You Can’t Fake It

Have you ever heard advice to the tune of “If you don’t know, then fake it?” That advice only gets you so far. In today’s fast paced, over advertised environment,…

Have you ever heard advice to the tune of "If you don't know, then fake it?" That advice only gets you so far. In today's fast paced, over advertised environment, being honest will get you a lot farther than faking it. People are looking for things that are authentic and genuine... not looking for someone to tell them what they want to hear.

When promoting your work, rely on your true areas of expertise and present your strengths to your audience. You're much more likely to get a good response to your message.

Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com. Jane’s newest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2018).