Category: I’m A Fan

Must Read: Publishing 101 by Jane Friedman

I give Publishing 101 5/5 stars.

The subtitle is “A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career,” and that’s exactly what you get with this book — and more.

Written by the former editor of Writer’s Digest – and current editor of The Hot Sheet – this book is a practical, no-nonsense deep dive into publishing.

As the title and subtitle say, the book is marketed to first-time authors, but it’s a valuable resource for any level.

The last chapter (following the afterword), Recommended Resources, is worth the price of the book alone. But you’ll find value on every page. Author Jane Friedman has two decades of experience in the publishing industry, and she knows of which she speaks.

Be sure to check out her website (tons of advice there) and sign up for her free newsletter, Electric Speed. (I’ve been a subscriber for years and always look forward to reading it).

Let the work come to you

If you’re on the hunt for work, this is a good resource: Freedom with Writing

It’s free and delivered to your inbox several times a week. The email magazine includes:

  • Paid publishing opportunities
  • Case studies
  • Calls for pitches
  • Jobs for writers
  • Contest information, including upcoming deadlines

It’s well worth the time it takes to type your email address. I highly recommend.

Whom do you write like?

Check out I Write Like.

This is a fun site. Just paste your text into the box and click the Analyze button to see which famous writer your text most closely resembles.

It’s all in good fun – but it can be a subtle boost too. The couple of times I’ve done it, I’ve gotten Arthur Conan Doyle, Dan Brown, Jack London, and John Le Carre’. Not bad. I’ll take a comparison like that.