About Jo Szewczyk:
Jo is a post-modern reject who spent most of their time writing jokes only Norm Macdonald, Thomas Pynchon, and Rachel get.
Much to his amusement, his newest book, the controversial “Surviving Gen X”, has been banned by churches, certain nation states, and from his mother's house.
When not being the top-ranked feline whisperer of Minnesota, Jo juggles his time between academia, his podcasts What's Kraken? and Streamin' Demons, and his websites of HauntedMTL a haven for horror enthusiasts, and Czykmate, a platform dedicated to the art of writing and helping others find their voice.
What inspires you to write?
For most of my writing, the 'what-if' inspires me if it is based on something that occurred. For example, if I have a side-character in one novel, I wonder what their life would be like outside of that novel. What-if a story was told from their point of view? This can then spin me into a new narrative for future works.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I love King for horror. I think the length of time and the new characters and plots that twist from him are amazing. Weis and Hickman are definitely my fantasy go-to and they are probably the reason why I write today. If you haven't checked out the OG Dragonlance series (and then the new ones!) you really should jump in. They are a lot of fun and have some of the best character development I've seen.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process is most described as using the Force. I usually have entire stories told to me from 'somewhere' and then I try my best to translate the voices in my head to the ones on the page. I don't always get it right and that's the struggle of most writers–to use a limited expression of language and try to tell the story that we see in our heads.
After writing a story, part of my editing process is to outline what I wrote. Do the characters make sense? Are there too many side characters? Does this plot ring true? How much time does each person do what? Did the location matter? Did the punch justify the set up? After all this, I can start editing.
After rounds of self-editing, I send it to professional editors (plural). I usually send it to one, then review and then send it to another. This gives me time and space I need to see my work with different eyes.
My final 'edit' is a read through with someone else. Things might make sense in my head but if I read it out loud to an audience and things clunk, I know I have issues that myself and my editors missed. Those are things that can be a single word in the wrong place and it can be quite maddening. It can also be quite rewarding when you finally land the story.
Funny enough, for a screenplay, I do the whole outlining and beats with index cards and a cork board before I write beyond scene one. Novels just seem a bit more 'whispered' to me.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
When I write fiction, I listen to my character. I think plot is great, but the characters have to make their own true choices or the writing feels dishonest.
What advice would you give other writers?
My advice to writers is that the art is more important than you. You can't have an ego in this. Things sometimes work great and other times they will bomb. I heard an acquaintance give advice about stand-up that fits writing as well: There is no such thing as a bad story, there is just a story that you aren't strong enough–yet–to tell. So, get stronger and revisit those troubled stories. The way you get stronger? Just like weight-lifting. You put in the reps.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Surviving Gen X is my first non-anthology release in about two decades. It took ten years to write and had several (I mean Several) versions before it came into final form. I had various publishers interested in the book (and more than a few rejections). In the end, my vision didn't match up with theirs and I turned them down.
I had a particular vision for this book and I didn't want to compromise. I already have a small press for horror anthologies, and I decided to use my resources to put this book out myself.
I think in the end, it's your choice. If you don't like what publishers are telling you (their vision) then keep trying different publishers. If none are really lining up then it's either them (not taking chances) or you (not seeing the forest for the trees).
In the end, it's your name on the cover. Just make sure if you go self-publishing there is a reason beyond "nobody wants it". If nobody wants it, you might not be ready to publish. Keep trying and come back when you're stronger, then see if those 'No' replies start to turn to 'Yes'.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Someone asked me this question ten years ago, and I got it semi-right. I thought ebooks wouldn't completely replace print (and they haven't) but I also thought print would make a major comeback (and it hasn't). I think the future will see less emphasis on the traditional big 4 publishers and a rise of indy people who decide "enough is enough" when they are told what they can write, what will sell, or even what their cut of the sales are for their own work. I see ebooks and print on demand, along with a lot of gig worker editors, cover designers, and interior people, make the future of publishing a personal one and less mass-produced.
What genres do you write?: literary fiction, horror, post modern, biography, graphic novel
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Jo Szewczyk Home Page Link
Link To Jo Szewczyk Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
