Weasel Wisdom: Annie Dillard's Guide to Living
What a weasel knows that we forget – Annie Dillard on how to live https://t.co/bZ2czI9bc3
Greek Tragedy Meets Australian Outback in Stedman's Novel
M.L. Stedman’s new novel feels like a Greek tragedy transplanted to the Australian outback. My review of “A Far-Flung Life”: https://roncharles.substack.com/p/ml-stedman-is-back-with-another-impossible
Book Publicist Scams Exposed: $1800, Zero ROI
This case study in hiring a book publicity firm is both laugh-out-loud funny and highly informative. As author Kirsten Bell points out, few people share these poor experiences due to shame and embarrassment. So I couldn't be more grateful to her...
AI Ends My Participation in Book Clubs Forever
I get asked to show up to book clubs, online and offline. Here is why from now on the answer is always "no." If you think this might have something to do with "AI" ruining yet another thing for everyone,...
From Zero to $10K: Readers Choose Next Steps
My Commercial Fiction Club newsletter, where I'm documenting the journey from $0 as a new fiction author, is about to hit $10,000/year. This isn't bad, but I'm still figuring out what readers want most from me. Drop a comment—what do you want...
Intentional Breaks Beat Creative Blocks, Not Phone Scrolling
If you're experiencing a creative block, I know a guaranteed way to overcome it: Take a break. But not just any kind of break. (No scrolling on your phone for two hours.) Here are 3 tips for taking an intentional, creatively restorative break....
Journalistic Editing Skills Transform Book Publishing Success
Making the leap from journalism to book-length work brought one writer into contact with a new challenge: being truly edited. Lessons from @julietizon: https://janefriedman.com/how-editing-like-a-journalist-will-make-your-publishing-journey-easier/
Paperback Release of “The Staircase in the Woods” Celebrated
Today is the paperback release of THE STAIRCASE IN THE WOODS and I talk about that and the book a little bit at the blog. Remember those? Blogs? Good times.
Seeking Fresh Book Deals, Not Zelda Frustrations
Alright blood moon, let’s manifest some good book news. Agent signings, deals, bestseller lists, and not like, all the ways you keep f*cking with Link in the Zelda games. We need a break.
Enter Giveaway, Support Noir Novel & New Paperback
I'm here for fun BUT I also need to pay my bills. So 1) there's a giveaway for review copies of my novel The Intrigue, a 1940s noir about a romance scam artist. If you're a Goodreads user and you...
Did the Film Crew Actually Read Wuthering Heights?
hey so did the the people involved in the Wuthering Heights film actually read Wuthering Heights
Master Time Manipulation to Craft Your Bestseller
What's behind the blockbuster success of novels like People We Meet on Vacation and The Housemaid? It’s not just the prose, the characters, or the plot. It’s how the authors manipulate time to keep readers hooked. In today's video, I reveal how...
More Books, Fewer Readers: A Growing Reading Crisis
We are in a reading crisis. People have access to more books than any point in history, but are reading less than ever. Here are 10 concerning charts about the state of reading:
Publishers' Dues Belong to Unions, Not Individuals
I wrote all about how I once believed in the power of paying one’s dues. And now I believe that the only dues publishing workers should be paying is for a union. https://lithub.com/a-series-of-unfortunate-salaries-maris-kreizman-on-fighting-the-publishing-industrys-elitism/
Author Shares Real-Time Reader Notes From Novel Rewrite
One thing I did during rewrites of my upcoming novel (the 8th book in my Polyamorous Passions series) was to review the novel through the lens of a reader: I jotted down all the thoughts that came to mind *in the...
Publishers Stagger Writer Signings and Panels at Conventions
If you squint some publishers do a version of this when they send 3-4 of their writers to Comic Con or another major trade event (I've done this with Del Rey) and they're signing at the booth at different times...
Remember When Books Came with Rip‑Out Order Forms?
I realized just now that I'm so old I remember when books would have a section called "you would also like" and/or have order forms you could rip out. The market was different back then and certain books (like SFF)...
24% Off All Editing Services This Week
My mom told me never to post my age on the internet, but I’m having a 24% off sale starting tomorrow and goes until the 7th! All of my services qualify, I specialize in developmental and line editing and rapid...
Americans Choose Phones Over Books, Reading Plummets
A few worrying reading stats: -57% of Americans read 0 books a year -Reading for pleasure has fallen by 40% -Proportion of people who never read a book in a given year has 3x’d -Average American spends 5.4 hours a day on their phones...
The Rumpus to Host Party at AWP 2026
Here is what The Rumpus will be up to at AWP this year https://therumpus.net/2026/02/27/the-rumpus-at-awp-2026/ and we are having a party. Hope to see you there.
Speed‑reading Sacrifices Comprehension: Humans Have Absorption Limits
Speed-reading is a scam: Scientists studied professional speed-readers and found that the faster you read, the less you understand or remember. “There’s just a maximum limit for how quickly humans can absorb information.”
Writing My First Book Transformed My Life
I wrote my very first book last year, and now that the release date is approaching, I’m excited for sure, but also…nervous. 😬 Is anyone even going to read it? Will people find it valuable? Or did I just waste a ton...
Swap Vertical Feeds for Horizontal Ebook Browsing
Stop scrolling up and down on social media. Start scrolling left and right on an ebook.
Print Publishers Demand Optimal Length; Ebooks Allow Flexibility
Book length is a lot more important for traditional publishers because too long & it might be too expensive to print, but distributors/stores also don't like super skinny books that much. But someone whose main market is ebooks, as is...
Animal POVs Add Quirky Depth to Adult Fiction
Be forewarned, if you write fiction involving animal characters, especially for adult readers, people will likely refer to your story as “quirky.” Book coach Erin Radniecki advises on when animal POVs can benefit your story: https://janefriedman.com/embrace-quirky-5-benefits-of-using-animal-point-of-view-characters/
Literary Agents' Hidden Work Revealed—Read Newsletter
Ever wonder what literary agents are doing behind the scenes? Check out my new newsletter post in the comments
Swap Screen Time for Reading: Same Minutes, Bigger Gains
Want to read more books? Here's a fun challenge for you. I'm calling it "Screen Time to Read Time": 1) Open your screen time app to see your daily average screen time 2) Read a book for that same length of time If you...
Hilarious Thread Convinces Me to Keep Social Media
Sometimes I want to delete all my social media but this thread is why I keep it 😂 I’m literally crying from how funny these are
All My Book Options Have Lapsed, No Adaptations Yet
Someone was asking me how the adaptation of Mexican Gothic is going, I think because of the recent Wuthering Heights film and Pride & Prejudice movie announced. I talked about this maybe two years ago? Can't recall. But that option...
Free AWP Registration Available—Message or Comment to Claim
Who could use a free #AWP registration? PM me, or Comment and I’ll reach out to you.
Turn Suffering Into Life’s Meaningful Knowledge
If you know what your suffering means, and how to use it, it will become a precious source of knowledge about the meaning of your life. Accepting this means fighting your every survival instinct. Source: Chapter 9, “Don’t Waste Your Suffering,”...
TV Agency Launches Book Division Targeting YA, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Recently, the LA-based TV literary agency Kaplan Stahler brought on Jillian Davis to start their book department. She focuses on authors of YA, romance, and women’s fiction. I’m grateful to Jillian for answering a few questions about the unique space she’s...
Gennaro's "Hidden Italy" Cookbook Now Available Nationwide
Gennaro‘s brand-new cookbook is out and it’s beautiful hidden italy check it out really really nice available in all good bookstores big up Gennaro gennarocontaldo
Digital Galleys Slash Costs, Boost Review ROI
Before Netgalley and other electronic galley systems, a publisher had to print and mail a ton of books. This was terribly expensive. $600 for a publisher is much more affordable than mailing even 100 books. A good review rate is...
Co‑authoring Eugene Hutz’s Memoir, Releasing December
Very pleased and honored to announce that I got to help Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello with his memoir, Lost Innocent World, which will come out in early December via Matt Holt Books/BenBella Books. Preorder it now via Amazon (QR...
Classic Authors Unlock Male Readers' Interest in Fiction
Another good piece here from my editor (and not just because my novel is mentioned :P). Writers like Shirley Jackson and Kurt Vonnegut were my own portal into literature as a teen. https://dearheadofmine.substack.com/p/bulletproof-fiction-to-get-men-reading
Friendship Endures as Childhood Friends Diverge in New Novel
The author of ‘An American Marriage’ returns with a novel about two girlhood friends who set off in different directions. https://roncharles.substack.com/p/in-tayari-joness-kin-friendship-persists?r=atlgd
Lighthouse Photo Contest Update: Decisions Coming Soon
Thanks for your patience about the lighthouse photo contest for the Southern Reach book. My novel getting longer has meant we're just now slowly wading through the photos. Very soon there will be some decisions.
Find Olympic‑Level Joy and Intensity in Your Life
If you are inspired by the 2026 Winter Olympics and want to find that sense of joy, aliveness, and intensity in your own life, have I got a book for you. I gave this project my all. The early feedback...