Interview with Kelly, the
editor of Xenith.com

Who are you?
My name is Kelly Joi Phelan, I'm 22 years old. I live near Detroit, Michigan. I'm a college senior, double-majoring in Linguistics and Philosophy.

Would you call yourself a writer? What do you write?
Yes--I've actually worked as a paid writer before, so I think that legitimizes me. I write prose, mostly--sometimes it's fictional, sometimes it's not, but lately it's been a combination of both. I've also been getting into writing theory lately--mostly political and sociological (and even a little existential). I'm launching a new website soon where all of that stuff will go, including a journal. I also would really like to get into the slam poetry scene more. I've been going to local slams and have attended several of the annual national poetry slam finals and I really love them. The atmosphere is just unbelievable. I just need a bit of courage to get myself on stage!

What is your best piece of writing you've ever created?
Well, I did start a term paper for a Sociology class three hours before it was due and I managed to get an A, so I was pretty proud of that (not to mention shocked). I'm such a procrastinator. But in terms of creative writing, I'm not particularly fond of most of my past writing; I suppose I've outgrown it. It's what I'm writing at present that I'm much more pleased with. It's turning into one long opus magnum, but I'm having fun, so hey...

Ever been published?
Yes, I used to write book reviews for Teen People Magazine. I now work as a copy writer/editor for an internet company in Chicago. I write press releases and content for clients' websites. I also got a poem published when I was 10, but I don't remember what the publication was anymore.

Why did you create Xenith? What kept you going?
Well, I kind of stumbled across writing by accident when I was 15. A teacher assigned the class to write a story. Never a big homework fan, I figured I'd just write a quick rip-off of some lame movie and be done with it. But once I started, the writing kind of took on a life of its own and I realized that not only could I actually write (and enjoy it), but I also had a talent for it. That was quite a turning point for me. I kept writing more and tried to learn more and I got to the point where I really wanted some feedback on my work and was curious to see what and how well other people my age were writing. But I went to a small school and no one there was interested, so I had to get a bit more creative.
Few outsiders know it, but on AOL there is an underground community of electronic publications or "zines" about 15,000 people strong. I happened to come across it in the early days, right when it was new and thriving. When I read my first zine, the concept of writing whatever you wanted and sending it out to a waiting audience was absolutely thrilling. So that summer when I was extremely bored and writing with no one to read it, I decided to start Xenith. It started as a zine on AOL and it still is--despite the website I still send out each issue as a zine. (Xenith actually holds the record for the longest running zine now--6 years). I started a small website for Xenith on Geocities about 9 months later and about 11 months after that, I moved Xenith to its own domain where it has evolved into what you see today.

Have you met any really gifted teen writers on your site?
Oh, many! I've had a couple of people who have competed in the National Youth Poetry Slam Finals who submitted some really excellent work. Also, other AOL zine editors have been amazing and very talented people to get to know--one was actually a reporter for Channel One at one time. I've found that quality attracts quality. When I first started Xenith, I published everything that was sent to me. Eventually, I got so many submissions, I had to start picking and choosing and publishing only the best. As more people learned about the site, the more submissions I got. The more submissions I got, the more quality work I had to choose from. And the better quality seemed to attract even more people and not only make them come back but spread the word--either through linking to Xenith or e-mailing people about it or just talking about it. It's really built up its own momentum and many of the regular visitors are just excellent writers.

What do you love about your site?
I love the people. The people on the message boards, the people who write for me. I love reading everyone's work--getting a glimpse into all these people's lives and experiences. And when I was 16, it made me feel less alone. I've also always loved the challenge of trying to take Xenith to the next level--to see what else I can do, to see how I can improve it. It's more competing with myself, than anything.

Have any memorable experiences associated with the site?
I've had a ton, but I can't remember them all at the moment. I remember one time when my site's traffic went WAY up and I had no clue why. Then one of my readers e-mailed me and told me that the New York Times' Upfront Magazine had named Xenith as one of the best sites on the web for teenagers. THAT really, really made my day.

What do you think makes your site stand out from the rest?
You know, I really do think the quality plays a big part in it. I know when I go to another site and they're full of cliched love poems and angry no-one-understands me poems, I just kind of say "Eh..." and move along. That kind of stuff is so common that it's boring--you can read it anywhere and it's all the same. It's really just a pain to have to dig through the crap to find the good stuff and there's never any guarantee that you'll ever find the good stuff. I at least try to present the best work that I can and I find that it keeps people coming back for more and inspires them to try to up the quality of their work so they can get in too. I also hope that the passion I have for the site shows through as well.

Any advice you can offer to teen writers?
It may be a cliche that "Writers are not born, they're made," but it's true. I think some people are born with much more talent for writing than others, but they'll never become good writers unless they practice. Likewise, people who weren't necessarily born with talent can become very good writers with enough training and practice. You're not always bound by what you're born with. And in reverse, just because you were born with a talent for writing doesn't mean you'll be any good unless you practice. So don't let yourself become discouraged if you're not writing as well as you'd like yet. Practice and passion can go a long way.

~

Copyright 2000-2006 ~ All Rights Reserved.