From janefriedman.com
In Defense of Giving Up | Jane Friedman
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Becoming a mother was the motivation one freelance writer needed to abandon the toxic hustle culture by which she defined “success”.
#writing #selfpublishing #writingcommunity
10h ago
From janefriedman.com
Writing the Author’s Note for a Novel | Jane Friedman
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An Author’s Note can be the most direct way to communicate your book’s themes to editors, marketers, librarians, teachers, and readers.
on Wed, 11AM
From janefriedman.com
5 Myths About Tarot That Storytellers Should Know | Jane Friedman
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Like love and creativity, the best things in life are intangible. It’s the same with intuition, which the tarot helps us access and develop.
on Tue, 10AM
From janefriedman.com
How to Describe Your Target Readership So It’s Meaningful to Agents and Publishers | Jane Friedman
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Book proposals come together much more easily when the author has confidence and clarity on their target audience.
on Mon, 11AM
From janefriedman.com
My NaNoWriMo Was a Train Wreck | Jane Friedman
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One author discovers that when it comes to heavily-researched historical fiction, one’s ducks should be in a row before tackling NaNoWriMo.
on Nov 14
From janefriedman.com
Doubting Yourself Is Not Failing | Jane Friedman
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We do not live without a persistent undercurrent of questions, both tiny and tremendous. Doubt is part of us, so let us make peace with it.
on Nov 13
From janefriedman.com
The Human-Interest Approach: Focusing on People to Convey Facts | Jane Friedman
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Academics or experts writing for a broader audience than peers should consider framing complex facts through a personal lens.
on Nov 12
From janefriedman.com
5 Things Painting the Bathroom Reminded Me about Writing a Novel | Jane Friedman
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There will absolutely be tape lines to adjust and plot questions to answer along the way, so don’t let the prep prevent messy progress.
on Oct 31
From janefriedman.com
Breaking Point, Back Story, Resolution: A Three-Part Structure for Memoir | Jane Friedman
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Memoir can benefit from starting at the moment that change became inevitable, then explaining what came before and what followed.
on Oct 30
From janefriedman.com
Why the Best Life Lessons Are Writing Lessons, Too | Jane Friedman
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Whether in life or publishing, when faced with setbacks it’s important to stay present and find joy in the small triumphs.
on Oct 29
From janefriedman.com
Don’t Demonize Print on Demand | Jane Friedman
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The role and quality of POD (print on demand) is continually misunderstood by authors and the larger publishing community.
on Oct 29
From janefriedman.com
Forget the First Line. Focus on First Pages. | Jane Friedman
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Worry less about creating a first sentence that will shock and awe, and more about drawing readers into the story one link of the chain at a time.
on Oct 24
From janefriedman.com
Why Everyone Should Keep an Authority List | Jane Friedman
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What does an average person like me have to say? If you ever find yourself thinking that way, make a list of subjects you know inside and out.
on Oct 23
From janefriedman.com
Where Do the Stories Come From? | Jane Friedman
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Nonfiction writers have to decide where to collect their stories and how much to rely on their personal experience.
on Oct 22
From janefriedman.com
3 Bad Ideas for More Creative Writing | Jane Friedman
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Next time you feel stuck, abandoning perfection and embracing bad ideas might be just the trick for breaking out of a creative slump.
on Oct 18
From janefriedman.com
Murky Middles Begone: Ensure the Middle of Your Book Stands Strong | Jane Friedman
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It's easier to write beginnings and endings but often the middle is left sagging—not out of the lack of skill or care, but out of confusion.
on Oct 17
From janefriedman.com
5 Plot Hacks That Just Might Save Your Novel | Jane Friedman
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Struggling with the plot of your current work-in-progress? Maybe one of these tried and true solutions will do the trick for you.
on Oct 17
From janefriedman.com
Romance Authors Thrive in the Self-Publishing Era | Jane Friedman
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Christine Larson, author of Love in the Time of Self-Publishing, talks about the genre’s struggle with diversity, and how writers earn a living.
on Oct 10
From janefriedman.com
How to Handle Memory Gaps in Your Memoir | Jane Friedman
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Here are three techniques to help you write about an event when your memories of it are scattered, shattered, or gone.
on Oct 9
From janefriedman.com
How to Outline a Gothic Novel | Jane Friedman
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Spooky season is the perfect time to write that Gothic fiction tale you've been brewing. Learn the key genre conventions and how to outline your story.
on Oct 8
From janefriedman.com
How to Outline a Gothic Fiction Novel | Jane Friedman
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Spooky season is the perfect time to write that Gothic fiction tale you've been brewing. Learn the key genre conventions and how to outline your story.
on Oct 8
From janefriedman.com
On Writing and Shame | Jane Friedman
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One author examines the fear that accompanies publication—that a perceived flaw in the work, or herself, could cause embarrassment and shame.
on Oct 3
From janefriedman.com
Writing Lessons from Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility and Structure | Jane Friedman
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An in era of episodic adventure stories, Sense and Sensibility offered a novel with what modern readers would recognize as plot structure.
on Oct 2
From janefriedman.com
3 Suggestions for New Writers Navigating a Turbulent Industry | Jane Friedman
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Having retired from finance to pursue an MFA, one writer offers tips on embracing a new identity, taking risks, and maximizing strengths.
on Oct 1
From janefriedman.com
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With an optioned NYT bestseller under her belt, one author assumed she was on easy street—but every writing career has bumps in the road.
on Sep 17
From janefriedman.com
The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Writers: Powerful Lessons in Personal Sabotage | Jane Friedman
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Here’s how highly effective people and highly ineffective writers share the same seven habits, but apply their efforts in different directions.
on Sep 11
From janefriedman.com
Spontaneous Generation and Author Platform | Jane Friedman
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We all fantasize about overnight success, but building an audience—and platform—takes time, persistence, and strategy.
on Sep 10
From janefriedman.com
The Secret Sauce for Writers: Intuition | Jane Friedman
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Creative intuition is about trusting yourself to make bold choices, even when you can’t immediately justify them.
on Sep 4
From janefriedman.com
Co-Authoring: How to Keep the Drama On the Page | Jane Friedman
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Whether your writing partner is your spouse, best friend, or a colleague, here are some tips on setting expectations and sharing the work.
on Sep 3
From janefriedman.com
Publishing Advice from a Serial Submitter to Literary Magazines | Jane Friedman
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The outcome of submitting short work for publication is never in your control, but a thoughtful, realistic strategy can improve your odds.
on Aug 28
From janefriedman.com
Crowdfunding for Writers Who Need First-Time Guidance | Jane Friedman
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An experienced crowdfunding author offers an overview of the current landscape and tips for how a novice can plan a successful campaign.
on Aug 27
From janefriedman.com
Is It a Book? 5 Ways to Test Your Nonfiction Book Idea | Jane Friedman
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Asking yourself these questions can reveal whether your big idea is well suited to be a book—vs. a podcast, newsletter, or something else.
on Aug 15
From janefriedman.com
Choosing Story Perspective: Direct Versus Indirect POV | Jane Friedman
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Point of view is rarely the first storytelling element authors focus on in creating their stories, but it can arguably be the most important.
on Aug 14
From janefriedman.com
How I Went From "Big 5 or Die!" to Ecstatic Self-Published Author | Jane Friedman
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One author reflects on the journey that caused her to embrace self-publishing not as a last resort but as a victory.
on Aug 13
From janefriedman.com
When It Comes to Characters We Love, Vulnerability, Not Likeability, Is Key | Jane Friedman
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In general, we don’t turn to fiction for stories about perfect people. What really makes us care is understanding another’s vulnerabilities.
on Aug 8
From janefriedman.com
4 Questions to Strengthen Lean Manuscripts | Jane Friedman
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Readers crave stories that are rich and immersive; novels that fall far below the standard word counts might be ripe for improvement.
on Aug 7
From janefriedman.com
How to Use Tarot to Build Your Brand as a Creative | Jane Friedman
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The tarot is a powerful brand building tool for creatives, because it gives us a rich language for finding—and articulating—ourselves.
on Aug 1
From janefriedman.com
How to Write a Story Retelling | Jane Friedman
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Retellings, like any genre, come with their own characteristics and conventions to honor the original text and meet reader expectations.
on Jul 30
From janefriedman.com
Attention, Please! 7 Drug-Free Concentration Boosters for Writers with ADHD | Jane Friedman
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Writing with ADHD comes with its unique set of challenges, but the right strategies and tools can help harness creativity and maintain productivity.
on Jul 25
From janefriedman.com
Moving Characters Around in Your Story Space: Improve Your Choreography Skills | Jane Friedman
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Your characters’ movements and gestures in any given space must convey enough to paint the scene for readers without becoming too detailed.
on Jul 24
From janefriedman.com
How to Create a Believable Magic System in Your Fantasy Story | Jane Friedman
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Believable magic systems will not only keep fantasy writers organized but will also help readers stay more immersed in the story’s world.
on Jul 23
From janefriedman.com
The Florence (Italy) Enigma for Creative People | Jane Friedman
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While London and Paris are classic destinations for literary sightseeing, one retreat organizer draws inspiration from the magic of Florence.
on Jul 18
From janefriedman.com
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Before long, every major publisher will be earning money from AI training, whether through collective licensing or directly with tech companies.
on Jul 17
From janefriedman.com
The Platform Authors Need Now (That Isn’t Social Media) | Jane Friedman
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We best create an audience of readers by publishing our work, carrying out projects we care about, and making personal connections.
on Jul 16
From janefriedman.com
When You're Able to Crowdsource Priceless Writing Advice | Jane Friedman
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In a search for external validation while drafting a memoir, one author found herself invited onto a popular podcast in esteemed company.
on Jul 11
From janefriedman.com
How an Independent Midwestern Publisher Not Only Survives, But Thrives | Jane Friedman
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Doug Seibold, the founder of Evanston-based Agate Publishing, is doing his part to foster publishing careers in America’s heartland.
on Jul 10
From janefriedman.com
What Is a Developmental Editor? What Can You Expect?
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Developmental editors help authors with their book structure and content. If your manuscript lacks focus, your DE helps you find the right direction.
on Jul 9
From janefriedman.com
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Academia lets writers get away with stringing together facts, but appealing to a general audience means constructing a compelling narrative.
on Jul 9
From janefriedman.com
How Printing Innovations (and More) Created an Enduring Class Divide in Books | Jane Friedman
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An excerpt from Michael Castleman’s The Untold Story of Books details the origin of copyright, and how paper innovations created pulp fiction.
on Jul 2
From janefriedman.com
Why Your Revision Shouldn’t Start on Page One | Jane Friedman
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Just as you wouldn’t paint a house under construction, you need to revise with an eye on story structure before you dress up the writing.
on Jun 28