Jane Friedman: The Business of Being a Writer (and a Freelancer)

In this episode, I talk with publishing expert, educator, and author Jane Friedman about the realities of building a writing or editing career in today’s shifting marketplace.

Jane has spent more than two decades working across traditional publishing, digital media, and higher education. Her insights cut through industry myths and offer a clear, practical look at what it really takes to sustain creative work—especially for freelancers.

We explore the principles behind her book The Business of Being a Writer, how to position yourself in a crowded market, and why understanding your value is essential, no matter what stage of your career you’re in. We also discuss common misconceptions around agents, the submissions process, and why packaging and pricing matter just as much as skill.

Jane shares a thoughtful perspective on AI in the exclusive interview—its potential, its limits, and what writers and editors should pay attention to as technology evolves.

This is a grounded, generous conversation for anyone navigating the business side of creative work.

Topics We Cover

• Why positioning matters for freelancers
• Pricing, packaging, and communicating your value
• How editors can strengthen their visibility and reach

Resources & Links

• Jane Friedman’s Website: https://janefriedman.com
• The Business of Being a Writer (Book): https://janefriedman.com/book/the-business-of-being-a-writer
• Jane’s Substack Article: There Is No Such Thing as a Good Editor
• https://janefriedman.substack.com/p/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-good

If you’re planning to attend the LoveLitCon in San Diego (Feb. 13–16), visit lovelit. and use code PP7299 to get $25 off the registration fee.

Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow editors!

Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcast

Connect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_Hour

Subscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHour

Become a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter to get access to exclusive content on YouTube: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour

For the Season 3 finale of The Editor’s Half Hour, I’m joined by a truly extraordinary guest: Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster. With the highly anticipated 12th edition of the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary—the first major update in more than two decades—Peter gives us a rare look behind the scenes of how our language is shaped, refined, and recorded.

In this conversation, Peter takes us inside the meticulous world of lexicography: how new words earn their place, how usage guides definition, and how the dictionary reflects the culture around us. We talk about nuance, evolution, clarity, and the responsibility of capturing the living nature of English—while honoring history, accuracy, and meaning.

This episode is a celebration of everything editors love about language. Whether you’re an editor, a writer, or a full-on word nerd, you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the craft behind the dictionary you’ve trusted for years.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

· What goes into updating a major dictionary edition

· How lexicographers track evolving usage and cultural influence

· The surprising ways words shift meaning over time

· What gets added and what gets revised in the 12th edition

· How editors and lexicographers share similar instincts for clarity and precision

· Why dictionary work is both deeply technical and beautifully human

And because this is the season finale, the episode begins with a special announcement: the winner of this season’s listener giveaway! Become a sneak “Pique” Patreon supporter to get access to exclusive content.

Visit https://www.merriam-webster.com/collegiate-dictionary-twelfth-edition to get your copy of the latest 12th edition.

If you’re planning to attend the LoveLitCon in San Diego (Feb. 13–16), visit lovelit. and use code PP7299 to get $25 off the registration fee.

Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow editors!

Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcast

Connect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_Hour

Subscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHour

Become a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter to get access to exclusive content on YouTube: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour

Book Marketing for Editors

What happens after the edits are done? In this episode, I interview Aryn Van Dyke, founder of Book Rockstar and former HarperCollins marketing expert, about how editors can better understand the world of book marketing—and why it matters more than ever.

Aryn shares how her background in corporate publishing led her to create Book Rockstar, a boutique agency dedicated to helping authors build authentic, sustainable book marketing strategies that actually fit their values. She opens up about her journey from marketing professional to author, including her own Kickstarter campaign for her debut novel and what she learned about community, vulnerability, and creative entrepreneurship along the way.

If you’ve ever wondered how editors can support authors beyond the manuscript—or what it takes to turn a polished book into a thriving brand—this episode will give you real-world insight into the marketing side of publishing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What editors should know about the author marketing journey
• How to help authors think about visibility from the start
• The biggest misconceptions about book marketing
• Lessons Aryn learned from crowdfunding her debut novel
• Why marketing doesn’t have to feel “salesy”
• How collaboration between editors and marketers benefits everyone

Plus, in the exclusive after-party episode for Patreon supporters, Aryn gets personal about the emotional side of launching a novel, the lessons she’s learned about balance and burnout, and how she’s exploring the role of AI in modern book marketing.

Find Aryn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryn-van-dyke/

Learn more about Book Rockstar: https://www.bookrockstar.com/

Buy your copy of Aryn’s book: https://www.arynvandyke.com/

Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow editors!

Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcast

Connect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_Hour

Subscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHour

Become a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter to get access to exclusive content on YouTube: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour