Electric Speed is a biweekly newsletter that shares resources for creative people (since 2009!), brought to you by Jane Friedman. Sign up here.​

A note from Jane

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Recently my husband and I started watching an older Netflix series, BoJack Horseman, about a washed-up actor who starred in a 1990s sitcom. I went into it with no expectations or information about the plot line.

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When we first meet BoJack, he is trying but failing to write his contracted memoir for Penguin Publishing. During a visit with his editor in New York, the publisher is depicted as a money-losing operation in a dilapidated building, where his editor is desperate for a book—any book—to earn money and keep the lights on. BoJack, meanwhile, is hoping that publication of this memoir will change his fortunes and lead to a comeback.

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Without giving too much away, the publication of the book does indeed change his fortunes. The show offers plentiful satire and social commentary on the media and entertainment industry, skewering every type of figure and behavior. But one belief system it retains, at least for the purposes of its character arc, is the power of a book to change everything. If the show took the most darkly humorous approach, BoJack’s book would’ve released and no one would’ve paid much attention at all.

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Jane

P.S. Most popular blog post this month: How Printing Innovations Created an Enduring Class Divide in Books​

​Bob Eckstein​

ISSUE SPONSOR

Jane’s Electric Speed List

Here are some of the latest things I’ve discovered. (I am not paid to mention any of these resources; there are no affiliate links.)

Use Dropbox to scan and store documents

This tip comes from reader Ed Pearlman: “I discovered yesterday that the Dropbox app allows me to scan a document from my phone into Dropbox quickly and easily. I scanned all 80 pages of a 50-year-old journal in less than 5 minutes, and it’s more readable than the original because of the heightened contrast.” Learn more from Dropbox.​

A great gift shop for Midwesterners (and those who love Midwesterners)

• Too Midwest to Be Stressed
• The Midwest: God’s Gift to Planet Earth
• The Midwest: Friendly Folks & Salads Made with Marshmallows
• No Coast

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If those taglines appeal to you, then I bet you’ll love the gifts at the Raygun shop. (Those in Minnesota or Iowa will really enjoy. )

For frequently used text: Jot & Paste

Do you make use of certain message templates, symbols, or emoji many times throughout the day? Jot & Paste offers two keyboard shortcuts to help you quickly paste your frequently used copy. Also works for taking quick notes. Free for both Mac and PC.

A lesson in crafting stories about yourself

Several months ago, Mark & I saw My Octopus Teacher, a deeply moving nature documentary by a South African filmmaker. The simple premise: Every day, without fail, the filmmaker dives along the coast near his home to look for and visit a specific wild octopus.

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As the title indicates, it’s much more than a nature documentary: it’s also a story about the filmmaker himself. In a recent class about hybrid memoir, author Courtney Maum referenced My Octopus Teacher for its storytelling structure and approach, or how you can successfully craft a story that’s partly memoir, but not entirely memoir.

NEXT ONLINE CLASS

July 10: Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot with Jane Cleland

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The stories that keep readers up all night share three key characteristics: they’re suspenseful, well-structured, and cleverly plotted. In this comprehensive overview for beginning novelists, you’ll discover how to write tighter, more polished first drafts by focusing on the underpinnings of effective storytelling. We’ll discuss how to: create spine-tingling suspense by escalating conflict and raising stakes; choose the structure that’s best for your story; and integrate plot twists, reversals, and moments of danger to help build suspense while controlling your story’s pace.

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Your turn: light travel bags

In the last issue, I asked you to share a favorite travel pouch or light bag. Here’s a selection of what you said:

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• For everyday and travel: Baggallini w/RFID protection. Lightweight, durable, numerous pockets, good value for money. My favorite bag for traveling with my camera and use as a purse: ThinkTank. Lightweight, lots of pockets and rain protective cover. —Barb Magera
• I recently used a SCOTTeVEST Featherweight travel vest. I love its versatility and ability to hold stuff while keeping both hands (and shoulders!) free. —Mike Palanski
• I just purchased a Baggu Cloud carry-on after admiring the one my friend has been using. It is light and packs into a pouch. You can easily use it for a weekend getaway. —Sandy Reynolds
• I swear by Longchamp as a go-to travel bag brand. I had an apple green tote for 10 years before I gave it away. It was indestructible going from plane to place to the wash and back. —Kristen Fiani
• My purse/briefcase or under-the-seat bag is the O.G. 2 by Lo & Sons. I tend to get the large size. After one of the women in my work circle got one, it became the go-to for a group of us who travel frequently. I even slip one of their smaller Waverly bags inside that I can pull out and use as a crossbody or even a belt bag. Can’t recommend highly enough. And for a new experiment, I’m trying Nomad Lane’s Bento Bag. I really like the clamshell-style opening and multiple sections for a combination overnighter and briefcase. —Kate Mcenroe
• Tom Bihn Small Cafe bag (they also have medium and large). My daily bag is the Baggalini Triple Zip Bagg. —Deborah Robson
• I loved Overland travel purses. When I went to replace my last one, I discovered they don’t exist anymore! However, Travelon purses come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, many of which have the large number of organizing pockets I’m looking for. I ended up with the Classic Mini Shoulder Bag. —Abigail Welborn
• I love the Foldie as an extra light travel bag. It folds down to a small pouch so you can take it with you in your suitcase to use during the day or as an extra bag, should you buy a lot of things. But I find it most useful when I have a carry-on suitcase and you can only take one other item. When I board, I put my small pack (for things I will need on the plane) and my purse in the Foldie which hooks right onto the handle of my suitcase. —Elizabeth Winthrop
• I travel a ton and I really like my new Wander+ Anti-Theft Travel Bag. I recently took it with me on a trip to Australia. It was very lightweight (unlike Baggalini products), had room for all my daily essentials, and I love the hidden passport pocket. Highly recommend. —Megan E. Freeman
• We just got back from 13 days in Europe, and I am so glad I took my Longchamp Le Pliage Original M Tote bag. I’ve had it for 14 years, which is a testament to the quality of the product. The bag is foldable and takes up little space in my carry-on during flights. Once I arrive at my destination, it is lightweight and spacious enough for all my day tripping needs. —Jennifer Kelly
• I actually bought the Nordace Siena bag (heavily advertised on Instagram) after finally seeing one in-person. It’s been my go-to commute and travel backpack, because it has pockets for everything. —Heather Button

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I received many more suggestions. Browse the full list!​

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Next question: Do you have a favorite accessory, app, or podcast for improving sleep/relaxation? Let me know about it. Hit reply to this message, or head over to Discord to share.

Free resources featuring Jane

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• ​Cultural Studies podcast: wide-ranging conversation about the publishing industry, including AI
• July 7: Efficient & Accessible Online Classes: behind the scenes with Jane & Mark
• July 29: One-on-One with Jane Friedman: Symposium conversation with Pipeline Artists
• Aug. 18: Why Nonfiction Book Proposals Often Fail with Jane Friedman
• Sept. 6: When Your Email Newsletter Growth Has Stalled, a business clinic with Jane Friedman

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Upcoming online classes

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• ​Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot with Jane K. Cleland, July 10
• ​Will Your Nonfiction Book Sell? with Jane Friedman, July 18
• ​Zero-to-Platform Bootcamp with Allison K Williams, July 20–21
• ​Run a Paid Newsletter That Actually Pays with Jane Friedman, July 25
• ​Establish (or Improve) Your Email Newsletter with Jane Friedman, Aug. 8
• ​Workbooks That Work with Anne Janzer, Aug. 15
• ​POV Mastery (3-part series) with Tiffany Yates Martin, Aug. 21–Sept. 4

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Meet Jane at an event

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• ​Midwest Writers Workshop (Muncie, Ind.), July 11–13, 2024
• ​Willamette Writers Hybrid Conference (virtual), July 31–August 4, 2024
• ​Book Proposal Intensive with Jane Friedman (Cincinnati), Oct. 17, 2024
• ​Writer’s Digest Annual Conference (Cincinnati), Oct. 17–20, 2024

“At electric speed, all forms are pushed to the limits of their potential.”
—Marshall McLuhan

Created by Jane Friedman I report on the publishing industry and help authors understand the business of writing. Connect on LinkedIn | Threads | Discord​ P.S. I have a paid newsletter, too.

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