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A note from Jane

Not a day goes by that I don’t hear about or see some new writing scam powered by AI. In message boards I’ve seen topic threads like “Can we stop AI spam?” (Spoiler alert: No.) Meanwhile every week I receive thoughtful emails from people telling me I’m being impersonated yet again. (Note: Fake Janes really like hosting book clubs and offering critique services. I do neither.)

While I can spot the real scams easily enough, the sheer volume of them hitting my email inbox has started to affect my evaluation of legitimate people. If I don’t recognize the name, if there’s no meaningful bio note, if there’s little online presence, I’m suspicious. I’ve also become increasingly wary of people who say they are writing “on behalf of” authors to pitch me articles. Why doesn’t the author contact me directly, which has been the pattern for 15 years now? (To be clear, these people aren’t publicists. They are … something else.)

Next week, I’ll be attending the AALA People of Publishing event in New York City, and perhaps what I’m most looking forward to is being around people whose identity I do not have to wonder about. I suspect such events will become more valuable and essential in the years ahead.

Jane

P.S. Most popular post this month: Writers’ AI Fears Often Run Ahead of the Facts

Bob Eckstein

ISSUE SPONSOR

The Poetry of Attention with Nadia Colburn, Ph.D. Re-enliven your writing, hone your skills, and come into a more integrated, skillful, and deeper writing life.

FREE Poetry of Attention Masterclass: Poetry as Contemplative Practice

Explore poetry as a form of lamentation, attention, and celebration. This class, for poets and prose writers, will help you connect more deeply with yourself, language, and the world. We’ll read poems by Whitman, Oliver, and Clifton, explore writing from the body and writing after meditation, and write a poem. Register for free; watch on your own schedule.

Sponsorships support Electric Speed. Sold out for 2027.

Jane’s Electric Speed List

I am not paid to mention any of these resources; there are no affiliate links.

What’s wrong with your wifi?

This is a handy app for travel, when you’re relying on wifi that’s not your own. But it’s for Mac only and requires purchase ($10); all proceeds are donated to charity. Check out WhyFi.

Watch your thoughts & feelings like a cloud

How to Feel Good: This article is direct and profound. Those of you familiar with Eastern religions may not find anything new here, but it also brings in other concepts, and is expressed in a way that’s accessible and convincing even if you’ve been exposed to these ideas for years. H/t Trevor McKendrick

For people who love mazes

A different maze to complete every day, including corn mazes, circular mazes, and faultless mazes. Check out Maze Toys.

Notarizing documents online

I didn’t know there was such a thing as an online notary until I saw it mentioned in the Recomendo newsletter. If you need a notary but can’t visit one in-person, try Notarize.com.

Find Your Voice as an Essayist with Amy L. Bernstein. $35 webinar ($25 early-bird price). Wednesday, October 7, 2026. 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

Next online class: Find Your Voice as an Essayist

Taught by: Amy L. Bernstein, award-winning journalist & author
Ideal for: Writers new to the essay format or who struggle to find readers
Jane says: Novelists, memoirists, and even scholars can benefit from understanding how to write a powerful essay to increase their visibility and build a platform.
When: Wednesday, October 7, 1:00–2:30 p.m. EDT, or wait for the recording

Learn more and register ($25 early or $35 late)

Your turn: travel chargers

In the last issue, I mentioned that my husband and I travel with something we call “charging station” to charge all of our devices through one hub plugged into the wall, but it’s time to replace it because it’s entirely USB-A connectors and most of our devices are now USB-C. Here are the replacements you recommended.

My husband and I use the Anker Prime Charger. It has 6 ports, 4 of which are USB-C. The other two are USB-A. It’s 250W, so it charges all of our devices fast and with no issues. This one goes for $149.99, but there are a variety of other charging station options to choose from, some with a lower price tag, some with a higher one. —Magen Mintchev
I use a BESTEK travel power strip Model MRJ3015. It’s small, but it has 3 regular US outlets and 4 USB ports, 2 A and 2 C. It can be plugged into outlets in a variety of countries. I also have a number of USB adapters from A to C and vice versa. —Terry Odell
Some airlines are banning charging stations (power banks). If you fly a lot, I recommend the ThruNite LYNX flashlight with a USB-C charge port that doubles as a charging station. Not as much charge capacity as a stand alone charging station, but will get the job done for the duration of a flight. Bonus: If you find yourself in a dark airplane or a dark airport experiencing a power outage, the flashlight will be your best friend! —Scott Williams

Next question: What do you use to scan or digitize old letters, documents, or photos: a scanner, a phone app, a service? 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.