A note from Jane
I was spending Thanksgiving with friends when I announced that my Mark had just won husband of the year. They responded with surprise, not because it was hard to believe but because it is completely not in my nature to offer superlative praise unless I’m talking to my cat. This stands in stark contrast with my friend, who tells her husband many times per day how handsome he is, at least when I’m around.
My out-of-character announcement arose out of an unfortunate event where I dropped my AirPods case while on a flight to Chicago O’Hare. It flew far underneath the row in front of us, and I couldn’t retrieve it until deplaning. But by that time, another passenger had already nabbed the case, thinking it was hers, even though my name (JANE) was printed right on it.
Standing in the airport, I opened the “Find My” app. The earbuds were already two concourses away and I ran in their direction, hoping to secure them before departing on a connecting flight. But when I reached the exact location reported by Find My, there were at least 100 people in the vicinity. I turned on “Play Sound” repeatedly. Nothing. I enabled “Lost Mode.” Nothing. Eventually, after looking 100 people in the eye accusatorily, I texted Mark that I was giving up and walked back to our gate. But he hadn’t. He had started coming my way because he’d seen the woman seated in front of us on the plane. He took my phone to home in on her location and found her sitting in an airport restaurant, wearing her own earbuds, unaware anything was amiss.
It was a minor drama, to be sure, and it makes for a great little story to share with friends. But as someone who is prideful about taking care of herself without any help (and rather dislikes asking for help), I was grateful for a moment of rescue and support.
But I’m still rather mad at that lady.
Jane
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Jane’s Electric Speed List
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Endel: soundscapes for any time of day
During a yoga class, I heard the instructor play the kind of music you’d expect for yoga, except every minute or so, the voice of Alan Watts broke in with a line of pithy wisdom. Turns out that was the work of Endel, a company that partnered with the Watts family to create the Wiggly Wisdom album. (Here it is on YouTube.) That led me to the Endel app, which features soundscapes based on time of day, scenario, and other variables (and includes Wiggly Wisdom). I use Endel during stretching routines and other moments when I want to clear my head or relax.
Puzzle Mania
For my husband’s birthday, I bought him Puzzle Mania, specifically from Barnes & Noble, which carries an exclusive edition. If you enjoy New York Times puzzles or you look forward to their Puzzle Mania section every holiday season, don’t miss this book. Here it is at B&N.
Reader recommendation: Author Forecast
Deb Raney writes in, “Has anyone recommended Author Forecast from Author&Co? I’ve had mine for a couple of weeks now and just love it. They also have an author clock with new quotes every minute. (AND you can submit quotes from your own books for possible inclusion in future updates!) Highly recommend even though it’s pricey.”
My new favorite baking pan (for shortbread)
I make a lot of shortbread over the holidays. It took me far too long to invest in this pan from Nordic Ware. It creates a beautiful cookie.
The Secrets of Memoir Structure with Allison K Williams / Dec. 10, 1–2:30 p.m. EST
You’ve got an amazing story to tell—but should it be written chronologically? Where do the flashbacks go? What about a hybrid memoir that blends research or reporting with your personal story? Or a collection of linked essays—how, exactly, are they supposed to relate, and is “it all happened to me” enough?
Whether you’re just starting your memoir or wrestling with a work-in-progress, the right structure can unlock your creativity and help your writing flow. And a clear, story-driven structure can be what hooks agents, sells to publishers, and attracts readers.
In this online class, we’ll examine 5 different possible memoir structures, with literary and commercial examples of how they can be used successfully. You’ll learn which structures will suit your memoir, why to choose one over another, and how to “try them on” without (re)writing the whole book. And you’ll gain the tools to shape your story and guide your work, whether you’re working on the first draft or polishing for publication.
Your turn: browser extensions
In the last issue, I asked for your favorite browser extensions. Here’s a selection of what you said.
- My absolute favorite browser extension is Library Extension. It shows me the library availability of a title when I look it up on Goodreads or Amazon, like a tiny voice above the buy button saying “click here instead and save the cash.” —Jennifer Ansbach
- My favorite browser extension is Text Blaze. As a virtual educator, I typically send the same text, email, or grading feedback to multiple students daily. With a few quick keystrokes as a shortcut, I can cut my typing time exponentially, while still being able to edit or personalize the message. —Jenn Addison Mitchell
- I am a compulsive note taker, always trying to save things I read so I can refer back to them later. Raindrop is an extension that allows you to save a web page to read later. I used to copy and paste into a Google doc or save as a bookmark, but Raindrop eliminates the extra steps. You can assign categories to your saved items, so they’re easy to locate later. The information is stored in the cloud so it syncs between multiple computers and phones. The only problem I’ve found with it is that it’s so easy to store things, I now have way more stuff saved than I’ll ever get around to reading. —Mike Johnston
- My favorite browser extension is PrintFriendly. I save a lot of online articles for my research or to share with others. I often want a PDF of the article (for my files or to print), but invariably there’s a glitch like the border of the publication blots out the lowest lines on the article. Or the website makes it look funky. This extension solves all that! It also allows me to cut out anything extraneous like pictures or blurbs I don’t want. And it’s great for screen shots as well. I use it constantly. It’s free! —Martha Freymann Miser
- My favorite browser extension is WikiTree for Chrome. It tells me how I’m related to others who’ve added their genealogical lines to the site. And it can tell you how any two people who have a profile on the site are related. My primary interest is in the Acadian Project and sorting out cousins within that cultural group, which, because of endogamy and pedigree collapse, can leave your brain muddled. Sometimes, it’s just plain fun. I have a niece who is fascinated with Eleanor of Aquitaine, and I was able to show her her lineage to Eleanor. —Ann Forcier
- My favourite browser (Chrome) extension that I actively use is GoFullPage. It allows you to capture a screenshot of your current page in entirety simply by clicking on its icon. You can then save the capture as a PNG or PDF. It’s much faster and cleaner than printing to PDF. I’m amazed how often I use it. —Michelle Bish
- Without a doubt, the best of all browser extensions for practical use, effective productivity and improved efficiency, Speed Dial 2. It’s a bookmarker on steroids. Create, store and recall URLs at will. If you browse a lot and have a memory that is less than your best buddy, Speed Dial 2 is your app buddy of choice. —Richard Szpin
- My favourite browser extension is Window Resizer (for Chrome). It lets you set the exact size of a browser window, or just the viewport, i.e. the main content part of the window, excluding the address bar and the tabs on the top etc. —Len Epp
Next question: Do you use an ergonomic seat cushion? Hit reply and tell me about it!
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
- The Secrets of Memoir Structure with Allison K Williams, Dec. 10
- Improve Your Author Website with Jane Friedman, Dec. 11
- Using AI for Writing Business Efficiency with Jane Friedman, Dec. 17
- How to Get Published: Land a Book Deal in 2026 with Jane Friedman, Jan. 8
- The Holy Trinity of Fiction: Character, Plot and Stakes with Tiffany Yates Martin, Jan. 14
- How Writers Can Earn a Living in the Creator Economy, master class with Jane Friedman, Feb. 7
- Get Your Author Brand in Order with Jane Friedman, Feb. 12
- Revise Your Memoir (six-part series) with Lisa Cooper Ellison, begins Feb. 25
- Platform Building When You’d Rather Write with Jane Friedman, March 19
Meet Jane at an event
- IBPA Boot Camp for Author Publishers (online only), Jan. 30, 2026
- IPNE Conference (online only), Feb. 20–21, 2026
- AWP Conference (Baltimore, MD), March 4–7, 2026
- Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop (Dayton), March 26–28, 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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Created by Jane Friedman
I report on the publishing industry and help authors understand the business of writing. My newsletter that helps pay the bills is The Bottom Line, where I recently reported on the market for coloring books.
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