Avatar photoJane Friedman

Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman) has nearly 25 years of experience in the media & publishing industry. She is the publisher of The Hot Sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2019. In addition to being a professor with The Great Courses (How to Publish Your Book), she is the author of The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. Jane speaks regularly at conferences and industry events such as Digital Book World and Frankfurt Book Fair, and has served on panels with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund. Find out more.
Wattpad for Authors: It’s Not Just for the Young Folks
Photos of Rebecca Phelps, Sondi Warner, and Tamara Lush.
Three successful authors who are outside of Wattpad's key demographic discuss why they contribute to Wattpad and how it’s furthered ...
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/ Author Q&A, Publishing Industry
How Authors Can Build Relationships with Independent Bookstores
The interior of a bookstore with large plate glass windows facing onto a city street.
Marketing your book to bookstores—like marketing your book anywhere else—requires research and shoe leather ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion
Authors Who’ve Launched Their Careers on TikTok
A man's hands hold a smartphone with the TikTok logo displayed on the screen.
Here’s how two self-published authors have been successful in their marketing and promotion efforts on TikTok ...
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/ Social Media
The Business Skill I Wish I Could Grant to All Writers
A professionally-attired man and woman sit at a conference room table, reviewing documents.
Writers often view themselves as without power, but you can’t wait for permission or the “right time” to negotiate a ...
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/ Business for Writers
Querying & Submitting in 2023: Q&A with Jeff Herman
Photo of Jeff Herman with the following quote: There’s an old Jewish saying, You can only dance at one wedding at a time. I think that sums up why so many writers never hear back from agents.
Jeff Herman is the author of Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents, 29th Edition ...
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/ Author Q&A
Why the DOJ v PRH Antitrust Trial Doesn’t Change the Game for Authors, Regardless of Outcome
PRH antitrust trial and author advances
The big dogs will remain the big dogs. Mega advances will still be paid, and it will remain challenging to ...
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/ Publishing Industry
3 Common Pitfalls in Memoir Queries
3 Common Pitfalls in Memoir Queries
Memoirists have a lot of leeway in choosing a pitching strategy. But with freedom comes great responsibility, and it's easier ...
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/ Getting Published
Amazon Ads: Step-by-Step Walk Through for Beginning Authors
Man POV looking at Amazon Prime Day shopping deals on Apple MacBook Pro laptop with Safari Internet browser open special discounts and online consumerism shopping
Amazon ads are a valued (and sometimes expensive) tool for authors and publishers to drive book visibility and sales. Here's ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion
Why So Many Blogs and Newsletters Aren’t Worth the Writer’s Effort
Why So Many Blogs and Newsletters Aren't Worth the Writer's Effort
Many writers are told to blog or send an email newsletter without much idea of how to approach it. Here ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion
What Kind of Book Translates Well to the Screen?
Image: Netflix on the screen of an iMac computer.
Well-constructed stories, snappy dialogue, and surprising twists can all contribute to a book’s chance of being chosen for adaptation ...
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/ Publishing Industry
How to Plan and Host Worthwhile Online Book Events
How to Plan and Host Worthwhile Online Book Events
Learn best practices for online book events, regardless of the platform you’re using ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion, Uncategorized
BookTok: A Safe Haven for Young Female Readers
Image: young women looking at a smartphone on which the TikTok app is displayed.
The key to winning BookTok content: authenticity ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion, Social Media
To Everyone Who Wants Me to Read Their Writing and Tell Them What to Do
To Everyone Who Wants Me to Read Their Writing and Tell Them What to Do
To achieve writing success—especially commercial success—requires an inner drive that pushes you forward no matter what feedback you receive ...
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/ Getting Published
What’s Selling in Children’s Books + What’s Ahead for 2022
Image: three schoolgirls gathered around a stack of picture books.
Growth in the children’s market continues, especially for series and licensed characters. BookTok emerges as an organic social media boost ...
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/ Publishing Industry
Yes, Social Media Can Sell Books. But Not If Publishers Sit on Their Hands
Yes, Social Media Can Sell Books. But Not If Publishers Sit on Their Hands
Publishers need to closely collaborate with their authors if they expect that author's large social media following to sell books ...
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/ Publishing Industry
NFTs: What Are They and How Much Should Writers and Publishers Care?
NFTs: What Are They and How Much Should Writers and Publishers Care?
Much remains unknown about NFTs but some in publishing think they might be revolutionary for writers, and indeed the world ...
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/ Publishing Industry
Business Bootcamps for Writers: Join Me Next Week!
Business Bootcamps for Writers: Join Me Next Week!
Next week, I am delighted to be moderating two panels in partnership with The Authors Guild Foundation on paths to ...
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/ Conferences & Events
What Do Authors Earn from Digital Lending at Libraries?
Image: an aisle at a public library, flanked by shelves of books.
Does library lending help or hurt author and publisher income? The debate continues ...
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/ Publishing Industry
Black Voices in Publishing: Is It a Trend or a Movement?
Image: two young Black girls sitting together on a couch, reading a picture book.
The Authors Guild revisits industry efforts to improve inclusivity in publishing ...
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/ Publishing Industry
Buying Books for the Holidays? Be Prepared to Be Flexible.
Image: a loaded container ship on the ocean
From paper manufacturing to ocean cargo, books continue to be buffeted by a variety of supply chain challenges ...
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/ Publishing Industry
The Key Book Publishing Paths: 2023–2024
2023-2024 key book publishing paths chart
Should you self-publish or traditionally publish? This infographic will help you determine the best choice for you and your project ...
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/ Amazon, book publishing, ebooks, partner publishing, POD, print-on-demand, Publishing Industry, self-publishing, subsidy publishing, traditional publishing
Succeeding with Self-Published Memoir: Q&A with Ashleigh Renard
Ashleigh Renard Q&A quote
The SWING author discusses the pre-order campaign for her self-published book, the importance of social media engagement, and more ...
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/ Author Q&A
I Like Substack. But the PR Is Getting Ridiculous.
Substack money
Substack makes it easy for non-tech people to harness the power of email newsletters, and that's a good thing. Just ...
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/ Publishing Industry
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book
This is an introductory guide to the major self-publishing options available to authors today, and how to choose the right ...
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/ Amazon, distribution, E-Books, e-publishing, ebooks, Getting Published, Ingram, POD, print-on-demand, retailers, Self-Publishing, self-publishing
The Value of Book Distribution Is Often Misunderstood by Authors
The Value of Book Distribution Is Often Misunderstood by Authors
Any self-publishing author can easily make a book available to Amazon, bookstores, libraries, etc. But availability doesn't mean visibility ...
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/ Self-Publishing
How to Harness Community to Build Book Sales and Platform
How to Harness Community to Build Book Sales and Platform
Traditional publishers often center marketing campaigns around community support—sometimes growing an author’s platform in the process ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion
Should MFA Programs Teach the Business of Writing?
Should MFA Programs Teach the Business of Writing?
Here are the most common arguments against teaching the business of writing in an MFA program—and why such arguments are ...
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/ Business for Writers
Where My Money Comes From
Where My Money Comes From
A look at how the sources of my income shifted between 2016–2020, with online teaching now earning the lion's share ...
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/ Business for Writers
How Much Do Authors Earn? Here’s the Answer No One Likes.
How Much Do Authors Earn? Here's the Answer No One Likes.
What you earn is about what business model you can envision or build for yourself and whether it's sustainable for ...
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/ Business for Writers, Publishing Industry
How the Pandemic Is Affecting Book Publishing
book sales up in 2020
The dramatic shifts to online sales makes it critical that publishers and authors adjust marketing strategies and build new skill ...
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/ Publishing Industry
How to Turn a Microsoft Word Document Into an Ebook (EPUB)
turn Microsoft Word document into ebook EPUB
Word doesn't export to EPUB, but you can still produce an editable file quickly, without buying software or using a ...
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/ digital publishing, E-Books, e-publishing, ebooks, epub, Microsoft Word, self-publishing, Sigil, TextEdit
Blogging Versus Email Newsletter: Which Is Better for Writers?
Blogging Versus Email Newsletter: Which Is Better for Writers?
A free email newsletter is the better strategic choice when it comes to long-term career development. Blogging works better for ...
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/ Digital Media
Embracing a Creative Pivot: Q&A with Darien Hsu Gee
Embracing a Creative Pivot: Q&A with Darien Hsu Gee
Author Darien Hsu Gee discusses writing and publishing across multiple genres, going back for her MFA at age 50, and ...
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/ Author Q&A, Publishing Industry
Common Reasons Nonfiction Books Don’t Sell
Common Reasons Nonfiction Books Don't Sell
If you want to land a traditional publishing deal, then market conditions—and your position in that market—will affect your chances ...
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/ Publishing Industry
How One Author Landed a Publishing Deal for a Gift Book: Q&A with Sarah Chauncey
Sarah Chauncey
The debut author discusses writing an illustrated book for adults, platform building, and listening to the little voice inside ...
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/ Author Q&A
Online Book Events: A Necessary Pivot in 2020, But How Do You Compete?
Online Book Events: A Necessary Pivot in 2020, But How Do You Compete?
It's now possible to fill every lunch hour and evening with book clubs and book festivals and live readings and ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion
Amazon’s Importance to US Book Sales Keeps Increasing—for Better or Worse
Amazon's Importance to US Book Sales Keeps Increasing—for Better or Worse
Amazon has changed, grown, and dominated more than any other company in the book publishing industry. Here are the key ...
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/ Publishing Industry
Everyone Wants Barnes & Noble to Survive. Can It?
Everyone Wants Barnes & Noble to Survive. Can It?
The biggest bookseller in the United States has suffered a slow decline over the last 10 years. Can the business ...
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/ Publishing Industry
Traditional Publishing Enjoys Its Best Sales in a Decade—Despite Supply Chain Problems
Traditional Publishing Enjoys Its Best Sales in a Decade—Despite Supply Chain Problems
Book publishing faces a very tight printing market at the same time that sales have increased to levels not seen ...
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/ Publishing Industry
A Writer’s Guide to Fair Use and Permissions + Sample Permissions Letter
when you need permission - fair use guidelines
If you need to request permissions from an author or publisher, here are general guidelines, plus a sample letter you ...
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/ Business for Writers, copyright, fair use, permissions, requesting permissions, sample permissions letter
How to Find Publishers
how to find publishers and agents
If you have a book idea or manuscript, one of your first questions is probably: How do I find a ...
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/ finding a publisher, finding an agent, Getting Published, getting published, traditional publishing
Building Your Career-Long Marketing Foundation
Building Your Career-Long Marketing Foundation
However you decide to publish, it’s unwise to rely on someone else to build your career, or to be responsible ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion
US Book Publishing Remains Resilient: Print and Ebook Sales Are Growing
book publishing industry
As much of the retail world faces crisis, book publishing is positioned to grow in terms of unit sales when ...
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/ Publishing Industry
3 Keys to Freelance Editing: Position, Package, and Price
Image: wooden match with green top standing out from a field of wooden matches with red tops
When you’re starting out as a freelancer, it can be tempting to say yes to every project. But, as in ...
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/ Business for Writers
Questions to Ask Your Publisher Before You Sign the Contract
Questions to Ask Your Publisher Before You Sign the Contract
Every author must have a frank conversation with their publisher about book marketing—the earlier the better. Here's how to approach ...
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/ Business for Writers
Join Me for Sunday Business Sermons (Free)
Sunday Business Sermons
A series of informal talks about the business of writing, publishing, and making a living predominantly online. 3pm Eastern via ...
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/ Conferences & Events
How to Write a Novel Synopsis
how to write a novel synopsis
Learn how to craft a strong novel synopsis, while avoiding the most common mistakes, including the dreaded "synopsis speak." ...
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/ agents, Getting Published, novel writing, queries
How to Start Blogging: A Definitive Guide for Authors
How to Start Blogging for Authors
How authors can blog successfully for long-term platform and book marketing efforts, with tips for online writing, strong headlines, and ...
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/ book marketing and promotion, Digital Media, online writing, SEO, WordPress
Email Newsletters for Authors: Get Started Guide
email newsletters
Everything you need to know to start sending an effective email newsletter ...
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/ Digital Media, email marketing, email newsletters, MailChimp, Marketing & Promotion, TinyLetter
A New Book Publishing News Feed for Authors—Continuously Updated
Book Publishing News Feed by The Hot Sheet
A book publishing–focused newsfeed gathers headlines from across the industry; it is free to all and continuously updated and maintained ...
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/ Publishing Industry