A note from Jane
Should you discuss politics on social media or in your newsletter?
A year ago, I subscribed to a women’s health newsletter by a doctor who regularly offers comprehensive, educational posts about confusing and complicated health issues—plus analysis of new research, drugs, and supplements on the market.
But when my renewal came up last month, I canceled. That’s because the large majority of posts this year have focused onthe intersection of politics and health when they hadn’t before. It’s no mystery why the shift occurred; the newsletter has been doom sliding since January.
Writers frequently ask me how to handle politics in online spaces, but I put the question back on them. That’s a decision only you can make. In the new edition of my book, I suggest you shouldn’t feel pressured to take a public position on issues you know little or nothing about. But for issues you care about or have expertise on, you might feel compelled to speak up, like this doctor does. If you do, assume that some people will tell you to “stay in your lane” or complain they don’t follow you for politics. But that’s OK. Just ignore that type of response and move on. You might lose some folks; you’ll also gain some.
I abandoned the doctor’s newsletter not because of disagreement or disapproval over the intrusion of politics. Rather, political issues became the predominant and sometimes only topic of discussion, and I subscribed for vastly different reasons.
The promise made to your subscribers/readers is broken over many posts, not a single post. Posting consistently or frequently about any topic will become part of your brand or what you’re known for; it can happen on purpose and also by accident.
If I had this doctor’s ear, I’d say: Look for pragmatic and intentional solutions and avoid reactive writing—reacting to every headline. Maybe dedicate a corner of the newsletter to such issues (that can be either consumed or skipped by readers), or write an extra edition every so often with updates, or start a separate publication, or start a live chat or Q&A for those interested. There are as many possible approaches as writers.
Jane
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More tools for using frequent flyer points
After I mentioned Seats Aero in the last issue, Matt Ball shared with me a helpful article that compares the pros and cons of multiple tools for finding airline seats with points. Read.
Very cool publisher: Beehive Books
Beehive is a book publisher that also sells beautiful prints and other objects. Check out the illuminated tapestries! They use Kickstarter to fund projects.
For Wordpress users: temporary login without password
This free plugin is very useful if you need to share access to your Wordpress backend for a brief time—e.g., to a developer, designer, or contributor.
Compare the size of countries
I love using this tool, The True Size, when I’m traveling to an unfamiliar place to get a better understanding of distances—and to provide a reality check of how much I might try and see.
The Art of Reflection in Memoir with Lisa Cooper Ellison / May 28, 1–2:30 p.m. EDT
Memoirs are stories of transformation that require the writer’s wisdom. However, striking the delicate balance between engaging storytelling and thoughtful commentary that enhances your plot without overexplaining or steering readers toward certain opinions is challenging. This can be especially tricky if you’re writing a coming-of-age memoir with a young narrator, you’re writing about real-life characters who’ve caused you pain, or if you’ve been gaslit by those around you. To master this craft, you must learn how to own your truth while guiding readers through your story and allowing them to draw their own conclusions.
In this 90-minute online class, you’ll learn how to master the art of reflection by incorporating your wisdom into your memoir without overwhelming it.
Your turn: favorite interviews 🎙️
In the last issue, I asked you to tell me about your favorite interview (video, podcast, or text) with a writer, storyteller, or other creative professional. Here’s a selection of what you said.
- My favorite author interview: Manoush Zomorodi’s interview on the TED Radio Hour with the heartfelt and eloquent children’s author Jason Reynolds. He talks about his writing but also about hope. The full episode title is Jason Reynolds: The Antidote to Hopelessness. It aired during the pandemic in 2021. Such a powerful episode. —Ellen
- Favorite interview with a creative professional is Charlie Rose’s conversation with Robin Williams in 2009 on Weapons of Self Destruction. —Scott Williams
- This past week poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib spoke in Providence. It was a thrill for me to see him in person. [His new book] There’s Always This Year is one of the best books I’ve read, and Hanif is brilliant, thoughtful, and kind. I first became aware of Hanif thanks to this wonderful interview with the Providence Athenaeum Director, centered around the book A Little Devil in America. —Susan Joyce
- The Paris Review’s Writers at Work series is a treasure trove of interviews with literary greats over several decades of the 20th century. It is tempting to pull up the digitized archive and go down the rabbit hole. If I had to choose one, it would be Gore Vidal’s interview in which he talked about his creative process, his personal philosophy and his opinion of other writers. —Kathryn Means
- David Tennant Fights the Demon of Imposter Syndrome, interviewed at Off Camera with Sam Jones. The way he talked about how much louder the demon got when he became The Doctor really inspired me. The louder the voices, the better you’re doing. This was one of the first things that really made me sit down and commit to my writing craft, despite the voices. —Jess Feder
- Author Colm Toibin interviewing author Tan Twan Eng (one of my favourite writers). Hard to beat one accomplished writer interviewing another! It’s like a Masterclass, especially for historical fiction writers. —BrianRendell
- One of the most creative musicians I’ve ever known about is Jon Anderson, the original lead singer of the rock group Yes. He is now 80 years old and his creativity is unparalleled. … This interview with Elizabeth Zharoff, who is an opera singer and vocal coach, is also a joy. … It starts out just a little bit slow as they get acquainted with each other and then it really takes off. Take a look at some of the comments on the video as well. He’s an absolute treasure. —Barbara Hughes
- Favorite interview with a creative professional has to be when Greta Johnsen interviewed Stephen King about corgis at Welsh Corgi News. —Alison Ver Halen
Next question: Is there a specific person/institution you trust for book recommendations? This person could be a reviewer or critic, influencer, library, bookstore, podcaster, etc. I’m preferably looking for an answer that will benefit others. (So that means maybe not your best friend unless that best friend publicly recommends books.) 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
- Free to the public: AI and Publishing: The Technology Is Here to Stay. So Now What? (Reisterstown, MD), May 17, 2025
- NonfictioNOW Conference (Notre Dame, IN), June 11–13, 2025
- Women’s Fiction Virtual Summit (online), June 21–22, 2025
- Midwest Writers Workshop (Muncie, IN), July 10–12, 2025
- 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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