🎙 INTERVIEW: How to Pitch Your Book w/ Jane Friedman
​** This is a LIVE interview with author Jane Friedman about the craft of writing and reality of building a writing career. Attendees will be sent a recording after the interview. **
​How can writers prepare submission materials that capture an agent’s or publisher’s attention? And what do authors need to know about the ever-changing publishing industry?
​Jane Friedman is one of the most trusted voices in the publishing industry, known for her deep expertise in the business of writing. With decades of experience in both traditional and independent publishing, Jane offers practical, no-nonsense advice on everything from pitching books to building an author brand.
​Join us for a conversation with Jane as we discuss how to navigate the publishing landscape, refine your book pitch, and position yourself for success as an author.Â
​We’ll discuss:
​What agents and publishers look for—and common mistakes to avoid
​The current state of the publishing industry and where it’s headed
​Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing—how to choose the right path for you
​Building an author brand—what it means and why it matters
​What successful book pitches have in common
​About Jane FriedmanÂ
​Jane Friedman has spent 25 years working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer (The University of Chicago Press), received a starred review from Library Journal and is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. A second edition releases in spring 2025.
​In her paid newsletter, The Bottom Line, she provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals. Her influence and insight earned her Publishing Commentator of the Year from Digital Book World in 2023, and her expertise regularly features in major media outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC.
​Friedman’s impact on publishing education spans multiple formats and audiences. Her teaching reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs. She has helped shape the next generation of publishing professionals through curriculum development at Southern New Hampshire University’s MFA program and faculty positions at the University of Virginia and University of Cincinnati.
​As a trusted industry resource, Friedman has advised and served multiple organizations, including Writer’s Digest, the Virginia Quarterly Review, The Chicago Manual of Style, the Editorial Freelancers Association, the Alliance of Independent Authors, and the Midwest Writers Workshop. She has served on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Whiting Awards, and the Creative Work Fund, bringing her expertise to the development of literary culture and arts funding.
​Her long-running newsletters exemplify her commitment to helping writers navigate the publishing landscape: Electric Speed, published since 2009, reaches more than 25,000 subscribers, while The Bottom Line serves as an industry beacon for more than 2,500 publishing professionals. In collaboration with The Authors Guild, she authored The Authors Guild Guide to Self-Publishing, further cementing her role as a trusted voice in publishing.
​Your London Writers' Salon Hosts:
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​Parul Bavishi and Matt Trinetti are the co-founders of the London Writers' Salon, creators of the webby-nominated Writers' Hour daily writing sessions, and hosts of the London Writers' Salon podcast.
​Parul Bavishi has been an editor for over a decade. In addition to running LWS she helps thriller, YA and non-fiction writers level up their craft and get published. She writes and edits for the Story Grid. She has worked as an editor and literary scout at Random House, Quercus & Eccles Fisher. She analyses TV hit shows (Killing Eve, Ozark, Game of Thrones) on the Story Grid Showrunners Podcast.
​Matt Trinetti is a writer, publisher, TEDx speaker, and facilitator. In addition to running LWS, Matt designs programs to help unfulfilled professionals pursue creative work, start businesses, and reinvent their careers. Matt's work has appeared in Quartz, Observer, Creative Mornings, and on his blog GiveLiveExplore.
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