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Jem Matzan

Goodreads Author

Born

in Fairport, NY, The United States

Website

http://www.jemmatzan.com

Genre

Fiction, Humor and Comedy, Nonfiction

Member Since

January 2013

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Jem Matzan If I'm writing something work-for-hire, I have a list of topics or an outline to work from, so I don't get writer's block with those projects. If I've…moreIf I'm writing something work-for-hire, I have a list of topics or an outline to work from, so I don't get writer's block with those projects. If I've covered the topic sufficiently, then it's done. If there are topics or items that I can't get enough information for, then I'll remove them from the project until the resources are available. I think a lot of fiction writers do the same thing; they create an outline and fill in the blanks. I don't outline my fiction, though.

I have a lot of tactics for overcoming writer's block with fiction. If I feel intimidated by starting where I left off, I'll go back a few hundred words and read and revise, and by the time I get to the end, I often have the momentum to continue. I might also go back to the beginning and read and revise from there. Or I'll consult my notes file for ideas; it contains a list of ideas, lines of dialogue, character summaries, and revision goals.

I think we write stories to -- consciously or not -- solve some kind of problem or answer an internal question. The story uses elements from our experience to help us subconsciously develop solutions. So if you are truly at an impasse in your writing, then you need to fuel the fire by doing new things with your life. Even if it's going to a different grocery store, or finding a new route to the office, it's going to help you form new connections that will spur your creativity.

There is more to creating a book than writing the manuscript, though: marketing plans, internal and cover art, ancillary content (synopsis, pitch, promotional articles, etc.), character summaries, notes for revision. There is always some effort you can put into the project to drive it forward on those days when you just don't have the mental clarity to write in the manuscript.(less)

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Who is your favorite fictional couple, and why?

Jem Matzan Until this question came up here, I didn't think much about this topic, and now that I've considered it, I don't really like fictional couples. I tend…moreUntil this question came up here, I didn't think much about this topic, and now that I've considered it, I don't really like fictional couples. I tend to write about people who are uniquely alone; their relationships are short.

When I think of other people's stories, no particular couple stands out because I just don't get much enjoyment out of reading about other people's relationships, real or not.

In terms of audiobooks I've narrated, I'm going to go with a non-standard answer: Murray and Tommy from Tropical Depression. They're not lovers, but they have a unique bond through friendship. It's one of those great rare human experiences: being friends with someone who could not be friends with anyone else.(less)

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Combine Editions
Jem Matzan’s books

Average rating: 3.35 · 43 ratings · 19 reviews · 26 distinct works

	Tropical Depression (Key West, #4) by Laurence Shames (Goodreads Author), Jem Matzan (Goodreads Author) (Narrator) 4.12 avg rating — 1,492 ratings — published 1996 — 21 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Virgin Heat (Key West, #5) by Laurence Shames (Goodreads Author), Jem Matzan (Goodreads Author) (Narrator) 4.01 avg rating — 1,169 ratings — published 1997 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Firsts by Rosalie Stanton (Goodreads Author), Jem Matzan (Goodreads Author) (narrator) 3.57 avg rating — 1,246 ratings — published 2009 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Try Catch Finally 2.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	SUSE Linux 10.1 Kick Start it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2006	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Openbsd 4.0 Crash Course did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2007 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tales from the Twentieth Century 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2000 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Search for the Emerald Blackbird 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2003 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Freebsd 6.2 Crash Course 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2007	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	SUSE Linux 10.1 Kick Start 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Jem Matzan's Blog

Reviewers wanted

Would you like to review Try Catch Finally? If so, you can get a review copy on these sites:

Netgalley: http://netgal.ly/TL6M49
Booksprout: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/review...

Negative reviews are welcome so long as they're reasonably detailed. Read more of this blog post »

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Published on November 21, 2022 13:39

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Jem’s Recent Updates

Jem Matzan and 1 other person liked Joseph Kirkenir's review of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges: "I'm not quite sure what I was supposed to take away from this book. There were no real actionable steps."
Oct 24, 2025 07:39PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Generosity Crisis by Nathan Chappell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Generosity Crisis by Nathan Chappell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jem Matzan and 1 other person liked Madeleine's review of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges: "this books narrative and analysis is all over the place. it’s primary emotional device is pathos-laden stories that do not meaningfully connect to its argument (ie long anecdotes to argue that nonprofit events can help a man and woman find lasting lo" Read more of this review »
Oct 24, 2025 07:39PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Generosity Crisis by Nathan Chappell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Generosity Crisis by Nathan Chappell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jem Matzan and 3 other people liked Liss Carmody's review of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges: "Wow, this book was a painful slog. I was really quite upset because I felt that I agreed with the central thesis as presented in the subtitle. I suppose I still basically agree with the thesis: that forming philanthropic relationships is important to" Read more of this review »
Oct 24, 2025 07:37PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Generosity Crisis by Nathan Chappell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Generosity Crisis by Nathan Chappell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jem Matzan has read The Red Baron: The Life and Legacy of Manfred von Richthofen by Charles River Editors	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 16, 2025 10:03PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Red Baron by Charles River Editors. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Red Baron by Charles River Editors <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jem Matzan and 2 other people liked John Biddle's review of Tropical Swap (Key West, #10): "Tropical Swap, the 10th Key West novel by Laurence Shames was good but not up to his typical high standards. It's a funny crime novel with inncoent people getting caught up in the action though happenstance. The story is good and the characters are t" Read more of this review »
Apr 16, 2024 03:01PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Tropical Swap by Laurence Shames. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Tropical Swap by Laurence Shames <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Jem Matzan (?)

“No back doors! I had a back door, but every fucker who thought he was bad wouldn't use the front door because everyone knows that if you're bad, you slip out through the back. I boarded it up - use the front door like everybody else.”
― Jem Matzan, The Hero

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“You killed a horse!"
My voice was still rough and low. "Well... he shouldn't 've been carrying you.”
― Jem Matzan, The Hero

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“Halleck is not an Israeli name, it’s an American name. Well, I mean if some woman in Israel happened to name her kid Halleck at some point in history, then I guess the argument for being an Israeli name could be made on a technicality, but it’s not ethnically Jewish. It’s a made-up name. It came from nowhere and means nothing. You can’t possibly get more American than that.”
― Jem Matzan, Try Catch Finally

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