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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Every fall The New Yorker publishes a fashion issue, one of my least favorite topics to read about. But I push myself to read the articles anyway, because if the storytelling is good (and I do trust the judgment of their editors), then anything can be fascinating.

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In this year’s issue, I read a profile of a French perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian. His goal from a young age was to be the best in his chosen field, and he chose perfumes. He climbed the ladder of his profession to great success and eventually started his own business, which sold to LVMH, a luxury goods company that includes brands such as Dior.

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When a renowned perfumer at Dior was near retirement, Kurkdjian awaited a call—he was confident he was the best person for the job. But he soon learned he was not being considered at all, a crushing disappointment. A few weeks later he decided he couldn’t let the opportunity sail past. He sent a four-line email to an executive proposing himself for the prestigious role. He tells the New Yorker, “When I was a young perfumer, I had to push open all the doors myself. But here I was, expecting them to come ask me? I said, ‘Francis, you have to jump.’ I remembered my audacité.” He got the job.

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I love this story for so many reasons, but mainly for this: Writers are often guilty of assuming their excellence will be recognized and will wait to be approached with opportunities, prizes, even money. But to get what we want, we have to ask and put ourselves out there. You need to nudge providence in your direction—plus other people don’t know your dreams. They might be happy to make them come true.

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Jane

P.S. Most popular post this month: 3-Part Structure for Memoir​ ​ P.P.S. How not to freak out about the US elections by Oliver Burkeman

​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.)

I’ve switched to Thunderbird for reading email

For nearly a decade, I’ve been using Postbox as an email client, but I’ve never been all that satisfied with it. Unfortunately, the options for Mac users are slim and expensive. (I won’t use Apple’s native Mail app—it has imploded on me one too many times—and I’ll never concede to using Gmail. Let’s not even discuss Outlook.)

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Last week, Postbox announced it had been sold, which didn’t surprise me since its development has stagnated. So I decided to move to Thunderbird, a free, open-source solution I once used in the distant past.

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I should have made the move a long time ago. Postbox was really nothing more than a fancy Thunderbird—and Thunderbird today is far better.

EditGPT: a tool for writers and editors alike

For writers or editors who pay to use Grammarly or ProWritingAid (which now include or offer AI features), it might be time to take a look at editGPT. You can try it for free.

There’s a new version of Neko Atsume (Kitty Collector)

​Calling all cat lovers! In the sequel, the toys you buy for your cats will wear out from use, needing to be replaced. Clever.

Download my latest digital tools list

For those of you who remember receiving my favorite digital tools list when you first joined this newsletter, I’ve recently made some significant changes. You can download the latest version here.​

IN-PERSON WORKSHOP IN NEW YORK CITY

Email Newsletter Intensive with Jane Friedman (Jan. 9, 2025, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

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Despite its everlasting value, email marketing remains a missed opportunity for a lot of authors—and it’s by far the number-one overlooked tool for book sales and marketing. When authors invest in building their platform, they often prioritize social media. But social media is out of one’s control and ephemeral. Email is not. Being able to directly reach your readers, or your most engaged audience, is a powerful capability that rewards your time and investment. While it can feel difficult and slow-going to build a list (and like you’re “bothering” people with your messages), these are mindset issues that can and should be overcome.

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This hands-on workshop (limited to 10 students) lays the foundation for you to write and publish a free email newsletter that ultimately generates earnings for you in the months and years ahead.

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Your turn: book subscriptions

In the last issue, I asked you to share any book subscription services that you enjoy. Other than Kindle Unlimited, no one had an answer, so for those who aren’t aware, here are a few popular ones. Might make a good gift for someone (or yourself?) this holiday season.

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• ​Literati: specializes in children’s boxes by age
• ​Illumicrate: newly released and exclusive hardcovers, along with merchandise
• ​LitJoy: customized books and collectibles every quarter
• ​FairyLoot: for fantasy lovers

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Check your local bookstore, too—some offer excellent subscription programs.

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Next question: Do you send holiday cards? Do you have a favored source for them? Tell me about it! Hit reply to this message, or head over to Discord to share.

Free resources featuring Jane

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• Video: Author Platform Mastery: Website, Social Media, Newsletter​
• Video: Why Are So Many Books Mediocre?​
• Nov. 15: The Surprise of LinkedIn, a business clinic with Jane Friedman and Allison K Williams
• Dec. 15: Story Genres, a free talk about narrative expectations and narrative construction with Jule Kucera and Jane Friedman

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Upcoming online classes

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• ​Memoir Bootcamp with Allison K Williams, Nov. 6, 13 & 20
• ​Mastering Suspense & Tension with Tiffany Yates Martin, Dec. 11
• ​How to Get Published: Land a Book Deal in 2025 with Jane Friedman, Jan. 16

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Meet Jane at an event

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• ​NYU Advanced Publishing Institute (NYC), Jan. 6–10, 2025
• ​Email Newsletter Intensive (NYC), Jan. 7 & 9, 2025
• ​AWP Conference & Bookfair (Los Angeles), March 26–29, 2025
• ​ECPA Leadership Summit (Nashville), April 29–30, 2025

“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​

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