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

Digital tools and resources for creative people
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Electric Speed from Jane Friedman
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.

Jane

P.S. The most popular blog post at my site this month:
The Value of Percolation

P.P.S. There is more to this newsletter. Keep scrolling!
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The Write Malloy Book Coaching

I’m Caroline Malloy, Ph.D., a Historian and Book Coach, and I help writers just like you turn your story into HISTORY. Whether it’s narrative nonfiction or memoir, I’m here to help with everything from plot to proposal. I believe in you and have the system, tools and expertise to help you translate your knowledge and experience into a compelling story.

Sponsorships help support Electric Speed.

 
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.)
Moving can mean changing banks. Here is what I decided to do
One benefit of moving is that it can force changes that you should have made long ago. This is certainly the case with me and banking. In Virginia, I’ve used a local institution for both personal and business accounts, and while I have few complaints, let’s just say they haven’t quite entered the digital age.

So I am switching over to banks that operate entirely online. I’m using Brex for my business accounts, and Ally and Marcus for personal banking. So far, I’m thrilled.

Preserve family stories with a professional touch
Here’s a lovely gift idea: Hire the people at Tales to interview a loved one (remotely), and turn it into a professional, NPR-quality podcast. The stories remain private unless you choose to share them, plus you keep all rights to the material.

I learned about Tales through the Recomendo newsletter.
Need help finding comparable titles?
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!

Word Hippo, an online thesaurus and more
This recommendation comes from reader Linda Lenz: she says Word Hippo is her husband’s favorite online thesaurus. I find it does much more than that. It can help with pronunciations, conjugations, Scrabble lookups, crosswords, and translations.
 
How to Pitch Your Book to Scholarly Publishers with Laura Portwood-Stacer. $30 webinar. Friday, March 25, 2022. 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Eastern.
NEXT ONLINE CLASS
March 25: How to Pitch Your Book to Scholarly Publishers with Laura Portwood-Stacer
If you’re working on a serious nonfiction project, an academic monograph, or a book with regional appeal, a university press or other scholarly publisher might be the perfect fit for your project. But academic publishing has distinct norms and expectations, and understanding what they are will increase your odds of a successful pitch.
Your turn: charging gadgets
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.
 
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"At electric speed, all forms are pushed to the limits of their potential."
—Marshall McLuhan
Jane Friedman
Created by Jane Friedman
I report on the publishing industry and help authors understand the business of writing.

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