A note from Jane
Strong businesses don’t happen by accident. So when I encounter one I admire, I’m always digging underneath. Whose vision is driving it?
My favorite restaurant in Cincinnati is Mid-City. From the moment I first walked in, I felt like a friend. The food and drinks are excellent, but now I go just as much for the vibes. Often I’ll see the owner and chat a little, and he’s as unassuming as they come.
While doing research for a talk (about building a good business!), I looked for interviews with Mid-City’s owner, because I felt certain my experience was the entire goal of the restaurant. And it turns out I was right—here is a snippet from the interview I found.
“I’ve seen so many restaurants come and go, that either the staff alienates people for whatever reason, or if they’re super nice cocktail bars, they won’t make a drink how you want it because they’re too snobby to do that. Or, I’ve seen restaurants not substitute something for like a vegan guest, or an allergy. … Your experience is about you being here, not us being here. And I think there’s a lot of restaurants that exist that think that the experience is about the restaurant.”
His guiding star? Make the place welcoming to everyone who walks through the door. And he’s done that. It seems so simple, but it’s not. First you have to know what you want. And most people have no idea what they want, or they want what other people want, or they want status and prestige, which rarely have anything to do with a strong business.
Jane
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Apology and correction
In the last issue, I shared a poem from queer and non-binary poet Andrea Gibson, but I did not use their correct pronouns (they/them). I am deeply sorry and regret the error.
In case you missed their poem from the last issue: “In any moment on any given day I can measure my wellness by this question: Is my attention on loving or is my attention on who isn’t loving me?” —Andrea Gibson
Trying to figure out someone’s email address? Here are a few tips (please use responsibly).
Recently, during this class on articles that go viral, a writer asked how you can find contacts for pitching articles. The very short answer: just look for the email addresses of editors who work at the publications you’re targeting. Sounds too easy, right? But that’s how most people do it, not by accessing someone else’s golden Rolodex.
One specific tool that can help you suss out email addresses is Hunter; another is a subscription to StudyHall. But if you jump to the 46-minute mark during the class I mentioned, you’ll hear author Rebecca Morrison’s additional, spot-on advice.
If you’re querying literary agents or book publishers: Follow their submission guidelines and reach out through whatever channels they’ve established. Emailing them at an address not designated for queries will just annoy them.
Reader recommendation for speech-to-text transcription
In recent issues, there have been numerous suggestions for tools that assist with speech-to-text and text-to-speech. That sparked reader Kirk McElhearn to write in with the following: “What I’ve been doing lately is using an old-fashioned dictaphone—well, not that old-fashioned, because it doesn’t use cassettes—importing its files into my Mac, and having MacWhisper batch transcribe them. You could also do this using voice memo apps on an iPhone, or an Android phone. And there’s a very good iOS/Mac app called Just Press Record that does transcription directly.”
27 notes about getting older: the article that everyone seems to be reading and sharing
What I most enjoy about this piece by Ian Leslie is the lack of sentimentality—you’ll find no bromides here about how you’re wiser when you’re older. My favorite item comes early at number five: “One of the weirdest things about the midlife ageing process, as those of you who have passed 40 will know, is that it is discontinuous. It doesn’t happen at a gradual and consistent rate, allowing you time to adjust.” Indeed, until I reached my mid-40s, I did assume ageing would be gradual. As any woman of a certain age knows: definitely not true. There is a cliff, multiple cliffs.
Platform Building When You’d Rather Write with Jane Friedman / August 14, 1–2:30 p.m. EDT
Hosted by Writer’s Digest: Worried that you’re not all that good at marketing and promotion—or that you don’t have the time, energy, or skills required to do it well? You’re not alone: most writers have anxiety surrounding how to market and promote their work, and would rather assign the responsibility to someone else. Or they hope their publisher will take care of it. Unfortunately, there are some things that no publisher, no publicist, and no marketer can do for you—especially when it comes to building relationships in the writing and publishing community. And that is where effective platform building starts, not by aggressively marketing yourself.
Your turn: international travel ✈️
In the last issue, I asked you what inexpensive carry-on item is essential for international travel. Here’s a selection of what you said.
- I travel only with a carry-on, and I find laundry detergent sheets, like Earth Breeze, a crucial part of my pack while requiring negligible space. If you check luggage, having a sheet in your carry-on means that, if your checked bag is lost, you can wash whatever clothes you still have in a hotel sink. Lost luggage aside, if you pack light, you can wash and rewear clothes during your trip. As a bonus, since these sheets aren’t liquid, they can be packed anywhere in your carry-on! —Rachel Aukes
- To avoid headaches and mitigate jet lag, you need to drink more water than usual because the cabin has low humidity. In addition to drinking lots of water, I recommend bringing some of your favorite hand cream. More frequent trips to the bathroom require more handwashing. Hydrating your hands provides an extra layer of comfort. —Stacy
- One of my favorite carry-on items is a foot hammock. It slides over the tray table and gives you more options for shifting your feet and legs around for comfort on long flights. They are less than $20 and take up very little space. —Jessica Snyder
- Noise canceling headphones. I don’t know how I lived without them. Especially for really long plane trips. —tealmc
- A self-inflating seat cushion makes any airplane seat more comfortable, can be adjusted to vary pressure points, and is essential for any airport layover. —Todd Butterworth
🌟 This was a popular question! Browse all responses.
Next question: Reader Gretchen Husted has been reading Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hull and finds the story exceptional and the format readable and engaging.
She wonders if you have a graphic novel or graphic memoir to recommend? Hit reply to this message, or head over to Discord to share.
Do you have a question you would like Jane to ask all readers? Offer up your suggestion, and she might feature it.
Free resources featuring Jane
Upcoming online classes
Meet Jane at an event
- Craft & Publishing Voyage (cruise ship!), Aug. 27–Sept. 3, 2025
- PNWA Conference (Seattle, WA), Sept. 11–14, 2025
- New Frontiers in Writing (Amarillo, TX), Sept. 26, 2025
- Red Pencil Conference (Seattle metro area), Nov. 8, 2025
“At electric speed, all forms are pushed to the limits of their potential.”
—Marshall McLuhan
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