I don’t think my age is a secret, but just to be clear: I’m 34.
Sometimes when I speak at conferences, people say they expected someone older. I’ve been hearing this since 2002.
I think there are a variety of reasons for this—not least among them that many decision makers in publishing are younger than what you’d expect—but I did attain a significant position by the age of 30.
How did that happen?
It’s not talent or smarts.
No, the conclusion I’ve come to is that it has been about these 3 things:
1. Being extraordinarily focused and stable in my career direction
I stayed in one place for a long time (F+W Media, 12 years). I outlasted a lot of other people and gained more responsibility as the years passed. I focused on developing my skills in a very specific area, and I didn’t waste energy on anything but that one, single passion: publishing (or: writing/editing).
2. Being dedicated and consistent. This is nearly the same as No. 1, but relates to what I pushed out to the world, or my external-facing career. When I started a blog, it wasn’t immediately successful. But I stuck with it, and I improved my skills. Same with speaking at events, same with Facebook, same with Twitter, same with other stuff that isn’t yet fruitful.
Not every effort can be a winning one, but most ventures require patience for them to pay off. Given that we live in an environment of instant gratification, people who can see things through are often the ones who get a return on their time and energy.
3. Being aware of trends & industry
I’ve always loved reading news and opinions about the publishing industry. I seek out stories about who’s succeeding, or who’s pushing the envelope. When you read trend stories year after year after year, even if you can’t articulate it, you’re learning something fundamental about how the industry operates, and where it’s going. You’re soaking up the DNA of the industry, the texture and context of every decision, success and failure.
What I’m Still Missing
I have a mile-long list of things I’ve wanted to do, but haven’t. Why? Here are the 2 biggest weaknesses I battle.
1. Discipline
I am the most undisciplined accomplished person you will ever meet. I procrastinate, I waste amazing amounts of time (e.g., watching 8 episodes of Battlestar Galactica in one night), I am rarely strategic with projects since I wait until last minute.
2. Time to really think about breaking the rules
My blog is called There Are No Rules, yet I find myself short on time—due to No. 1!—which means I will rush without having time to truly think about how I can do something innovative. For me, meaningful, groundbreaking work takes solitude, quiet time (to write/sketch), focused reading across diverse fields, experimentation. It requires time to fail (planned time to fail).
All that said: I make it a point to enjoy myself. So I seek gentle self-coercion tactics to be more disciplined, so I can plan more carefully, so I can fail in time to be more effective and innovative.
Jane Friedman has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.
Jane, I’ve coached for Fortune 500 execs, and you should know you’ve just given yourself excellent insight and advice — and saved yourself hundreds of dollars by “insourcing” this! Good work.
Jane, I read this earlier & then, after a conversation I had with my husband, I had to come back and comment. I was talking about how I wouldn’t mind having just a little bit of Jane Addams’ get-all-this-done ability. His comment was that she was extremely focused. And I said I didn’t think so–not in the sense of going away for seven hours & working on one thing. I think she could carry a baby around on her hip and handle about 16 other things at the same time, BIG things. I think she was someone who somehow managed to see the big picture and handle all the little details of all the PIECES of that picture, simultaneously. And she enjoyed herself. So, honestly, I think you might be in some very good company!
That certainly gives me hope—and a little more acceptance of my lack of focus some days! Thank you. 🙂
Richard Gilbert
13 years ago
From your wisdom in this blog, which I recently discovered and am really enjoying, I thought you were a lot older, too.
Great post. And it’s so great to get different snippets from friends and bloggers about what AWP this year was like. I have not been in a couple, myself.
Tweets that mention It's all about working smart RT Three Boring Elements of Success -- Topsy.com
13 years ago
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jill Kemerer, Daisy Hickman. Daisy Hickman said: RT @jillkemerer: It's all about working smart RT @JaneFriedman Three Boring Elements of Success http://bit.ly/hSiSbP […]
Anonymous
13 years ago
I’m really glad to hear you, too, struggle with procrastination, etc., because I was beginning to wonder if you were some sort of demon!
This is an incredibly uplifting blog post for me. Why? I’m 28. I’ve been published (as a journalist) in local magazines, as well as national magazines. I started my career as a newspaper reporter and won two Associated Press awards by the time I was 25. I now work as the main health writer for a large company based out of Arizona and helped develop its social media marketing strategy.
BUT, I’m just starting the journey of making myself my own writer, my own “brand.” I’m working on a novel and trying to write and publish some short stories in reputable literary magazines. I started a blog less than a year ago, I’m on Twitter, but sometimes I get frustrated with building a truly engaged following. Seeing someone such as yourself who reminds me that she did gain success, but only after lots of follow-through, is a huge help. It helps lift me up when I think I’m not going anywhere.
Thank you!
You have yourself a new subscriber to your sporadic newsletter. 🙂
YES!! I’m so glad you stumbled on this post. Stay passionate & persistent. It will pay off.
Susannabarlow8
13 years ago
Thanks for writing about the publishing world. It is a ever changing industry that is a mystery to me. I decided to take your advice and just keep reading and learning.
Michelle D. Keyes
13 years ago
It’s so nice to hear about someone my age, who has had some success. In my twenties I firmly believed that I would be in my fifties before I would ever be published or be able to actually call myself a writer. Thankfully, at 31, I have my official first CV and writing clips. It’s nice to know perseverance, dedication, and good-old-fashioned hard work still pay off when you hear so many people talk about how difficult the publishing industry is. Thanks for the dose of hope!
Ha! I just assumed that you were older than you looked.
LOL. I think that happens a lot.
Jane, I’ve coached for Fortune 500 execs, and you should know you’ve just given yourself excellent insight and advice — and saved yourself hundreds of dollars by “insourcing” this! Good work.
Wow! Good to know. 🙂
Jane, I read this earlier & then, after a conversation I had with my husband, I had to come back and comment. I was talking about how I wouldn’t mind having just a little bit of Jane Addams’ get-all-this-done ability. His comment was that she was extremely focused. And I said I didn’t think so–not in the sense of going away for seven hours & working on one thing. I think she could carry a baby around on her hip and handle about 16 other things at the same time, BIG things. I think she was someone who somehow managed to see the big picture and handle all the little details of all the PIECES of that picture, simultaneously. And she enjoyed herself. So, honestly, I think you might be in some very good company!
That certainly gives me hope—and a little more acceptance of my lack of focus some days! Thank you. 🙂
From your wisdom in this blog, which I recently discovered and am really enjoying, I thought you were a lot older, too.
Great post. And it’s so great to get different snippets from friends and bloggers about what AWP this year was like. I have not been in a couple, myself.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope we cross paths at a future AWP.
Your top three list has me nodding. It’s all about working hard and working smart, isn’t it? Perfection, though, is not in the cards!
Agree!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jill Kemerer, Daisy Hickman. Daisy Hickman said: RT @jillkemerer: It's all about working smart RT @JaneFriedman Three Boring Elements of Success http://bit.ly/hSiSbP […]
I’m really glad to hear you, too, struggle with procrastination, etc., because I was beginning to wonder if you were some sort of demon!
🙂
Jane,
This is an incredibly uplifting blog post for me. Why? I’m 28. I’ve been published (as a journalist) in local magazines, as well as national magazines. I started my career as a newspaper reporter and won two Associated Press awards by the time I was 25. I now work as the main health writer for a large company based out of Arizona and helped develop its social media marketing strategy.
BUT, I’m just starting the journey of making myself my own writer, my own “brand.” I’m working on a novel and trying to write and publish some short stories in reputable literary magazines. I started a blog less than a year ago, I’m on Twitter, but sometimes I get frustrated with building a truly engaged following. Seeing someone such as yourself who reminds me that she did gain success, but only after lots of follow-through, is a huge help. It helps lift me up when I think I’m not going anywhere.
Thank you!
You have yourself a new subscriber to your sporadic newsletter. 🙂
Shari Lopatin
YES!! I’m so glad you stumbled on this post. Stay passionate & persistent. It will pay off.
Thanks for writing about the publishing world. It is a ever changing industry that is a mystery to me. I decided to take your advice and just keep reading and learning.
It’s so nice to hear about someone my age, who has had some success. In my twenties I firmly believed that I would be in my fifties before I would ever be published or be able to actually call myself a writer. Thankfully, at 31, I have my official first CV and writing clips. It’s nice to know perseverance, dedication, and good-old-fashioned hard work still pay off when you hear so many people talk about how difficult the publishing industry is. Thanks for the dose of hope!
Absolutely, it DOES pay off. Thanks for taking time to share your experience here. 🙂