A note from Jane
Do you assume the professionals you hire will do their job properly? I don’t, and this has become an area of disagreement between me and my husband.
For the past few years, we’ve worked with a CPA that I chose myself when returning to Cincinnati. I had good memories of working with him when I was early in my freelance career, and our initial getting-reacquainted conversations went well.
But something changed. He stopped being communicative, messages and calls would go unreturned, and filing deadlines would pass without comment, despite Mark submitting our materials many weeks in advance.
Mark’s basic reaction is nonchalance: “He’s a professional, so I trust he’s doing his job.” To a large extent, he’s right. The CPA has always filed an extension (albeit an extension only he needs) and we have yet to bear any penalties or suffer a train wreck.
But I can’t bring myself to assume that will always be the case. During a recent conversation with a friend, we discussed the conventional wisdom that only 20 percent of anyone in their profession is a high performer. The rest are average to below average.
Next year Mark and I will be working with a different CPA, if only to save my nerves.
Jane
ISSUE SPONSOR
Create a Lasting Impact With Your Work
Since 2012, Weaving Influence has helped nonfiction authors and thought leaders connect their ideas with the audiences who need them most. From strategy and book marketing to PR, web design, and digital campaigns—our proven services will help you make a lasting impact with your work. Get in touch with us today!
Sponsorships support Electric Speed. Sold out for 2026.
|
Jane’s Electric Speed List
I am not paid to mention any of these resources; there are no affiliate links.
Analyze your chat messages over many years
I recently read a New Yorker article that discussed the history and impact of WhatsApp (link), and ended up going down the rabbit hole of softwares that will analyze your chat history (either iPhone Messages or WhatsApp messages). I discovered Lore and Mimoto. (Here’s Mimoto for Apple Messages and Mimoto for WhatsApp.)
Just so you know what my life priorities are, Lore summarized what topics Mark and I regularly discuss, and they are (in this order): Tova 😻, cooking, treadmill exercise, editing and reviewing content, managing webinars and classes, and home maintenance projects.
There’s now Claude for Word and it tracks changes
I’m frequently asked whether publishers have a problem with authors using tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid for copyediting and proofreading since they incorporate AI tools. Generally, the answer is no unless those tools are generating material and adding it to your work. (For more guidance, see my FAQ.)
But consumer AI models are getting better at integrating into existing tools, like Microsoft Word, in ways that allow you to track changes and review edits, like Claude for Word. It’s only available for specific Claude customers, but I anticipate editors and publishers becoming accepting of this use because everything is tracked.
AlertMouse: an alternative to Google Alerts
I’m testing out the free plan on AlertMouse, which has some finer-tuned controls than Google Alerts and more analytics. (Both tools track online mentions of your name, book, or anything else.) I like how AlertMouse labels major media mentions with a “big cheese” alert. 🐭🧀
Newsletter rec: How I Make Money Writing
Recently I stumbled on a Substack, How I Make Money Writing, that is a series of interviews with writers/authors from all walks of life about where their money comes from. Often specific monetary figures are included. It’s the sort of project I’ve long wished I had time for, so I’m glad to see someone doing it—in this case, Hao Nguyen. You’ll have to be a paying subscriber to read most of what’s there, but if you want to better understand business models for writers, I can’t think of a better source right now.
Next online class: Abandon Your Outline & Elevate Your Story
Taught by: Steven James, critically acclaimed author of 22 novels
Ideal for: Novelists who run into dead ends, even when outlining
Jane says: I meet many writers who feel hamstrung by outlines, story structures, and other methodologies that feel overly prescriptive. Steven himself was instructed to outline and follow a specific storytelling structure until he decided to rebel. He'll teach you how to lean into your natural instincts and be an organic writer.
When: Wednesday, May 20, at 1 p.m. EDT — all registrants receive the recording whether attending live or not
Your turn: Toiletry bags 🧴
In the last issue, I asked if you have a favorite toiletries bag when you travel. Here’s a sampling of what you said.
- I’m a big fan of the toiletries bag from LL Bean. It is the exact opposite of what used to be called for men their shaving kit, which had just one cavernous opening that you threw everything into. The LL Bean bag has numerous compartments of all sizes, including one on each side on the outside where you can access things without opening the main bag. It has a built-in hook so you can hang it conveniently in a hotel bathroom, is fully washable, and comes in a variety of colours. Oh, and there’s even a little carrying handle at the top. —Wayne Jones (also recommended by several others!)
- I was sucked into buying the Bensen Toiletries Kit from State Bags when I saw a mention of it in the NY Times. I got the metallic pink one which totally makes me feel like Barbie when I travel. (The only thing that makes me feel Barbie-ish!) It’s great, fitting everything and can be hung if needed. I do not recommend hand-washing it, as the surface will wear away a bit. —Cynthia Morris
- I discovered the Narwey Hanging Toiletry Bag on Amazon a few years ago when I was trying to find a more compact way to organize for travel, and it’s absolutely brilliant. It holds everything I need in tidy pockets and sleeves and tucks beautifully into a corner of my carry-on bag. —Erica Jurus
- My favorite is Bagsmart’s travel bag with hook and water resistant cosmetics section. Sections are either large or thin and there’s even an open storage area on the outside for quick access, which stays upright when the bag is hung. It’s less than $20 on Amazon and beats other, more expensive bags from high-end makers I’ve used. I gave all the others away and this bag is my go-to for any type of travel. —Cristy Robinson
- Last year, I purchased a train case for toiletries. What a lovely upgrade over the previous promotional bags from various makeup companies through the years. The hard sides keep the contents secure while the slightly larger size makes access easy, especially on the go before reaching our next destination. —Maggie Murphy
- For long trips, I have found a reusable wine bag from the grocery store works perfectly. The six individual sections are large enough to compartmentalize my regular-sized stuff (hairspray, shampoo, water flosser, etc.) while also being flexible enough to fit odd shaped items. It’s weird, but it works. —Paige Huskey
Next question: Do you have a favorite portable outdoor chair for summertime? Hit reply and let me know.
Do you have a tools or resources question you would like me to ask all readers? Offer up your suggestion, and I might feature it.
Free resources featuring Jane
Upcoming online classes
- Abandon Your Outline & Elevate Your Story with Steven James, May 20
- Working with Small and Independent Publishers with Jane Friedman, May 21
- Showing & Telling with Tiffany Yates Martin, May 27
- Building Better Memoir Scenes with Lisa Cooper Ellison, June 24
- What It Takes to Sell Your Memoir (or Hybrid Memoir) with Jane Friedman, June 25
- Moving Beyond Three-Act Structure with Steven James, July 1
- Building a Strong Author-Publisher Relationship with Anne Trubek, July 8
- Today’s Key Book Publishing Paths with Jane Friedman, July 9
- Pitch, Publish and Get Paid with Allison K Williams, July 15
- Writer’s Survival Guide to Contracts, Legal Issues & Other Business Basics with Jane Friedman, Aug. 6
Meet Jane at an event
- PurePub.ai (online), May 11–22, 2026
- US Book Show (NYC), June 3, 2026
- Stockholm Writers Festival (Sweden), June 13, 2026
- Midwest Writers Workshop (Muncie, IN), July 16–18, 2026
- Willamette Writers Conference (Portland, OR), July 31–Aug. 2, 2026
- Romance Writers of Australia (Darwin, Australia), Aug. 21–23, 2026
“At electric speed, all forms are pushed to the limits of their potential.”
—Marshall McLuhan
109 Dorsey St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Unsubscribe · Update your preferences
