Today, MoAA presents SF editor John Klima!
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Alethea Kontis: What’s the best thing about editing?
John Klima: Working with amazing authors. Seeing the finished project after all the hard work.
AK: What’s the worst thing about editing?
JK: Deadlines.
AK: Finish this sentence: “Editing is like…”
JK: Editing is like finding that fine line the runs among being a friend, a teacher, a therapist, a taskmaster, and an enemy and hoping that you’ve find the right one so that you can make a piece stronger. Good editing work is invisible to the reader but invaluable to the writer.
AK: If you could edit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
JK: A nice quiet library.
AK: Pick five words to describe your latest work.
JK: Glitter. Mayhem. Roller-skating. Magic. Debauchery.
AK: Pick five words to describe you.
JK: Indefatigable. Principled. Gregarious. Loyal. Serious.
AK: What’s your favorite type of tree?
JK: I have a ton of external allergies (most trees particularly evergreens, grass, pollen, ragweed, most animals…) so the outdoors and I have an understanding. I don’t spend much time in it, it doesn’t bother me. But, I think the baobab trees are amazing.
AK: What were you like in high school?
JK: I was a very angsty surly teenager. In a lot of ways I was someone who I don’t like today. I spent a lot of time being angry about things that didn’t matter. I was constantly sad and disappointed by myself and everything around me. A lot of the problem stems from the fact that I had no drive or purpose which left me feeling useless. It was very existential and moody. Thankfully I’ve moved past that these days.
AK: If you could give one piece of advice (writing or otherwise), what would it be?
JK: I’m torn between saying to make sure you get enough rest (which I don’t do so I’d have to give that advice to myself) or to take time away from the computer and your devices every day and do something that makes you happy. I try to start every day taking some extra time to make breakfast. It makes me happy to start that day with a good meal and I get a sense of accomplishment at the same time.
AK: The Colin Harvey Memorial Question: What are 3 things you’d like to do before you die?
JK: 1. Appear on a talk show
2. Take part in a Chopped/Iron Chef-type cooking challenge (not necessarily the televised version; it could be something w/friends)
3. Visit Tokyo
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