Jonathan Kravetz on Publishing a Debut Novel
Thoughts on writing as a full-time career and experience in the publishing industry.
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TW Copyeditor Jess Barnett interviews Jonathan Kravetz, who is releasing his first book, titled How We Were Before, which will be released by Running Wild Press this month.
His short stories and plays have appeared in various journals, including The Iris Literary Journal, The Rappahannock Review, The Furious Gazelle, The Opiate Magazine, Narrative Northeast, and others. He also teaches a creative writing class online. His short story “The David” was turned into a podcast by Well Told Tales. He has published several other short stories, written a dozen science nonfiction books for children, and edited and ghostwritten several essays and memoirs. He is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Ducts.org (1999–2019), a biannual literary webzine devoted to publishing engaging personal essays, memoirs, art, fiction, and humor.
Jonathan is also the founder of the monthly reading series Trumpet Fiction, which is held on the second Saturday of every month at KGB Bar in the East Village in New York City. His plays have been produced in New York City (NYC), England, and Dallas. His play Sing Sing was a semifinalist for the National Playwrights Conference (NPC) at the Eugene O’Neill Theater. His play Insomnia was a finalist in the Summer Scribes Series and for 12 Peers Theater and was selected as a semifinalist for the NPC.
Jonathan holds a Master in Cinema Studies degree from New York University (NYU) and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Queens College, where he was a Louis Armstrong resident. He teaches fiction and dramatic writing in NYC and drama at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
How We Were Before is Jonathon’s first novel and a crime fiction novel. When a savage home invasion results in the death of a town’s most glamorous couple, the surviving friends and relatives of the victims must navigate the emotional aftermath. Exasperated high school vice principal Zachary Rivers makes a final effort to reach a troubled student. Town librarian Shelby Blythe—the eldest daughter of the murder victims—begins a correspondence with Billy Lawson, her parents’ murderer. Evelyn Kavanaugh, a retired marketing manager and beloved family friend of the Blythes, embarks on a luxurious cruise as a prelude to suicide. Noam Russell, Billy Lawson’s best friend, returns to Benfield to claim a share of his deceased father’s estate. Samantha Blythe’s maternal attempt to help an employee invokes a renewed desire to connect with her own family.
The spaces between stories are haunted by echoes of the deceased couple’s life—from the ignorant bliss of first impressions and great expectations to the tumultuous troubles of middle age and, finally, to an undying hope for reconciliation.
This week’s conversation focuses on Jonathan’s writing process, experience in publishing, and career as a full-time writer. He states that he knew he wanted to tell a story about a small town but needed to expand on it. He started focusing on various levels of morality within the book’s characters and expanded on the novel through their backstories. Having received rejections for other full-length novels he’d written, he used the structure of a novel he admired.
During the editing process, Jonathan found it difficult to take the notes his editor gave him. He admits that he was stubborn, confessing that his editor often needed to “beat [him] over the head” with her notes before he accepted any of them. However, after seeing how the edits improved his novel, he was happy with the notes that he accepted.
The two also discuss his career as a full-time writer. Immediately after graduating from college, he was a reporter for a small weekly newspaper, after which he went to graduate school for cinema studies in NYC. His book is heavily influenced by his time working as a reporter and studying in NYC. While he found that he was not an academic and did not like the culture at NYU, he was adopted by his two writing parents, Fred Hudson and Ella Dark. They both encouraged him and helped him grow as both a writer and a person.
Check out Jonathan’s episode to hear more about his thoughts on writing as a full-time career and experience in the publishing industry.
Keep up with Jonathan:
Website: https://www.jonathankravetz.com/about
Purchase How We Were Before here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Were-Before-Jonathan-Kravetz-ebook/dp/B0CDKT1Z6F/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CG373J4OR244&keywords=how+we+were+before+by+jonathan+kravetz&qid=1706215221&sprefix=%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1&dplnkId=aaa2a36b-43b4-485a-af36-9cf0928fc502&nodl=1
It's challenging to get notes on your writing. Writing is such a personal act. I have spent time in my first draft season with critique partners working on the skill of receiving feedback. I try to keep in mind that editors and critique partners are trying to make my writing even better. Tough to remember sometimes! Thanks for this post!
Learning about the joys and challenges of publishing is important for all writers. Cheers and congratulations to Jonathan!