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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I regularly hear from writers who tell me that such-and-such publishing practice is occurring, when that practice directly contradicts what I’ve said is true or accepted in the publishing industry. Quite naturally, these writers seek an explanation from me or guidance on next steps.

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Here is but one example: “This publisher is asking me to secure sales figures for my comparable titles and include them with my query/proposal. How do I get sales figures?”

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I’ve emphasized many times over the years that writers can’t secure specific sales numbers (except for their own books), and no agent or publisher should be asking for or expecting that information in writers’ submissions materials.

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So when faced with such quandaries, I have to consider:

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• Are accepted practices changing, and I’m not aware?
• Is this an outlying case? (Is there even a bad actor here?)
• Has the writer misunderstood the situation in some way?
• Is the writer telling me this based on secondhand, even thirdhand, information?

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In the past, I rarely, if ever, challenged what writers were telling me; I always assume people share information in good faith. No one wants to be navigating these impossible situations.

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But recently, out of frustration and curiosity (a desire to directly research whether practices are changing), I’ve started asking writers: Tell me more. Show me more. Where is this happening? Who is asking you for this? Point me to what you’re seeing so I can assess it for myself and give you a more informed answer.

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Since I began vetting claims, I’ve found that, in the vast majority of cases, no one can remember enough specifics for me to verify what’s true or to helpfully advise. In some cases, people have misquoted, misremembered, or misinterpreted what was said.

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I have revised my guidance on occasion, because practices can and do change. But a surprising amount of confusion is generated by the writing community itself. I don’t think any of it is malicious, but the fears and frustrations of writers often manifest in requirements and circumstances they imagine exist. And what we imagine is sometimes worse than reality.

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Jane

P.S. Most popular post this month: What the MFA Does and Does Not Do for Aspiring Novelists​

​Bob Eckstein​ ​

ISSUE SPONSOR

Jane’s Electric Speed List: 2024 Gift Guide

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.)

For people who love games: Wingspan

I am admittedly coming to this game rather late, but that doesn’t make it any less worthwhile. Wingspan is a bird lover’s dream, and for everyone else, it’s a beautifully and thoughtfully designed game. However, if you’re like me, the people you like to play games with live very far away. Fortunately, Wingspan has a relaxing and gorgeous app as well (available for multiple platforms), allowing you to play with your friends no matter where they live.

For the person who has everything (plus a sense of humor): Obvious Plant

I’ve bought gifts from this site with great success. However, a sense of humor is an absolute requirement. Look for Shrimp Tips. 🍤

For book lovers & bookstore lovers

An adorable DIY miniature bookstore kit. It even has working lights!

For foodies or others who appreciate the best spices and seasonings

I learned about these peppercorns from a New Yorker article that praised them to the skies. The company that sells them, Reluctant Trader, sells salt and spices as well. A lovely indulgence for yourself or a lucky someone.

Mastering Suspense and Tension with Tiffany Yates Martin / Dec. 11, 2024, 1–2:30 p.m. EST

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Suspense and tension are among the most important elements of readable stories that hook your readers and keep them turning the page, in every single genre. The terms are often used interchangeably, and they’re intimately related, but suspense is more an element of story and tension an element of scene.

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In a detailed exploration into these concepts, career editor Tiffany Yates Martin will show why a lack of tension and suspense may be what’s keeping you from a publishing contract or bestseller list—or simply costing you reader investment. We’ll examine how to determine whether you have enough suspense and tension in your story, along with tips for how to develop these elements to heighten your story’s impact and effectiveness and keep readers hooked.

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Note: If you previously experienced trouble registering for this class via PayPal, the problem is now fixed!

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Your turn: winter gloves 🧤

In the last issue, I asked you to share your favorite winter gloves. Here’s a selection of what you said.

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• I’m a Texan, so while it may get cold here, I realize that’s Texas cold and not northern-states cold. I like the 32 Degrees Tech Shield gloves. They come in different sizes and are less than $10, so I don’t feel terrible if I lose one and need to re-order. —Maureen O’Connor
• I live in Canada and found the warmest mittens I’ve ever had in my life at MINI TIPI. They’re a small, indigenous-owned business that ships worldwide. All of their products are super warm and make me look forward to cold weather! I also have a beautiful blanket and shawl, and gave mittens as Xmas gifts last year. —Judy Renouf
• Women’s Gripper Sensor Windbloc Gloves from Outdoor Research. Yes, they are $59, but I bought a pair 10 years ago and they are still going strong. They are breathable, warm, water resistant AND block the wind. With tech sensitive fingertips and sturdy pull-on loops, the design cannot be beat. —Stacy Wentworth
• My favorite gloves are L.L. Bean’s Waterproof 650 Down Gloves. I have very cold hands, and those are the only gloves I can wear in Montana’s winters. I’ve had this pair for several years, too, which is rare, because I’m hard on gloves. Most of the time, I wear mittens and carry an electric handwarmer. —AM Scott
• I am an avid walker, so gloves are essential in the winter. I have two pair: (1) Nike running gloves for temps down to 30 degrees. These gloves are not thick, but they are amazingly warm. (2) Heavy duty gloves from North Face. And I finally found some wonderful ear muffs last winter! I had fought with earmuffs that were not large/long enough and not warm enough. Ugg ear muffs are wonderful. —Donna Cygan
• Lands End EZ Touch Screen Cashmere Lined sheepskin gloves. Light, smooth, flexible, and a pleasure to wear. —Carolyn Bond
• L.L. Bean winter mittens with thinner wool glove inserts are good for the coldest conditions. However, they’re useless for doing tasks that require fine dexterity. I use them when running in the coldest temperatures. The pair I have are 30+ years old. The most effective and versatile winter glove option, I believe, is put on a pair of nitrile gloves first, then whatever pair of winter gloves you think appropriate to the activity and temperature. Winter gloves have loft and insulation for warmth, but nitrile gloves provide an essential moisture and air barrier to prevent the cooling effect of evaporation of hand perspiration, especially true when running in the winter. They have a smooth side and a rougher side. If worn right out of the box, your hand goes in the smooth side. However, I find it advantageous to turn them inside out before wearing them inside any other regular glove. The rough side is difficult to slide your hand in and out of the outer glove. —Peter Billard

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Next question: Do you use a smartphone stand or tripod at your desk? Tell me about it! Hit reply to this message, or head over to Discord to share.

Free resources featuring Jane

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• 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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• ​Mastering Suspense & Tension with Tiffany Yates Martin, Dec. 11
• ​Hybrid Publish or Self-Publish? with Jane Friedman, Dec. 18
• ​How to Get Published: Land a Book Deal in 2025 with Jane Friedman, Jan. 16
• ​The Art of Foreshadowing with Tiffany Yates Martin, Jan. 29
• ​Establish (or Improve) Your Email Newsletter with Jane Friedman, Feb. 6
• ​Roadmap to Yes: Plotting your Path to Publication (all about preparing submissions materials) with Jane Friedman, Feb. 22

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Meet Jane at an event

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• ​NYU Advanced Publishing Institute (NYC), Jan. 6–10, 2025
• ​AWP Conference & Bookfair (Los Angeles), March 26–29, 2025
• ​ECPA Leadership Summit (Nashville), April 29–30, 2025
• ​Craft & Publishing Voyage (cruise ship!), Aug. 27–Sept. 3, 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 | Bluesky | Discord​

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