Smoking With Our Retiring Features Editor a talk with Randall Brown by Randall Brown You're leaving SLQ. First thoughts? Excellent question. It's been odd working with people I've never met face-to-face. I think that's why I lasted as long as I did. Now you can reveal the secrets to SLQ acceptances. That's just a terrific point. Yes. Don't take "no" for an answer. Keep submitting. As much as you can. Again and again and again until they submit to you. Inundate them. Proofreading and revising are overrated. The same day you post your story on a workshop site, send it to them. It's bound to work. Eventually. What will you miss the most as the interviewer of the writers and guest editor for each issue? Ah, good one. Giving each story the very close, careful reading and then invariably getting it totally wrong. Like asking, "So when did you choose to make the main character keep scratching himself? Great choice." Answer: "He's a dog." Reply: "Whoops." Is Dave Clapper really as ravishing as everyone says? Nice! I've never met him, but I've heard stories. Very short stories. Very very short. What won't you miss at all? Whoa. Tough one. Sending out rejections. Especially form letters when there's no time for a personal reply. And what will you miss most? Great follow-up. I will miss [insert writer's name here]. It was [insert positive adjective here] working with [insert him or her]. In all seriousness, what has SLQ meant to you? These questions are just blowing me away. Okay. I've become a much better writer and, even more important, a better person. Well, a better writer. Did you ever smoke a cigarette and start a story at the same time to see if it really takes a "smoke long" to finish a SLQ story? My goodness. How do you come up with these? No. Why are leaving such a great gig? Genius, I tell you. SLQ is in far better hands than mine, now. You don't want to know what's in my hands. Fantastic work, Randall. Really. You, too.