Jane’s Writing Advice Archive

Posted on by Jane Friedman

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If you’re overwhelmed by this list, you can purchase a compilation of my best advice for first-time authors, Publishing 101: A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career. It is a full-length book (more than 80,000 words) that includes edited and updated versions of the most important blog posts listed below.

Getting Started

The Only Way to Know If You’ll Be a Successful Writer

Everyone Wants to “Help” Writers. But Whose Help Do You Really Need?

The Golden Rule of Professionals: Be Specific & Ask Good Questions

5 Things Every Writer Should Know About Rights

Why Writers Should Attend Conferences + 5 Ways to Benefit From Them

The Secret to Writing & Publishing That Should Be Taped to Your Wall

Your Friends and Family Are Wrong

Persistence Doesn’t Matter If You Make This Common Mistake

Leading Indicator of Success: How You Deal With Loss, Failure, Rejection

You Hate Your Writing? That’s a Good Sign!

How to Avoid Being Fooled by Bad Writing Advice

Distinguishing Between Straight-Up Advice & Paradigm Shift

Should You Hire a Professional Editor?

How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?

Best Advice: Have More Fun (Stop Worrying and Obeying)

The Dirty Secret Behind Writing Advice

3 Questions Every Creative Person Must Ask

5 Attitudes Toward Publishing You Should Avoid

Back to Basics + 101 Guides

Start Here: How to Get Your Book Published

Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal

Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book

The Complete Guide to Query Letters That Get Manuscript Requests

How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?

Infographic: 5 Key Book Publishing Paths

Where to Find Free Market Listings

Is Your Work Commercially Viable?

Back to Basics: Writing & Publishing Memoir

How Do You Know If Your Agent Is Any Good?

Back to Basics: Why Am I Getting Rejected?

Get Started Guide: Blogging for Writers

The Best 101 on Self-Publishing + Resources

Back to Basics: Writing a Novel Synopsis

Writing & Publishing Terminology 101

Craft + Technique (Write Better)

Why Take the Time to Read Your Work Out Loud?

4 Steps to Useful Critiques: The Lerman Method

5 Ways to Find the Right Freelance Editor

Worksheets for Writing a Novel in 30 Days

Why I Don’t Care ABout Grammar (And Why You Should Stop Worrying)

It’s OK to Leave Out Stuff—In Fact, It’s Better

Perfecting Your First Page: 3 Tasks or Exercises

Story Openings: What Constitutes Significant/Meaningful Action?

The Biggest Bad Advice About Story Openings

A Big Mistake to Avoid in Story Openings

 Getting Published

Start Here: How to Get Your Book Published

Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal

The Complete Guide to Query Letters That Get Manuscript Requests

How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?

Infographic: 4 Key Book Publishing Paths and/or Infographic: 5 Key Book Publishing Paths

Where to Find Free Market Listings

Is Your Work Commercially Viable?

The Basic Pitch Formula for Novelists

Back to Basics: Writing a Novel Synopsis

5 Attitudes Toward Publishing You Should Avoid

How Do You Know If Your Agent Is Any Good?

Back to Basics: Why Am I Getting Rejected?

Rejection: It’s What You Do Next That Counts

3 Critical Steps After Rejection

How to Ensure 75% of Agents Will Request Your Material

What Writers Wish They’d Known Before Pitching

5 Reasons Pitches Can Be Detrimental Rather Than Helpful

The Art of Live Pitching (3 Rules)

5 Questions to Ask Yourself After Hearing: We Can’t Sell Enough to Justify Publishing It

Stop Being Afraid of Posting Your Work Online

How to Get a Book Deal While Avoiding the Slush Pile

Nonfiction Books + Publishing

Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal

Book Proposals in the Digital Age

Your Self-Help Book Should Not Be a Thinly Disguised Memoir

 Memoir

When Is Lying in Memoir Acceptable? 3 Key Issues

Back to Basics: Writing & Publishing Memoir

Creating Memoir That’s Bigger Than Me, Me, Me 

Your No. 1 Challenge If You’re Writing Memoir

5 Common Flaws in Memoir Projects

Don’t Write a Memoir to Get Revenge

Inspiration + Encouragement (The Writing Life)

The Secret to Finding Time to Write, Market, Promote, and Still Have a Life

5 Things More Important Than Talent

5 Remarkable Prompt & Exercise Books

How Do You Make the Time to Write?

Why Do We Think Talent Ought to Be Rewarded?

3 Ways to Add Meaningful Structure to Your Writing Life

My Secret to Battling Procrastination

Placing Too Much Importance on Passion

Publishing Industry

Reasons to Be Optimistic During the Disruption of Publishing