Testimonials

I’m just starting out as a blogger (after years of percolating…) and Jane’s webinar answered all my most pressing questions. She even answered questions I hadn’t articulated yet, things that were just kind of swirling around and keeping me frozen. As soon as the webinar was done, I jotted down a bunch of ideas. I feel so much more focused, I know where I need to improve—and how to improve!—and she also confirmed what I’m doing right, so that’s a really encouraging mix.

Denise Berger

I just want you to know that I’m ALWAYS happy to see you in my inbox. I’m swamped with emails and projects, yet it never fails that I’m happy to see your face (yes it makes a big difference to see your face) and dig into the excellent goodies you offer. Sometimes I barely get to peek into your treasure chest of links, apps, etc, but I make sure to file your emails so I can return on a rainy day. Want you to know how appreciated you are.

Amy Torres

Amy Torres

I just wanted to express my gratitude and appreciation for your keynote at the EFA Conference. I keep thinking back to how well you set the tone of the conference. I’ve been very nervous about things like self-promotion, logistics, and being able to talk about my business as a business, and you both provided great grounds for me to feel good about acknowledging my work as work and also included some really solid advice about how to go about that work. I’ve been reviewing my notes from your presentation, and I really believe that your keynote will help me to skip months or even years of mindset-based mistakes.

Frank Cernik

Frank Cernik

Throughout the year, I listen to a lot of authors, writers, teachers, and publishers talk about the current state of writing and publishing, too often hearing something like: “Sure, go ahead and write, but don’t get your hopes up. …” Jane’s message is very different. … After listening to her explain the current state of publishing, writing, and connecting, you could feel a lively energy buzz around the room, and uplifting of creativity, a juicy excitement about what we are all doing.

Linda Joy Myers

Linda Joy Myers

Thank you for a well-presented and enlightening webinar on publishing. I have taken twelve-sessions-long university courses that did not cover that much material. As well, thank you for answering all questions, including mine, after the session was closed.

Lise Lévesque

Jane opened her arms, literally and figuratively, and changed my life.

Jeanne Bowerman

Jeanne Bowerman

Don’t ever underestimate Jane Friedman, former publisher of Writer’s Digest. She is one of the most knowledgeable people on the planet on the publishing industry, and she just gets smarter and smarter with every passing day. She also understands intuitively and instinctively, when there are rules, when there are no rules, and when people should be conscientious and kind anyway.

Christina Katz

Christina Katz

Publishing is all about the community, and Jane is a must-follow.

Guy Gonzalez

Guy Gonzalez

Jane has strong opinions and ideas about what publishing is doing and what it should be thinking about. You may or may not agree with all she says, but she is on top of everything that’s happening today, and she does a brilliant job of sharing all her knowledge and experience with those of us struggling to figure it all out. Her posts are not to be missed.

Becky Levine

Becky Levine

I heard you speak in Kalispell at the Flathead River Writers’ Conference, where you provided such great information. It’s helped me tremendously in publicizing my first book. Since then, I’ve been subscribing to your blog and to Writer Unboxed. My first mystery series will debut from Berkley next year, and I know the launch will be smarter and more successful because of the information and insights I’ve gained as a result.

Leslie Budewitz

Leslie Budewitz

It’s worth getting a Twitter account just to follow [Jane]. You’ll soon see why she has built a rabid tribe. She’s smart, ahead of the rapidly evolving book industry curve, witty—and generous. One of the things I like most about social media is that it teaches the golden rule better than any priest or parent. Jane herself gives away many of her best ideas, and she offers her readers the present of her presence. She answers questions and encourages others online.

Shirley Hershey Showalter

Shirley Hershey Showalter

I wasn’t disappointed on any anticipated outcomes AND I got a lot more on some areas that I kind of wrote off unknowingly. You were very impressive. Your ability to hear the question behind the question showed that you understood what we thought/wanted and you gave diplomatic and useful answers, the kind that provoked positive and progressive action.

Lisa Arnopp

[Regarding Jane’s online webinars] I have heard you speak, and you are terrific. Your pronunciation is clear, and you are not too fast, but go at a nice pace. Believe me—some I have had to listen to three times to understand the most important points. Thank you.

Barbara Loos

Barbara Loos

Jane is the best editor I’ve ever worked with.

Jerry B. Jenkins

Jerry B. Jenkins

I am so grateful you reviewed my proposal—your advice to reposition the book was invaluable. After I sent my first pitch to Familius, within 3 days the acquisition editor contacted me. A month later, I signed a contract for Feed the Baby Hummus, And Other Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World.

Lisa Lewis MD

Lisa Lewis MD

Jane was an absolute pleasure to work with. She provided clear and concise insights into the world of publishing, offering invaluable knowledge, specifically pertaining to the submissions process. Jane’s professionalism and punctuality were absolutely refreshing. Working with Jane is a no-brainer for any writer looking to get published.

Greg Labe

We feel like we’ve been stumbling around in the dark for too long and your advice feels like someone turned on a light in the distance to give us a direction to walk. The feeling is one of liberation to have fresh ideas to explore and we’re relishing the opportunity. Thank you for all you’ve done to free up a block that has been existing in our author business for too long. We have a direction and are charging forward with pens and megaphones in hand.

Warren & Betsy Talbot

Warren & Betsy Talbot

Fortunately for all of us, Friedman is kind, committed, genuinely engaged and fantastically connected. When you need to know who knows? “Ask Jane,” is what you’re told. And she answers. And she’s right. And chances are, she was ahead of both your question and its answer three posts ago in her blog.

Porter Anderson

Porter Anderson

I have taken several classes on book publishing, book proposals, as well as self-publishing. I learned more from Jane in my one-hour consult than any other class, webinar, or book. Not only does she explain everything and really drill down to what you need to do, she offers practical and time-saving tips as well as advice and resources to move the project forward. I highly recommend her services. She is, in one word, amazing!

Susan Cingari

Susan Cingari

Jane Friedman is all genius. No joke. And not only publishing-smart, but savvy-smart. And generous-smart. … She deliver[ed] what was easily the most organized, efficiently delivered and content-rich presentation that I attended all weekend. … Friedman illuminated the dark nooks and crannies of today’s publishing world while empowering a capacity audience of aspiring writers to chart their own course. … I realized why she’d already had such a profound impact on me. Her blog and webinar are the closest I’ve come to having a writing mentor since college, half a lifetime ago!

George Davis

George Davis

Jane eats, breathes, and focuses almost all her waking hours on the publishing industry. She attends conferences, talks to agents, meets with authors, teaches classes, reads prolifically. She’s sitting in a place of ‘knowing’ since she leads a team of acquisitions editors. She and I have become friends, and I respect what she says so much.

Debra Marrs

Debra Marrs

If you read just one of Jane Friedman’s joyful and knowledgeable posts on social media and new technology, you’ll open yourself up to a world of glorious possibilities for promoting your work.

Patricia V. Davis

Patricia V. Davis

I love Jane Friedman. She gives great advice without being preachy or condescending.

Anjanette Morton

Anjanette Morton

She knows all there is to know about the publishing industry, about marketing, and she cares about each writer she meets or discovers.

Mary L. Tabor

Mary L. Tabor

Any time people talk about publishing, I want to know what Jane Friedman thinks. Great perspective and insights.

Will Entrekin

Will Entrekin

Few things have inspired me more this year than Jane Friedman’s blog. I appreciate the outreach to the field that springs directly from her love of books and publishing and her fascination with the changes happening at warp speed to the business end of books. She is observant and no-nonsense and not without a sense of humor. Also, she likes cats.

Tina Hoggatt

Tina Hoggatt

[Regarding Jane’s online webinars] I was not disappointed. Or bored. And no, you won’t get the same stuff browsing the Internet. I won’t give away any of her secrets because you can go to her blog, website, and Twitter where she generously shares her knowledge of writing and publishing. But you won’t get a bag full of tools all packed up and ready to go like you will on her webinar. Jane’s presentation was chock full of professional advice: the do’s and don’ts of what to put on a website, how to develop ‘social currency’ and analyzing your traffic. I actually understand Google Analytics a bit better now.

Rahma Krambo

Rahma Krambo