# Jane Friedman

> Jane Friedman is one of publishing's most trusted independent voices - a Cincinnati-based author, educator, and industry analyst who has spent two decades demystifying the business of writing. Through her newsletters Electric Speed (30,000+ subscribers, running since 2009) and The Bottom Line (8,000+ paid subscribers), her book The Business of Being a Writer, and her widely-read site janefriedman.com, she helps authors navigate a publishing landscape that keeps reinventing itself. She came to prominence beyond publishing circles in 2023 when AI-generated fake books appeared on Amazon under her name, making her an unlikely but authoritative voice on AI, authorship, and copyright.

- **Role:** Independent Author & Publishing Industry Analyst at janefriedman.com
- **Organizations:** janefriedman.com, University of Chicago Press (author), Alliance of Independent Authors (advisor), Editorial Freelancers Association (advisor), Chicago Manual of Style (advisor)
- **From:** Indiana, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.F.A. in Creative Writing, University of Evansville, M.A. in English, Xavier University
- **Known for:** Publishing Commentator of the Year - Digital Book World (2023), Literary Citizenship Award - Midwest Writers Workshop (2024), Media Outlet of the Year (Electric Speed) - Digital Book World (2020)

## Career timeline

- **2001** — Joined F+W Media / Writer's Digest as Publisher & Editorial Director; led digital transition of $10M+ multimedia brand
- **2009** — Launched Electric Speed newsletter, one of the longest-running author newsletters on the web
- **2010** — Left Writer's Digest; joined University of Cincinnati as Tenure-Track Professor of E-Media
- **2013** — Became Digital Publishing Director at Virginia Quarterly Review, University of Virginia; doubled website traffic, grew digital subscriptions to 25% of total
- **2015** — Launched paid newsletter The Bottom Line; went fully independent at janefriedman.com
- **2018** — Published The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press); received starred Library Journal review
- **2020** — Electric Speed newsletter named Media Outlet of the Year by Digital Book World
- **2023** — AI-generated fake books sold under her name on Amazon; became national news (CNN, NPR, The Daily Beast); named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World
- **2024** — Received Literary Citizenship Award from Midwest Writers Workshop
- **2025** — Published second edition of The Business of Being a Writer, updated for the AI era; keynote speaker at Midwest Writers Workshop

## Achievements

- Publishing Commentator of the Year - Digital Book World (2023)
- Literary Citizenship Award - Midwest Writers Workshop (2024)
- Media Outlet of the Year (Electric Speed) - Digital Book World (2020)
- Virginia Writers Club Lifetime Achievement Award
- 100,000+ monthly visitors to janefriedman.com
- 30,000+ subscribers to free Electric Speed newsletter (since 2009)
- 8,000+ paid subscribers to The Bottom Line newsletter
- The Business of Being a Writer earned starred Library Journal review
- Used as classroom text in writing and publishing programs nationwide
- Quoted in New York Times, NPR, Washington Post, The Atlantic, Wired, CNN, BBC
- Advisor: Chicago Manual of Style, Editorial Freelancers Association, Alliance of Independent Authors
- Grant panelist: National Endowment for the Arts, Whiting Awards, Creative Work Fund

## Latest updates

- **2025-01** — Keynote speaker at Midwest Writers Workshop 2025
- **2025-01** — Second edition of The Business of Being a Writer published by University of Chicago Press, with new AI-era content and chapter exercises
- **2024-12** — Published 2024 Year-End Review covering major publishing industry developments including AI legislation, NaNoWriMo's struggles, and Authors Equity's profit-sharing model
- **2024-06** — Received Literary Citizenship Award from Midwest Writers Workshop
- **2023-08** — AI-generated fake books sold under her name on Amazon made national news; named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World

## Links

- Website: https://janefriedman.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janefriedman/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/janefriedman
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@janefriedman
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janefriedman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jane.friedman

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jane-friedman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-28