A note from Jane
I was only a month or two into my new job as managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine when my boss asked me to sit in on a conference call with a self-publishing services company.
I’ve since forgotten the news development associated with the call, but I’ll never forget how I felt: in awe. My boss asked questions that demonstrated she understood their business as well as they did, and uncovered facts that the company wasn’t excited to reveal. The call was cordial enough, but I came away with the sense that she never took any answer at face value.
Looking back, I think it was my first lesson in what it means to head up a brand or publication that takes community or audience trust seriously. My boss did have absolute mastery of the issues at hand—which she needed to ask the right questions—but she had no interest in blithely reporting what the companies asked her to report without appropriate context and analysis. Her responsibility was about more than getting the facts straight, thus I find myself thinking about that moment regularly.
Jane
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Jane’s Electric Speed List
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FlightAware: for tracking flights and delays
Even though I’m a frequent flyer, I rarely use any travel apps aside from the ones provided by the airlines themselves. But the recent US government shutdown—and my travel during the shutdown—had me looking for more information sources than usual. I landed on FlightAware as a great option for tracking delays for specific flights and at airports. A newer app, Flighty, does something similar with a slick user experience. Both apps require a paid subscription for full functionality.
Not-safe-for-work coloring books
I’ve been doing research into the coloring book market for my newsletter The Bottom Line, and I talked to the founder of Microcosm, Joe Biel, about their program and distribution of other publishers’ coloring books. And wow—what a fantastic curated selection they have. Their catalog includes very adult coloring books, so only browse if you’re prepared to see adult topics in the mix. Take a look.
Old maps search and repository
The Old Maps Online website offers digital map collections from multiple libraries in one search interface—plus it offers a TimeMap so you can watch history unfold. H/t Dense Discovery
It’s Advent calendar time!
Years ago, readers of Electric Speed recommended that I buy the Jacquie Lawson digital Advent calendar. I was skeptical at first, but ever since that first time I tried it, I have looked forward all year long to the next one. The 2025 version is now available for download.
Where Writers Go Wrong with Jule Kucera / Dec. 3, 1–2:15 p.m. EST
Are you a writer who loves reading and telling stories but find yourself stuck, frustrated, or unsure why your novel or memoir isn’t coming together? You’re not alone. Jule Kucera has been there—lost, confused, and even embarrassed when friends asked, “How’s that novel coming along?”
The struggle drove her to deep study, which ultimately led to the creation of a unique approach called StoryJoules. When Jule felt she’d cracked the code, her mission became to help other writers escape the cycle of confusion and finally finish the stories they’re longing to tell. In this practical, encouraging webinar, we’ll tackle the 7 most common missteps that keep stories (and writers) from reaching their full potential—and show you how to fix them.
✏ Your turn: mechanical pencils
In the last issue, I asked for your favorite mechanical pencils and it may be the most popular question I’ve ever run as far as volume of responses. You love mechanical pencils! Here’s a selection of what I received, and I’ve compiled all of the responses in a public note.
- I used to fuss at my (now-grown) kids for using mechanical pencils when they were in school since I was always a Ticonderoga fan. But now I get it. I love both the Uni Kuru Toga Advance Upgrade Model and the Uni Kuru Toga Roulette Model Auto Lead Rotation. I apparently bear down a lot when I write, so I have a slight preference for the “advance upgrade model” because it doesn’t break on me. —Elizabeth S. Craig
- I adore mechanical pencils! Rarely write with anything else. My favorites are the Papermate Clear Points, 7mm (they also come in 5mm). They come in tons of fun colors and last forever. —Lisa Binsfeld
- Not proud of this, but nothing beats PaperMate Sharpwriter #2. The erasers actually work, and in 20 years I’ve never used one up before losing it. I buy them by the box and keep at least one in every backpack, purse, or tote. —Carol Saller
- It’s no contest: Pentel Twist-Erase 0.7. I prefer pencil to pen whenever possible and I’ve tried a lot of variations. This is the one. Nice heft, rubber grip, magnificent eraser (no dregs). Truly the best. It’s available in other lead sizes. —Kim Bonnell
- I have used mechanical pencils since my undergraduate program in engineering. (I think it may have been an unstated requirement for engineers.) My go-to is the black Pentel P205 with .5mm lead. I always refill with HB lead, 2B (or not 2B, but I think 2B) writes darker but is softer so it breaks more often. The only problem with mechanical pencils is when the lead jams up, but you learn to fish it out and fix it fast over time, kind of like a crew in the pits at a racetrack. —SJ Wallace
- I write almost exclusively with a fountain pen or mechanical pencil when not at a keyboard because 30 years of coding has caused some arthritis in my hands. I prefer a low pressure light touch. My favorite mechanical pencil is a Pentel GraphGear 1000 loaded with Pentel Ain 4B lead. Writing with this combination is as light and smooth as a fountain pen, doesn’t soak cheap paper, and is erasable. The GG1000 has a solid feel and an ingenious clip that withdraws the fragile tip automatically when the device is put in a pocket. —Marv Waschke
- The best all-around mechanical pencil is the Rotring 600. It has a nice weight and feel, and is available in multiple colors and lead sizes. If the non-retractable tip scares you, go for the Pentel GraphGear 1000. If you’re a crossword fan, you have to check out the Retro 1951 Tornado Crossword Pencil! —Bo Boswell
- Can you identify this pencil? > Really interested in the mechanical pencil question. My daughter goes to a residential high school and says that every morning in her quantum physics class, this guys sits down at his desk and pulls a small box from his backpack. He pulls out all the parts and assembles what appears to be a really cool pencil. She keeps asking me what it is and I can’t find it. Maybe one of your millions of readers will know of it! Thanks for the question. —Dennis Mitton
🌟 This was a popular question! Read all of the responses.
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Free resources featuring Jane
Upcoming online classes
- Where Writers Go Wrong with Jule Kucera, Dec. 3
- Non-Traditional Publishing Paths with Jane Friedman, Dec. 4–5 (use discount code JF-JWKJ7JL8TFC9)
- 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 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
Meet Jane at an event
- Jewish Writers’ Conference (online only), Nov. 23, 2025
- 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, which recently reviewed the AI marketing tool ManuscriptReport.
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