[Electric Speed] Online banking | Finding comp titles | Preserve family stories

A note from Jane

Recently I listened to a group of women in publishing talk about breakthrough moments in their careers. The story I will most remember was told by Cindy Spiegel, an editor I deeply respect and have followed for years.

She admitted to being painfully shy as a young editor, one without aspirations to run a company or be an entrepreneur. Mainly, she wanted a job where she could read and write.

In between publishing gigs, Cindy pursued a graduate degree and took some writing classes where she was afraid to speak. She finally worked up the courage to say something when she realized that her instructor was "an idiot" (her words) and that he couldn’t tell who in the class had talent. She was in fact thrown out of the class after she spoke up. But that was the moment when she understood that she was an editor and that she could trust her taste.

Spiegel said her career took off only after losing a job, which led to a new position where she worked for a woman who truly believed in her. "Failures really gave me confidence. They led to great things and opportunities. I was terrified of those very things happening until they happened," she said.

My move to Charlottesville ten years ago, for the career I had intended, was a monumental failure. But just like Spiegel, it pushed me to do something I might not have otherwise: to launch my own business and put trust in myself.

I will always look back on this period and this place as giving me what I needed, when I needed it.

Every writer needs them eventually: comp titles. You not only need them for query letters to agents and publishers, but they are also enormously helpful for book marketing research.

While I have published advice at my site on how to find good comps (thank you, Star!), a writing podcast now offers free help. If you leave a message for them, with a bit of info on your plot and genre, an independent bookseller will suggest comps for you.

Of course, if you already have a relationship with an indie bookseller, I suggest paying them a visit and having a conversation!

In the last issue, I asked you to tell me your favorite gadgets for charging gadgets. One person had a suggestion:

I use a wireless charging stand by Belkin called Boost Charge. It charges my iPhone both vertically and horizontally as it sits on my desk, making it easy to see as well. —Sandy Kach

In my office, I have a Mophie 3-in-1 charging stand that can charge my AirPods, iPhone, and Apple Watch all at the same time. In the living room, I have a USB 2.0 charging station with five ports. This gets packed into a suitcase when my husband and I travel so we never fight over whose phone, tablet, or watch gets charged first.

Next question: What recommendations do you have for the best online quiz makers? Hit reply to this email or share on Discord.

March 25: How to Pitch Your Book to Scholarly Publishers with Laura Portwood-Stacer
April 14: Maybe It’s Not Your Plot with Susan DeFreitas
April 20: Build Better Critique Groups with Lisa Cooper Ellison
April 21: Blogging Strategies That Work in 2022 with Jane Friedman
May 4: Master the Flashback with Tiffany Yates Martin
May 12: Social Media Bliss with Jane Friedman
May 26: Launch Your Book Successfully with Howard Yoon
June 16: Create an Author Website in 24 Hours or Less with Jane Friedman
June 29: Query Letter Master Class with Jane Friedman

[Electric Speed] Online banking | Finding comp titles | Preserve family stories

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[Electric Speed] Fun new word game | Can you break the rules?

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