For example, cat solving a crime will never make it.) Early on, I like to see story. Make sure the central conflict is on the first page. Cut as much back story as possible then spread it out over the entire piece -- don't dump it all at the beginning.

Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?

A: I read every story at least twice before accepting it. I may contact the author with some revisions before deciding to publish it.

Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?

A: I will get back to you fast -- typically within a week. If I reject a piece, I always provide feedback for how to make it better, why it didn't fit with what I was looking for, etc. I read each submission as soon as I can and start making notes right away if I think it has a chance.

Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?

A: E-publishing is where it's at right now. In terms of gritty crime fiction like All Due Respect publishes, writers putting out e-books right now like Nigel Bird, Julie Morrigan and Paul D. Brazill are where it's at.