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A note from Jane

When I was taking pottery classes, I created a mug with my name stamped on the side. It was part of a larger project that required making many mugs—but this one, I just wanted to keep for myself.

During critique, the professor called it a "T-shirt design." He wasn’t intending to insult me, but his meaning was clear. I had produced something déclassé.

New writers can be in a similar position when submitting work for review. While I don’t think publishing is full of snobs, it sometimes feels that way.

Adding the copyright symbol to your unpublished manuscript: the biggest tell of a noob writer
Asking an editor/agent to sign a non-disclosure agreement: great way to elicit an eye roll
Calling your work a "fiction novel": oh dear
Declaring your book is so unique there are no comparable titles or authors: even with 1 million new titles published every year?

Fortunately, I had enough maturity to see my pottery professor’s feedback for what it was: a professional artist trying to steer me in the right direction.

But let me tell you, mugs with names are very popular. In fact, I just bought a beautiful one from Rookwood Pottery with its logo stamped on the side, a T-shirt design perfectly executed.

As so many experts suggest, I advise learning the rules. Then break them with knowledge and power.

Writers are often told that agents and editors hate prologues, but if you thumb through the opening pages of published books, you’re reasonably likely to see one. How do so many make it past that alleged taboo?

In this online class, you’ll learn how to decide whether a prologue serves your story, and how to write one that feels essential, effective, and enhances the reader’s experience of the story. We’ll also examine the most common prologue pitfalls and how to avoid them, and use examples from published works to analyze prologues that work well—and those that may not.

In the last issue, I asked you to tell me about the one thing you always take with you, or otherwise do, to make travel easier or more comfortable. I was overwhelmed with responses! Here’s a selection of what you said:

I love a foot hammock for long flights. They slip over the tray table and give you the ability to rearrange your legs and feet into more positions in that limited airplane footwell. Plus, they cost less than $20 and take up almost no space in a carry-on since they are just a strap and a piece of fabric. —Jessica Snyder

Because I live in the Middle East, most of my flights are long-haul and I don’t own a winter coat. So my travel must-have is this cashmere wrap. It’s an airplane blanket, an extra layer, a scarf, or folded up in its own little pouch it’s a pillow. Pricy but sturdy, long-lasting and oh-so-soft. Kept me warm in the Netherlands in February under just a windbreaker! —Allison K Williams
A sound machine is my travel must. It saves you from having to be that person who requests to move rooms in the hotel because the person in the next room is too loud (though I’ve been that person, too). —Anna David
Packing cubes! They help organize and compress your clothes. And when traveling with my kids, they each get their own packing cube that I can quickly pop out when we arrive at our destination. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to find online. —Lisa Katzenberger
My go-to travel helpers are the MUJI brand containers for face soap, toothpaste, creams etc. They come in tubes, screw-tops and pump sprays. All small enough for carry-on and durable for reuse over and over. And wildly inexpensive. —Julie Pithers
I don’t travel much now, but when I did, I always had an assortment of zip-ties. Surprising how many uses they have. Emergency clothing and luggage repairs, holding together damaged video gear, temporary key chains, and so on. I once fixed a lectern that was collapsing with a few zip ties. They are amazingly strong, easily pull pieces together tight, weigh almost nothing, and take little space, but they quickly solve a lot of problems on the road. —Marv Waschke
Bagsmart travel cord organizer: It’s a slim, zippered, soft-sided bag that has elastic loops and netting to hold charging cables and other phone/iPad/laptop-related cords in place. They make a bunch of different sizes and styles. —Cecilia Tan
To prepare for flights, I always pack a couple trash bags in my carry-on. It’s a 15-year habit, started after my toddler son upchucked on a hot plane. —Carolyn Cannuscio
Pacsafe portable safe: it packs flat when empty. I lock it to something immovable like heavy furniture or a radiator in my hotel room or Airbnb. It’s a relief to be able to leave my valuables without worrying about them. —Ingrid Truemper

Next question: Do you have a favorite piece of workout apparel or gear—or a workout gizmo you can’t do without? Hit reply to this email and let me know, or discuss over on Discord. (For me, cold weather running demands a Runningluv band for the runny nose—sadly, unavailable for sale at the moment.)

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