editing – Jonathon Mast: Author

Waiting to Write

Sometimes to complete a book you need to stop writing. This last week I didn’t write a word, and for once it had nothing to do with depression nor a busy ministry schedule in my day job. Nope. This time it was my wife’s fault. See, my wife edits all my books. She does aContinue reading “Waiting to Write”

I’m Gonna Need More Cookies

Writing by itself takes little to no money. If you’ve got a laptop or a notepad or a blank wall, you can write. Being an author, however, can accrue many expenses, especially if you’re attempting to self-publish. Some of the bigger costs can involve getting covers, purchasing ISBN’s, marketing, and formatting so the book looksContinue reading “I’m Gonna Need More Cookies”

It’s Not Done Yet

It took eight days. Eighteen hours, fifteen minutes of writing time. It’s just over 42,000 words long. But the rough draft is done. The rough draft of what? Well, we can get to that in about a year, maybe. But this is the important part: the act of raw creation is complete. Now comes theContinue reading “It’s Not Done Yet”

I Don’t Care About Commas

My editor/wife yelled at me. A lot. She yelled mostly about commas. “Should this comma be here? It feels right, but is it right? The Chicago Manual of Style doesn’t help!” And then she tore my arm off my body and beat with it, using the flying splashes of blood to form a summoning circleContinue reading “I Don’t Care About Commas”

Writing is like laundry.

Ah, laundry! The never ending cycle! You throw the clothes in the wash… and then the dryer… and then you wear them. (Sometimes you fold them, if you’re civilized.) And then… back in the wash! Yes, the circle of life! And it’s a lot like writing. Well, kind of. See, when you’re preparing a bookContinue reading “Writing is like laundry.”