A note from Jane
Recently I was buying a new office chair online, and several hours after I placed the order, I returned to the website to look up additional information about the chair. It was then I realized belatedly that chair size selection (tall or short?) wasn’t about personal preference but rather one’s specific height, and I had chosen the wrong size.
In a bit of a panic, I got into my email to look for the order confirmation, which said at the top said something like, “If you need to make any changes to the size or color, reply to this email within 24 hours and we’ll fix it.” Relief! I soon received confirmation that I would receive the correct size.
I’ve been thinking about this long after the fact (obviously). I love that their email acknowledged people get this stuff wrong, and made it easy to correct without a whiff of judgment. But I also started wondering: Should something be different about their ordering process to avoid this kind of error? Yes.
Either way, they didn’t make the business mistake I see so often when clients/customers get things wrong: THE ALL-CAPS EXHORTATION NOT TO DO THE WRONG THING, WITH LOTS OF PENALTIES IF YOU DO.
If the client/customer is engaging in counterproductive behavior, you have to turn your eye on yourself first and see if you’re unwittingly leading them in that direction.
Jane
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The new chair I bought: QOR360 Ariel 2.0
Everyone has vastly different needs and I’m not saying this chair will work for you, but I wish I had discovered it long ago. Since I was in corporate America, I thought Herman Miller chairs were the best thing you could buy. Now I think they are the worst thing, but that’s because since college, I’ve had the worst sitting habits imaginable, and HM chairs only exacerbate those habits.
No one told me to buy the QOR360; I found it through my own research and it was love from first sit. I can move freely. I sit down and get up without feeling I am shifting from one universe into another. I am not in continual, low-level discomfort.
I also researched a competitor, CoreChair, but ultimately decided on a QOR360 model because the seat moves freely and I don’t want to be tempted to sit in a static position.
I hope this suggestion helps anyone who feels imprisoned by their chair. And I must emphasize, as always: I have no financial interest in making this recommendation.
Want to know the stats of literary journals you submit to?
Try using the free Chill Subs Chrome extension. Chill Subs is a place where you can research places to submit your work, so the extension draws on data they’ve gathered over the years about how these outlets behave. See acceptance rates, response times, and real submission data while you browse.
LocketWidget: send photos to friends’ home screens
Many Christmases ago, I bought my mom an Aura frame, which she loves. Next I might ask her to download LocketWidget for a little more interaction on a daily basis. Available for iOS and Android.
Moving from Square to Stripe for point-of-purchase
The last time I sold books in-person at an event, I used Square for payment processing and had one of those credit card readers that plug into your smartphone or tablet. It’s been so long since I’ve sold things at an event, I had to re-educate myself about how it’s done in preparation for AWP in Baltimore next month, where I’m exhibiting at the Bookfair.
Fortunately I found it’s no longer necessary to have a card reader (although people still use them, of course). Since I already use Stripe, I downloaded their app to my phone and integrated it with Apple Pay. Simple. Learn more.
Identify Your Memoir’s Essential Question with Lisa Cooper Ellison / Feb. 25, 1–2:30 p.m. EST
Every strong memoir is fueled by a burning question that drives the narrative forward. Identifying and clarifying your memoir’s essential question will help you decide what belongs—and what doesn’t—so you can create a story that transcends your personal experience and speaks to something universal. This powerful revision tool can also enhance your elevator pitch, help you confidently navigate interviews, and sharpen your marketing materials. In this class, you’ll learn how to uncover your memoir’s essential question and shape your book around that inquiry, so each scene, chapter, and reflection helps to answer it.
Your turn: cozy winter footwear 🧦
In the last issue, I asked for your recommendations of warm slippers or slipper socks. The most popular recommendations by far: Glerups and Bombas Sherpa Lined Booties.
- Glerups are the best slippers in the world. Falke makes slipper socks with grippy bottoms that are machine washable. —Heather von Bargen
- I absolutely LOVE my Bombas Gripper Slipper, Sherpa Lined Booties. They go up to my ankles, have a cushioned footbed in addition to the sherpa lining, and grips on the bottom so they’re no slip on our hardwood stairs or floor. —Terry Odell
- Best feet-warming slippers: Birkenstock Zermatt wool slippers are so comfortable and have good support too. I discovered them during lockdown when all I wore were slippers. I’m still wearing the same pair nearly six years later, so they hold up well, too. —Rachel Hall
- I never used to wear my UGG boots much when I lived in Australia/New Zealand. Then I moved back to the UK—oof‚ I’ve been living in them. —Alex Hallatt
- Favorite slippers, no contest—Haflinger Grizzly—they have a sole that lets you run outside if you need to, arch support, and they’re a boiled wool that holds up and lasts a very long time. —Shannon Huffman Polson
- I am never cold again with Mongolian felt slippers from Esgii. Their website is in Dutch/German but it says in contact options that you can email them for delivery outside The Netherlands/Belgium and they will help with a solution. —Sara Stegen
- Best slipper and bedtime socks: Cloud Socks from Le Bon Shoppe, sweet dreams. —Fabiola B. Schlessinger
- Hands down, Woolfit Footprint Slippers! These can be ordered with a leather sole or a rubber sole, in case, like me, you tend to run out to the mailbox in your slippers. They’re a little pricey, but the quality is top notch and should last for years. —Melissa Gardner
- Feelgoodz are my FAVORITE slippers. Inside, I wear the Sherpa Laidback. These are my work shoes since I work from home. And just recently I bought a pair of Sherpa Booties I can wear for errands. They are equally a win. —Lisa Garon
- At home I wear two kinds of Haflinger slippers. Downstairs (where there are doors to outside, plus two rabbits whose hay and droppings sometimes end up on the floor), I wear the cork-soled shoe-like kind. At the top of the stairs I switch to the softer version. I suppose there are warmer slippers to be had, but when it’s really cold I’m already wearing thick wool socks, so I’m quite content. —Karla Huebner
- I’m here to recommend these Japanese house shoes (slippers) for bringing to friends’ houses! Here in New England people often have winter “no shoes in the house” rules since everyone’s footwear is covered in rock salt and slushy grime. These come with a cloth carrying bag so they’re easy to slip into my tote. —Cecilia Tan
- Muk Luks brand cabin socks warm up my toes even when they’re yellow-white from Reynaud’s Syndrome! I keep a pair at work and have several at home. —Stephanie A. Cain
💙 This was a popular question! Browse all responses.
Next question: My mom loves science (nonfiction) books of all kinds. Do you have one to recommend? Hit reply and let me know.
Do you have a tools or resources question you would like Jane to ask all readers? Offer up your suggestion, and she might feature it.
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Meet Jane at an event
- IPNE Conference (online only), Feb. 20–21, 2026
- AWP Conference (Baltimore, MD), March 4–7, 2026 (Booth #624)
- Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop (Dayton, OH), March 26–28, 2026
- Publishing Professionals Network Conference (Berkeley, CA), April 24, 2026
- Stockholm Writers Festival (Sweden), June 13, 2026
- Midwest Writers Workshop (Muncie, IN), July 16–18, 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 discussed author anger about AI-generated romance.
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