This is one of a series of five-year, COVID-19 pandemic anniversary articles The Accolade’s Spotlight team has expanded from its original print version that appeared in the Monday, March 24, issue.
Co-business manager and Spotlight team reporter sophomore Ashley Kang interviewed Jonathan Hart via email on Tuesday, Feb. 4, about his experience as an author during COVID-19. The interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
Question: How and when did you get started in writing?
Answer: I wrote a short story in a creative writing class [in the early 2000s], and people listened and didn’t make fun of me, so that started me off. Then, I resumed procrastinating until I decided that I must do something with my life.
Q: Who or what encouraged you?
A: NO ONE! Yes, I exaggerate. However, a lot of people told me to get lost. You swing a hundred times, and you’re fortunate to connect with a few incredible people who change your life. I owe everything to my parents, and I do everything for them.
Q: How do you think the COVID-19 pandemic affected your writing process/routine?
A: COVID-19 turned my life upside down. I’m not going to go there because it’s too much of a downer, and I want to spare us both.
Q: Even though you want to spare us both, can you please expand on how COVID-19 affected your book’s publication and/or your process of writing it?
A: I’d done most of the writing pre-COVID-19. However, I did a lot of rewriting and editing during the pandemic. I also worked on some other things. With everything going on, I felt selfish discussing it. I feel selfish discussing it now.
Q: No need to feel selfish since I’m sure we have lots to learn from you. Please share with us what motivated you to keep writing amid everything that happened because of COVID-19.
A: I wasn’t motivated, but I wanted to complete what I had started. Also, for better or for worse, writing is what I do.
Q: What did you learn about yourself as a writer during this time?
A: I learned that I needed to get a lot better. You can always get better.
Q: Speaking about getting better, tell us about your novel, Party School. How did you decide to focus on young adults as your main characters and college life as your setting?
A: I overheard someone mocking certain schools, and that set off my humor antenna. I went from there, but only after a lot of procrastination. Anyway, I wanted to write something funny. Eventually, it evolved into something serious.
Q: How long did it take for you to revise your draft and finally release it?
A: It took too long. In one form or another, I’ve been working toward this my entire life, even when I was unaware or unconscious. Yes, it took a while.
Q: How did you feel when your novel was finally published in 2022?
A: I felt some relief, and then I was overwhelmed with anxiety. I second-guessed myself. I wondered if anyone would read it. And then, I worried what they would think if they read it. Fun times! By the way, READ IT! And please write a review if you have anything remotely positive to say. Yes, I’m annoying! But I did say please.
Q: Looking back, would you do anything differently from the start of your writing process to the publishing process?
A: OF COURSE, I WOULD DO A FEW THINGS DIFFERENTLY! But what’s done is done. Ultimately, I accomplished what I set out to do.
Q: What message would you want your readers to glean after reading Party School?
A: I don’t want to preach to anyone but here goes: Let’s all be a bit kinder. Let’s stop looking at our phones and listen! Apologies for preaching. I warned you.
Q: It’s interesting that you bring up preaching. So what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
A: Let’s start with reading. Read! But don’t read too much because you must begin. Think! What’s important to you? What gets under your skin? What must you share? But don’t think too much and psych yourself out. Discuss your ideas and get inspired. But don’t discuss too much because you must begin. Keep going. Lastly, don’t procrastinate, which is easier said than done.
Q: What are your future aspirations/plans as a writer?
A: I have a few things that I’m working on, but I don’t want to jinx it. Of course I just did.
Q: Not to jinx anything again, but what are your thoughts about basing your next novel on the fifth anniversary of COVID-19?
A: I mention COVID-19 in both of the things I’m working on. However, it’s not the focal point. I tried to find something funny in it even though it’s not funny. I give COVID-19 a big thumbs down.
