Related story: McKenna case: Postscripts to political careers

By M. CHARLES BAKST
Journal Staff Writer

I may be an old fogey but it doesn't mean there aren't still things to be learned.

I am a firm believer in test-marketing columns, that is, asking other columnists or reporters to take a quick look at what I've written. It may be that they know more about the subject matter and can protect me from error. But, in any event, a second pair of eyes is invariably useful on matters of style:

- Is the theme of the column clear or muddled?

- How can I get in and out of this section?

- Is an attempt at humor coming across?

Etc.

In this instance, outside comments made a crucial difference to the way this column turned out.

One of the most important came from Karen Lee Ziner, a Journal reporter. I showed the column to her because she had covered the arraignment of Marlene McKenna. Ziner said that although Marlene was the defendant, the column seemed to be more about Keven, her ex-husband and former state representative and president of the 1986 Constitutional Convention.

As soon as she said that, I knew she was right and I knew it would seem puzzling to the reader unless I added some material for perspective. So I reshaped and bolstered the first passage about him to make clear that, over the years, he had been more of a presence on the political scene than she had been.

It really helped.