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Electric Speed is a free newsletter that shares resources for creative people (since 2009!), brought to you by Jane Friedman. | View in browser | Sign up here |
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A note from Jane
A common fear of writers—a fear that runs across all professions—is that they’re too old to succeed.
So I was grateful to see this study that shows we reach our most productive years in midlife. Not only that, but writers and philosophers in particular can maintain a steady output through to retirement. (I find that’s certainly true of agents and editors; they tend to die while still working with their authors.)
But here’s perhaps the even more significant finding: that same research shows that creators have their most important, groundbreaking ideas in the same year they’re most prolific. “The key to successful creativity is productivity; quantity leads to quality.”
Last spring, I made a major change to my industry newsletter, The Bottom Line, and moved from every other week to weekly. I won’t lie, I was worried about the increased pace. Would I soon come to regret it? But the increased frequency has been a success. I’m writing more, I’m writing more meaningful things, and I’m reaching more people.
Not every season of life can be productive or prolific. But when I apply a little pressure to my creative routines, I find that (a) I can generate ideas when I absolutely have to, plus (b) I better understand that not all of my ideas are great. That realization helps me move on and not get stuck. As the study advises, “Place multiple bets.”
Jane
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Jane’s Electric Speed List
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I’m not ashamed to admit I love Cozy Café
One evening my husband and I left the TV on after watching a show, and it eventually populated with a photo-realistic view of a café: steaming mugs of hot drinks, croissants on plates, the golden hour outside the window, completely unpopulated (except for the occasional cat or dog). I now turn on the TV just to have the cozy café in the background. It’s probably available on a smart TV of any kind. Take a look.
Learn to spot writing and publishing scams
My colleagues Matty Dalrymple and Michael LaRonn are teaching a free class in partnership with Writer’s Digest on Red Flags & Rip-Offs (April 16). Learn about everything from fake contests and phishing emails to the latest AI-powered ridiculousness. Every writer must now protect themselves against fraudulent or misleading opportunities that waste time and money. Register for free or pay what you can (proceeds go to a nonprofit).
A couple years ago, I also offered a free class on scams, available on YouTube. It doesn’t cover the new AI-powered scams, but it also helps you learn to spot bad actors.
Blast from the past: SimCity
One of my favorite games growing up was SimCity. So I was thrilled to discover IsoCity, described by Dense Discovery as a “love letter to SimCity.” It runs entirely in your browser and you can cooperate on building a city with a friend. Free.
AI & Publishing: FAQ for Writers
I’ve created a new, free cornerstone resource at my site, addressing issues of fact related to AI. It is intended as a judgment-free zone: no opinions, no advocacy, just the clearest available statement of what the law and courts currently say about AI, primarily in the United States. It covers these topic areas: copyrighting AI-assisted work, AI training and fair use, AI licensing, AI in book contracts, disclosure of AI use, AI detection, and proving or certifying human authorship.
Visit the FAQ.
The Business of Newsletters That Pay with Jane Friedman / April 1, 1–2:30 p.m. EDT
It’s challenging to publish an email newsletter or Substack that inspires people to pull out their wallet and start paying money to receive it. One of the hardest businesses to run, in fact, is a subscription business.
In this nuts-and-bolts business class, Jane delves into the key reasons people pay for newsletters. You’ll learn about techniques to turn free subscribers into paying ones, supported by examples of successful newsletters, plus how to earn money outside of paid subscriptions.
Your turn: people you follow outside of the writing and publishing community
In the last issue, I asked you to share someone you follow online who has nothing to do with writing and publishing but whose way of thinking influences your work. Here’s a sampling of what you said.
- I have no idea how I discovered Bryan Lindsley, but he’s an absolute gem. He specializes in helping nonprofits make better decisions, and so much of what he writes I’ve found incredibly interesting. He just moved over to Substack and is The Effective Problem Solver. —Melanie
- Morgan Housel, who writes about money, finances and wealth with a focus on history and how patterns repeat over decades. He takes complicated subjects and deals with them in simple, calm ways, and I always feel more empowered and positive after consuming any of his content. —Katie
- I follow Brian Regan, the comedian. I’ve seen him live twice and I follow his social media posts and any specials he does. He was also a character on a short-lived TV series called Loudermilk. The reason I follow him is twofold: (1) because of his unique view of life that he turns into comedy; and (2) because when he started, he took every gig he could get. I get so many ideas from his comedy, the way he thinks and how he interprets the craziness of life. —Ed Ridgley
- Someone I follow who influences my writing (and my life) is Mariska Hargitay, who plays the badass detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order SVU. My obsession with Mariska started in the usual way, because of her impressive acting, unmatched beauty, and powerful presence; plus I loved the show. But that was over 20 years ago. Now she’s so much more to me, and I think to millions of women across the world. … Through her work with her Joyful Heart Foundation, she assures us all the same thing she tells the victims on SVU: no one will hurt you in my house. As for my writing, she inspires me to keep going. I’m turning 50 this year, and there’s a very nasty part of me that often convinces me that I’m too old to “start [publishing] now.” Mariska pushes that voice aside and reminds me I’m a badass and that badasses run together. —Keynsian Houston
- I’ve been an amateur long distance runner for decades and although I’m much slower than I was and cover shorter distances these days, my enthusiasm for the activity hasn’t waned. As such, I follow many athletes online and am inspired by their attitudes and dedication, which often translate to my endeavours as an author. Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon is the world record holder in the 1500 metres and the mile. She talks about being patient, continually “showing up,” and celebrating “doing what she loves.” Faith has also talked about how important it is to distinguish yourself from your work, which helps when things go wrong or results disappoint you. —Penny Haw
- Paul Couchman, Regency Cook. For his submergence in time and style, friendly demeanor, and approachability. He immediately connected on a more personal level, since he had lived in the Netherlands. He’s so steadfast and seems to have created a new profession out of his passionate volunteerism. —Judith van Praag
- I follow Daron Larson, a mindfulness meditation teacher whose down-to-earth practices help in all areas of life, especially writing. —Nita Sweeney
- Tara Henley is a journalist-turned-independent commentator who hosts Lean Out, a podcast focused on thoughtful, sometimes controversial discussions about culture and media. —Shari Simpson
- Dan McClellan. He’s a scholar of the Bible and religion, dedicated to correcting misinformation and mistranslations. —Bob Mueller
- That’s easy: Mel Robbins. She inspires me to believe in myself and pursue my creative passions. —Jen Thilman
- I love following Jake Weidmann on Instagram. He is a calligrapher, artist, and carver. So talented and somehow his work inspires me as I create in the very different realm of writing. —Deborah Raney
- I have never ever seen anyone with the ability to create and connect ideas like freestyle rapper Harry Mack. For guidance, look for his series called Omegle Bars. Probably the best two to look at are either number 18 (especially the last one) or number 52 (the first two). However, many good ones exist. —David Coleman-Mann
- I’m a fan of Kevin Kelly, one of the co-founders of Wired magazine. While he certainly has published things (a whole magazine for goodness sake, and several books), it’s his work as a technology maven/visionary that I’m drawn to. He manages to draw together people with diverse interests and have them share little bits of their life, whether it be through his Cool Tools site or the Recomendo newsletter. —Paul Steger
Next question: Reader Sue Lane asks, “What is a resource that you found helpful when starting a podcast?” 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
Meet Jane at an event
- ASJA Conference (online), April 20–24, 2026
- Publishing Professionals Network Conference (Berkeley, CA), April 24, 2026
- PurePub.ai (online), May 11–22, 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
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