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A note from Jane

Recently, my mom shared an observation I had never heard before. She summed up my older sister’s essence as: "Thought is action."

Meaning: if my sister notices something that should be done, it gets done. Right away. Meanwhile, the rest of us might entertain a thought, consider it worthy of action, but leave it for later (or never).

I admire my sister’s spontaneous action—action without dithering and anxiety. Once you realize the appropriate course of action, then "now is the right time," the Zen saying goes.

But I find it easy to get bogged down in fear. Writers especially have to deal with a lot of added layers of crap when it comes to acting on their work—because what if you damage the potential of a beloved project by acting in the wrong way?

Is now the right time to submit?
Is now the right time to invest in an editor?
Is now the right time to follow up?
Is now the right time to give up?
Is now the right time to switch paths?

No right answers—only what you can live with. It is a veritable superpower to keep your focus and good humor amidst uncertainty.

In the last issue, I asked you to tell me about your favorite inexpensive framing solutions. Here’s what you said:

IKEA offers a great selection of simple inexpensive frames, with mats included, for artwork, family photos, etc. —Judith Henry (IKEA was also recommended by Nancy Cavillones as the nicest cheap option)
Quality frames, especially any of size, can be incredibly expensive. But I’ve had amazing luck with Target’s Made by Design poster frames. They’re well made for the price point. (Any frames that are cheaper usually aren’t.) Relatedly, I also discovered I didn’t want to ding my walls even further to frame the large artwork I suddenly craved. I became a big fan of Great Big Canvas, which offers wall peel versions of their wide selection of artwork. —Yvie Jones
For either blown-up photos or canvas paintings, I’ve always liked the custom frames I’ve ordered at PictureFrames.com. This ends up a reasonably low-cost option if you have a large amount of pictures to frame, you usually get a better deal per picture for doing more. Plus, an account sometimes offers really good discounts. For pictures done embedded in glass, we’ve had good success with FractureMe.com. It’s a beautiful product, although I can’t truly describe this as low in cost. —Beth Buechler
For inexpensive yet gallery-quality frames for artwork, I love Ampersand Floaterframes. They’re perfect for works on stretched canvas or panel, and for things that can be adhered to panel, like varnished works on paper. I varnish original watercolors with archival wax, then adhere them to Ampersand panels with acrylic gel medium. It’s so easy to then set the panel into the frame, which comes with all necessary hardware and clear instructions. —MJ Millington

Next question: An Electric Speed reader asks: "Do you have any free art/photography resources for those creating their own book covers? It’s hard to find stock photos without having to sign up for it. Even those free trials end up costing after a month if you don’t watch out." Hit reply to this email to share your favorite resources, or head over to Discord.

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