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Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle

Estelle Erasmus

Winner of the 2026 American Writing Award for Podcast of the Year (Business), Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle is an award-winning podcast featuring candid conversations with bestselling authors, literary agents, editors, and publishing insiders about writing craft, memoir, publishing, platform-building, and getting noticed.

Hosted and curated by Estelle Erasmus, TEDx speaker, NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed, the show delivers practical strategies, publishing insight, and creative inspiration for writers at every stage.

Whether you're pitching essays, shaping a memoir, building your platform, or pursuing a book deal, you'll find actionable advice, coaching insights, and behind-the-scenes industry conversations to help move your writing career forward.

Learn more at EstelleErasmus.com and subscribe to Estelle's newsletter at Estelle's Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

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  • 24 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 33 min
  • English

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  • Today · 25 min

    #207 Writing Humor, Character, and Love That Lasts with Steven Rowley

    What makes humor work on the page? And how do you write about love after the meet-cute, when a relationship has lasted for decades? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, I talk with New York Times bestselling author Steven Rowley about his new novel, Take Me With You, a love story with a touch of science fiction that asks a fascinating question: If you had the chance to leave everything behind and explore the unknown, would you go? We talk about how Steven builds a novel around an organizing question, why he prefers writing without a detailed outline, how he creates humor from character rather than jokes, and what writers can learn from using humor to explore serious subjects. We also discuss writing relationships that evolve over time and why life experience can be an asset for writers. In this episode: How to find the central question that drives a novel Why Steven writes toward an ending without heavily outlining How humor can help writers get closer to emotional truth Why character-based humor has staying power How to differentiate characters and show them changing over time Why writers shouldn't worry if publishing success comes later in life Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJietLH7PfE About Steven Rowley Steven Rowley is the New York Times bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post notable book; The Editor, named one of NPR's best books of 2019; The Guncle, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist and winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor; and the instant USA Today bestsellers The Guncle Abroad and The Dogs of Venice. His fiction has been published in twenty languages. Originally from Portland, Maine, he is a graduate of Emerson College and lives in Palm Springs with his husband, writer Byron Lane, and their three rescue dogs. Link Website: https://www.stevenrowley.com Get More From Estelle Erasmus My latest Substack post is the Substack Live I did with Aliza Licht on DKNY PR GIRL, the magazine world we both knew, branding and reinvention, and her Substack serial novel Off the Record, which brings that era vividly back to life. Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. Meet Estelle at An Event Editor-on-Call event with NYU, Electric Literature, September 16, 12;30-1:30 pm ET (virtual) AALA's, People of Publishing (NYC), September 30, 2026 (attending as press) Women's Media Group panel (NYC), Memoir Plus: When Personal Stories Contain Magnitudes, October 21, 2026 Writer's Digest Webinar, The First Five Pages: Making Your Memoir Impossible to Put Down, October 29, 2026 Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) ( Chicago), March 17-20, 2027 WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • August 27 · 35 min

    #206 How to Build a Journalism Career in a Changing Media Landscape

    What does it take to build a career in journalism when the media landscape keeps shifting? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with her former NYU High School Academy student Abigail Meyers, a digital and multimedia storyteller whose work spans journalism, creative services, social media, advocacy, and political communications. Abigail shares how an early interest in storytelling grew into reporting, writing, and multimedia work, and asks Estelle for advice on navigating freelance journalism today. They discuss how to craft stronger pitches, avoid burnout, pivot from one reporting beat to another, and use your existing expertise to open doors in new areas. Estelle also shares her perspective on AI as a brainstorming and research tool, why journalists still need to verify primary sources, and why an individual writer's voice remains so important. In this episode: How to create a strong, focused pitch that gives an editor confidence in you Why research and familiarity with a publication matter before you pitch How to pivot from one reporting beat or specialty to another Why primary-source research and fact-checking are more important than ever How curiosity and resourcefulness can strengthen your reporting Why journalism skills translate far beyond traditional newsroom jobs How personal storytelling can become a powerful tool for advocacy How young journalists can build visibility, expertise, and a platform Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFTCa-bJayU About Abigail Meyers Abigail Meyers is a digital and multimedia storyteller passionate about highlighting diverse perspectives and amplifying marginalized communities through storytelling. She graduated with high honors from Simmons University, where she studied journalism and political science. Her experience spans local community news, national policy, academic research, creative writing, social media, graphic design, and creative services. She is also a Platinum Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation, where she uses storytelling and advocacy to help bring attention to the experiences of people living with arthritis, including young people. Links Instagram: https://instagram.com/abigailmmedia X: https://twitter.com/abigailmmedia LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abigailmeyers3 Get More From Estelle Erasmus My latest Substack post is the Substack Live I did with Aliza Licht on DKNY PR GIRL, the magazine world we both knew, branding and reinvention, and her Substack serial novel Off the Record, which brings that era vividly back to life. My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. Meet Estelle at An Event Editor-on-Call event with NYU, Electric Literature, September 16, 12;30-1:30 pm ET (virtual) AALA's, People of Publishing (NYC), September 30, 2026 (attending as press) Women's Media Group panel (NYC), October 21, 2026 (info coming) Writer's Digest Webinar, October 29 (virtual, info coming) Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) ( Chicago), March 17-20, 2027 WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • August 20 · 40 min

    #205 The Art of Crafting the Self in Memoir with Hyeseung Song

    Estelle Erasmus speaks with Hyeseung Song, author of Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl, about shaping nearly 40 years of life into a memoir, finding the right structure, and writing honestly about family, identity, and mental health. They also talked about how Hyeseung's life as an artist and painter informs the way she sees and writes the self. In this episode: Structuring a memoir across decades Using chronology to create momentum Writing about family and identity Self-portraiture and writing the self The ethics of writing about loved ones Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYAjyA26P14&t=4s About Hyeseung Song Hyeseung Song is a first-generation Korean American painter, writer, and teacher and the author of Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl, a memoir about an Asian American woman's struggle with self-worth and mental illness. Docile was called "a savagely beautiful memoir" by David Henry Hwang and "a revelation" by Chloé Cooper Jones. The audiobook was named a Best of Apple title, and a Korean-language edition was released in 2025. Raised in Texas, Song studied philosophy, languages, and creative writing at Princeton University. She pursued postgraduate studies in law and philosophy at Harvard before leaving to study painting in New York. Her paintings are held in private collections internationally. She was a nonfiction fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and is currently at work on a meta-memoir exploring the ethics of writing about other people, revision, and the failures of translation that emerged after her father's unexpected death following the publication of Docile. LinksWebsite: https://hyeseung.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/hyeseungs Get More From Estelle Erasmus My latest Substack post is the Substack Live I did with Aliza Licht on DKNY PR GIRL, the magazine world we both knew, branding and reinvention, and her Substack serial novel Off the Record, which brings that era vividly back to life. My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • August 13 · 29 min

    #204 Finding Urgency in Your Memoir and Selling It Without an Agent with Michelle Tamara Cutler

    Award-winning screenwriter, storytelling coach, and developmental editor Michelle Tamara Cutler joins Estelle Erasmus to discuss the evolution of her forthcoming reported memoir, I Won't Let You Die Alone, and how she sold the book to Bloomsbury without an agent. Michelle shares how a project that began with the death of her aunt transformed when caring for her aging mother gave the story a new urgency and changed the book she realized she needed to write. She discusses restructuring the project to braid memoir with research and interviews, developing a proposal that could make a strong business case for the book, and finding creative ways to demonstrate platform and reach. In this episode: Why a strong book idea still needs a compelling reason for readers to care now What Michelle learned from years of querying before changing the project's framing How an A/B chapter structure helped her organize a complex nonfiction book What happens inside a publisher when an editor wants to acquire a book Creative ways writers can leverage alumni networks, workshops, media appearances, and other connections Why Michelle chose professional help to negotiate her deal rather than signing with an agent What she prioritized in the contract, including retaining film and television rights How thinking like an entrepreneur can help writers navigate a changing publishing landscape Why knowing exactly why you're telling a story can keep you connected to it over the long haul Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWspykrUOJI About Michelle Michelle Tamara Cutler is an award-winning screenwriter, storytelling coach, and developmental editor specializing in memoir and the adaptation of true stories. Her recent work centers on caring for her aging mother as an artist and expat, with essays published in literary and news outlets. She is currently writing I WON'T LET YOU DIE ALONE, a reported memoir from the trenches of modern elder caregiving, forthcoming from Bloomsbury. She holds an MFA in Film from NYU and a Diploma in Advanced Creative Writing (Nonfiction) from Cambridge. Michelle lives in Andalucía with her partner and their dog, Ragazzo. Links Website: https://michellecutler.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/micky.cutler/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickytcutler/ Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/michelletcutler.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtcutler/ Get More From Estelle Erasmus My latest substack post is Musings on Magazines: The Behind-the-Scenes Tea From the Print Magazines You Loved to Read (and a Book Giveaway) https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/the-behind-the-scenes-tea-from-the My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • August 6 · 34 min

    #203 Weaving Memoir Plus Through 50 Swims with Kate Washington

    What happens when a personal challenge becomes a path back to yourself? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with Kate Washington, author of Midstream: A Life Remade in 50 Swims, about how a challenge to swim in 50 natural bodies of water before turning 50 became a memoir about midlife, change, and self-rediscovery. Kate shares how she blended personal narrative with nature writing, history, science, feminist thought, and literary criticism. She also discusses cutting 20,000 words, maintaining chronological momentum, using sensory detail, and writing candidly about divorce, family, and the life of the body. Book Giveaway I'm giving away a copy of Midstream. Go to my Instagram (https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus) and leave the comment Midstream on the post for episode #203. Giveaway ends August 12. You must have an address in the Continental USA. Good luck! In this episode: How Kate's 50 Dunks Challenge became the structure for Midstream How to weave research and cultural context into memoir without overwhelming the personal story How chronology, scene, and sensory detail can maintain narrative momentum How to decide what to cut when themes or events begin to repeat Why following your deepest curiosities can make a personal story more universal Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWsmXYYkjMQ&t=18s About Kate Kate Washington is the author of Midstream: A Life Remade in 50 Swims (Beacon Press, 2026) and Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America (Beacon Press, 2021). She is a frequent speaker on the systemic challenges facing family caregivers and a longtime freelance writer whose writing has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, HuffPost, Eater, and many other publications. Formerly the dining critic for the Sacramento Bee and associate food editor for Sunset Magazine, she holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and lives in Sacramento with her two daughters. Links: Website: https://kawashington.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/washingtonkate Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katewashington Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/washingtonkate.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katewashington Get More From Estelle Erasmus My latest substack post is Musings on Magazines: The Behind-the-Scenes Tea From the Print Magazines You Loved to Read (and a Book Giveaway) https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/the-behind-the-scenes-tea-from-the My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • July 30 · 18 min

    #202 AI, Podcasts, and Discoverability: My Biggest Takeaways from the U.S. Book Show

    Before we begin, an announcement: I'm so excited to be speaking with celebrity makeup artist Ramy Gafni today in the next episode of my Substack Live series, Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story. Join us today, July 30, at 4 p.m. ET as we go behind the scenes of magazine makeovers, beauty photo shoots, and editorial life in the '90s and early 2000s. I've known Ramy for more than 30 years, and I can't wait to introduce him to you. You'll find all the details, including how to tune in, here. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/musings-on-magazines-the-story-behind-039 Now to today's episode. The publishing world is changing rapidly, but one thing remains constant: readers are still looking for compelling stories and authentic voices. In this Summer Short episode, I share my biggest takeaways from the U.S. Book Show in New York, where publishing executives, authors, agents, and industry leaders discussed artificial intelligence, discoverability, podcast publicity, publishing data, and the growing opportunities for film and television adaptations. Along the way, I offer my own "Estelle's Edge" on what these trends mean for freelance writers and authors today. In this episode: • How publishers are approaching AI while keeping creativity firmly in human hands. • Why discoverability, not content, is publishing's biggest challenge. • The importance of metadata, articles, interviews, and building a digital footprint. • Why podcasts have become the new virtual book tour and how to pitch them successfully. • What publishers are learning from data without sacrificing editorial judgment. • How film and television adaptations really happen, and why sales aren't the only factor. • My biggest takeaway from the conference about building a lasting writing career. Whether you're traditionally published, independently published, freelancing, or simply dreaming about writing your first book, these insights can help you better understand where publishing is headed and how to position your work for long-term success. Get More From Estelle Erasmus My latest craft substack post is The Echo Effect (Part 2): Make Your Writing Linger Longer. Sign up to get all my craft, pitching and publishing posts. I was notified by Substack that my page is #43 and rising in education https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/the-echo-effect-part-2-make-your My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • July 23 · 24 min

    #201 Writing an Immersive Reading Experience with Bonnie Friedman

    Before we begin an announcment: I'm so excited to be speaking with celebrity makeup artist Ramy Gafni in the next episode of my Substack Live series, Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story. Join us on Thursday, July 30, at 4 p.m. ET as we go behind the scenes of magazine makeovers, beauty photo shoots, and editorial life in the '90s and early 2000s, when print was king and I was a magazine editor. We'll share stories about what really happened behind the pages and how those iconic beauty features came together. I've known Ramy for more than 30 years, and I can't wait to introduce him to you in this conversation. More details, including how to tune in, are below. https://open.substack.com/live-stream/286869?utm_source=live-stream-scheduled-upsell Now on to today's episode: In this episode, I chat with bestselling author Bonnie Friedman about her debut novel Don't Stop and the fascinating shift from writing acclaimed nonfiction to crafting an immersive literary novel. Bonnie shares how she learned to relinquish some of the control that comes with essay writing, allowing characters to surprise her while creating a psychologically rich reading experience. We explore obsession, hidden desires, secret lives, the role of psychology in fiction, writing compelling intimacy, sustaining suspense across chapters, and the technical differences between essays and novels. Bonnie also reveals how an unexpected dinner conversation led directly to her publishing deal and why writers benefit from building genuine literary friendships. Bonnie has generously agreed to give away a copy of Don't Stop to one of my paid Substack subscribers. If you are interested please check out any of my recent substack posts, become a paid subscriber, and comment on it that you'd like to be considered for the giveaway. U.S. residents only. Look for it at https://estelleserasmus.substack.com The winner will be selected on August 6th. In this episode: Why Bonnie wanted fiction to feel immersive rather than analytical The differences between writing essays and writing novels How psychology shapes believable characters Writing obsession without judging the character Why literary fiction isn't the same as erotica Keeping readers turning pages through unresolved endings How to transition from chapter to chapter Letting characters evolve naturally over a long narrative The surprising story behind Bonnie's publishing deal with Europa Editions Why writing communities and literary friendships matter Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX0CuxegAZE About Bonnie Bonnie Friedman's debut novel, Don't Stop, was recently published by Europa Editions. She is also the author of the bestselling, widely anthologized Writing Past Dark: Envy, Fear, Distraction, and Other Dilemmas in the Writer's Life, named one of the ten best books for writers by The Center for Fiction and Poets & Writers. She is also the author of two memoirs, The Thief of Happiness: The Story of an Extraordinary Psychotherapy and Surrendering Oz: A Life in Essays, which was long listed for the PEN Award in the Art of the Essay. Her essays have been selected for inclusion in The Best Writing on Writing, The Best American Movie Writing, The Best Buddhist Writing, and The Best Spiritual Writing. She has taught writing at Dartmouth College, NYU, and most recently The University of North Texas. Links Website: https://www.bonniefriedman.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnie.friedman.79 Get More From Estelle Erasmus My latest substack post is The Echo Effect (Part 2): Make Your Writing Linger Longer. Sign up to get all my craft, pitching and publishing posts. I was notified by Substack that my page is #43 and rising in education https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/the-echo-effect-part-2-make-your My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • July 16 · 41 min

    #200 How Borrowed Forms Unlock Story: Hermit Crab and Braided Essays with Brenda Miller

    Welcome to the 200th episode of Freelance Writing Direct! I'm incredibly grateful to every guest who has generously shared their wisdom over the years, and to all of you who listen, watch, subscribe, review, and support the show. Reaching this milestone has been a joy, and I'm excited to continue bringing you conversations that help you grow as a writer. To celebrate this special episode, I'm joined by acclaimed author and teacher Brenda Miller, whose work has shaped generations of creative nonfiction writers. Brenda coined the now widely used term Hermit Crab essay, and together we explore how borrowed forms can help writers discover emotional truths, deepen their stories, and find unexpected creative freedom. In this episode: What a Hermit Crab essay is and why borrowed forms are so powerful How braided essays weave together memory, research, metaphor, and reflection Why play and experimentation belong in every writer's practice The importance of echoes, resonance, and connective tissue Brenda's classroom exercises that unlock creativity Revision as the place where an essay discovers what it's really about Finding the deeper question beneath every personal essay Brenda also reads from A Braided Heart, talks about her latest hybrid memoir, shares the story behind her beloved essay "We Regret to Inform You," and offers practical advice that memoirists, essayists, journalists, and fiction writers can put to work immediately. Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u6NYMuL06o About Brenda Miller Brenda Miller's new hybrid collection, Love You, Bye: A Daughter's Journey in Essays and Poems, is just out from Skinner House Books (April 2026). She is the author of six additional essay collections, including A Braided Heart: Essays on Writing and Form, and An Earlier Life, winner of the Washington State Book Award for Memoir. Her work has received seven Pushcart Prizes. She co-authored, with Holly J. Hughes, The Pen and the Bell: Mindful Writing in a Busy World, and, with Suzanne Paola, Tell It Slant: Creating, Refining, and Publishing Creative Nonfiction, now in its third edition. She coined the term "Hermit Crab Essay." Her website is www.brendamillerwriter.com. Get More From Estelle Erasmus My latest substack post is The Echo Effect (Part 2): Make Your Writing Linger Longer. Sign up to get all my craft, pitching and publishing posts. I was notified by Substack that my page is #43 and rising in education https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/the-echo-effect-part-2-make-your My next Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story substack live will be on July 30 at 4 pm ET. I can't wait to share my guest with you. Sign up for my substack and don't miss a post. My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • July 9 · 31 min

    #199 Turning Chaos into Compelling Stories with Courtney Kocak

    Welcome to new subscribers. First, an announcement: My first Substack Live in my new series Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story was with former Chatelaine Editor-in-Chief Rona Maynard. Here is the link to the video of our fun and fearless discussion:of our lives in magazines in the 90s and early aughts. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/live-with-estelle-erasmus-and-rona Sign up for my substack at https://estelleserasmus.substack.com to get notified of my upcoming guests and dive with us into the magazine archives to hear behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else. And Check out my TikTok where I share special clips from episodes and other fun dives into publishing. https://tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Now for today's episode What does it take to turn a messy, complicated life into a memoir readers can't put down? Courtney Kocak joins me on Freelance Writing Direct to discuss her debut memoir in essays, Girl Gone Wild, and the creative decisions behind telling stories about Hollywood, ambition, addiction, difficult relationships, and finding her voice. We talk about writing with radical honesty, experimenting with poetry and other hybrid forms, deciding what belongs in a memoir, and why some of the hardest cuts made the book stronger. Courtney also shares the surprising publishing journey that led her to the perfect independent press after an early rejection, proving that sometimes the right "no" is exactly what your book needs. In this episode: How personal essays evolved into a cohesive memoir Why hybrid storytelling can deepen emotional impact How to decide what belongs in your book and what doesn't What rejection taught Courtney about finding the right publisher Why building your own platform gives writers more opportunities Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWotQxwOl54 About Courtney Kocak Courtney Kocak is a writer, podcaster, and comedian who splits time between Austin and Los Angeles. She wrote for Amazon's Emmy-winning animated series Danger & Eggs and Netflix's Know It All. She's produced a slew of highly-ranked podcasts and currently hosts three of her own with over two million downloads to date. Her bylines include The New York Times, The Cut, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Cosmopolitan, Slate, Business Insider, and more. Her debut memoir, Girl Gone Wild, with Trio House Press, is out now. Links Website: courtneykocak.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneykocak/ Twitter: https://x.com/courtneykocak Order Girl Gone Wild: https://bookshop.org/p/books/girl-gone-wild-courtney-kocak/22941682?ean=9781949487541&affiliate=85623 Follow on Substack: https://substack.com/@courtneykocak TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneykocak Get More From Estelle Erasmus My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • July 2 · 31 min

    #198 Micro Memoirs with Maximum Impact: Distilling a Life into Seventy 70-Word Stories with Deborah Sosin

    Welcome to new subscribers. First, an announcement: My first Substack Live in my new series Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story was with former Chatelaine Editor-in-Chief Rona Maynard. Here is the link to the video of our fun and fearless discussion:of our lives in magazines in the 90s and early aughts. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/live-with-estelle-erasmus-and-rona Sign up for my substack to get notified of my upcoming guests and dive with us into the magazine archives to hear behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else. Now for today's episode: How do you distill an entire life into just seventy 70-word stories? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with writer, editor, psychotherapist, and GrubStreet instructor Deborah Sosin about her innovative memoir, Escape Velocity. Inspired by her 70th birthday, Deborah challenged herself to write seventy stories of exactly 70 words each, transforming a creative constraint into a deeply moving exploration of family, identity, generational trauma, aging, and self-discovery. Together, they discuss how tiny stories can carry enormous emotional weight, creating a narrative arc through recurring themes, deciding what to leave on the page and what to leave out, and why limitations can spark creativity. Deborah also shares her path to self-publishing, collaborating with illustrator Anna Hall, and finding the freedom to tell her story on her own terms. Whether you write memoir, personal essays, or flash nonfiction, this conversation offers inspiration and practical insights into making every word count. In this episode: Why Deborah wrote seventy stories of exactly 70 words each How constraints can strengthen your writing Techniques for building a larger narrative from small moments The role of recurring themes and emotional throughlines in memoir Deborah's journey from concept to self-published book Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrYMaSJvVGY About Deborah Sosin Deborah Sosin, LICSW, is a writer, editor, psychotherapist, and GrubStreet instructor. Her essays have appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, Salon, Cognoscenti, Brevity Blog, Oldster Magazine, Short Reads, The Manifest-Station, two anthologies, and numerous other publications. She is a volunteer reader for In Short: A Journal of Flash Nonfiction. Debbie also authored the award-winning picture book Charlotte and the Quiet Place (Gold INDIEFAB and Silver IPPY); and a clinical workbook, Sober Starting Today. Debbie has an MFA from Lesley University and an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work. Her new memoir, Escape Velocity: How One 70-Year-Old Push-Pulled Her Way Out of Her Too-Much-Not-Enough Family (70 Micro-Memoirs, 70 Words Each), with illustrations by Anna Hall, released in February 2026. Deborah lives outside of Boston. Links Website Substack: Write it Like It Is Get More From Estelle Erasmus My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • June 25 · 36 min

    #197 How Dual Timelines Brought a Family Story to Life with Tiffany Graham Charkosky

    Welcome to new subscribers. First, an announcement: My first Substack Live will be with former Chatelaine Editor-in-Chief Rona Maynard on June 25 at 4 p.m. ET. Here is the link to the post: Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/musings-on-magazines-the-story-behind Sign up and dive into the magazine archives with us to hear behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else. I hope to see you there. Now for today's episode: Tiffany Graham Charkosky joins Estelle Erasmus to discuss her debut memoir, Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy. Tiffany shares how she transformed a deeply personal story about genetic testing, inherited cancer risk, and the loss of her mother into a compelling narrative that balances medical realities with emotional resonance. They discuss dual timelines, scene building, revision, metaphor, dialogue, and the challenges of writing about illness without overwhelming readers. Tiffany also reflects on legacy, family history, motherhood, and what it means to tell the story she needed to read herself. They discuss: • Writing a memoir about genetic testing and inherited cancer risk • Using dual timelines to create narrative momentum • Balancing medical information with storytelling • The role of metaphor, dialogue, and scene in memoir • Revision strategies and cutting material that doesn't serve the story • Family legacy, motherhood, grief, and healing • The relationship between advocacy and creative work • Craft lessons for memoir writers Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEp_G4vC25M About Tiffany Tiffany Graham Charkosky's work explores human relationships, medicine, and women's health. Her debut memoir, Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy, was published in 2025. Her writing has appeared in outlets including Oprah Daily, Lit Hub, Electric Literature, Gordon Square Review, and MUTHA Magazine. Tiffany studied English and creative writing at Kenyon College and holds a master's degree in urban planning, design, and development from Cleveland State University. She serves as Director of Arts & Culture at Cleveland Public Library and lives with her family in Northeast Ohio. LinksWebsite: https://tiffanygrahamcharkosky.comInstagram: @tiffanygrahamcharkosky Get More From Estelle Erasmus My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • June 18 · 30 min

    #196 Going Back Through Time to Get the Story: Dionne Ford on Family History, Reporting, and Memoir

    In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with acclaimed author Dionne Ford about her memoir Go Back and Get It, a powerful exploration of family history, ancestry, and identity. Dionne shares how journalistic research, personal reflection, and historical investigation came together to help her uncover the stories of her enslaved ancestors while examining themes that continue to resonate in her own life. She also discusses the craft of blending memoir with history, navigating difficult family truths, and the importance of preserving stories for future generations. They discuss The inspiration behind Go Back and Get It Researching family history and ancestral stories Blending memoir, journalism, and historical narrative Writing about difficult personal experiences The concept of Sankofa and "going back to get it" Craft techniques for weaving multiple narrative threads Resources for historical and genealogical research Advice for writers exploring family stories Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/JhmE6CD5D8Y About Dionne Ford Dionne Ford is author of Go Back and Get It, a 2024 finalist for the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Award and co-editor of the anthology Slavery's Descendants. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Virginia Quarterly Review, LitHub, The Boston Globe, and Ebony among other publications and won awards from the the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Newswomen's Club of New York. She teaches creative writing as an adjunct at Fordham University and is editor of Lynchings in the North, an initiative of NYU's journalism program. Website: https://www.dionneford.com Instagram X Get More From Estelle Erasmus My first Substack Live will be with the former Editor-in-Chief of Chatelaine, Rona Maynard on June 25 at 4 pm ET. Here is the link to the post: Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story. Sign up here https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/musings-on-magazines-the-story-behind. I hope to see you there. My next editor-on-call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16 with the executive editor and publisher of Electric Literature, Denne Michele Norris. Here is the link to that event. https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay ClassMy Next 6-week session that begins September 2026 has one more spot left. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct and an adjunct professor at NYU. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. She has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • June 11 · 31 min

    #195 Writing Through Brain Fog, Chronic Illness, and Uncertainty with Rachel Weaver

    What happens when you wake up one day dizzy and it never stops? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with acclaimed author Rachel Weaver about her powerful new memoir, Dizzy. Rachel shares how she navigated nearly two decades of chronic illness before finding relief, and how she transformed that experience into a compelling braided memoir that weaves together her years working in the Alaskan wilderness, her medical journey, motherhood, marriage, and questions of power, resilience, and identity. Rachel discusses: • Why she chose to open Dizzy with the dramatic scene of falling through the ice in Alaska • How nature became a source of metaphor throughout the memoir • The surprising parallels between encounters with bears and encounters with doctors • Writing through brain fog, screen sensitivity, and chronic illness • How she developed the book's braided structure • Avoiding repetition in an illness narrative • Finding an ending for a memoir when the story is still unfolding • The five-year process of writing and revising Dizzy • Why writers should focus on process before product • The path to publication for both Dizzy and her forthcoming novel, The Last Run Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU7-lLHkHEM About Rachel Weaver Rachel Weaver is the author of the memoir Dizzy and the novel Point of Direction, which was named a Top 10 Book to Pick Up Now by O, The Oprah Magazine and won the Willa Cather Award for Fiction. Her forthcoming novel, The Last Run, publishes in June 2026. Before earning her MFA in Writing and Poetics from Naropa University, Rachel worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Alaska studying bears, raptors, and songbirds. She teaches at Wilkes University and Lighthouse Writers Workshop and holds a Certification of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University. Learn more at: Rachel Weaver's website Get More From Estelle Erasmus Check out My Latest Substack Post: Step Into My Time Capsule: Back When Print Magazines Ruled https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/step-into-my-time-capsule-back-when Estelle on My First Byline (a walk down memory lane as a former beauty editor at Woman's World) https://yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/my-first-byline-estelle-erasmus Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay ClassMy Next 6-week session that begins September 2026 has one more spot left. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. Read & SubscribeSubstack: NEW post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. My next Editor-on-Call event is September 16. Sign up for my substack to get notified early. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct and an adjunct professor at NYU. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. She has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • June 4 · 37 min

    #194 Why Wade Rouse Finally Wrote the Book He Was Meant to Write

    Just in time for Pride month, in this heartfelt and often hilarious conversation, Estelle Erasmus talks with USA Today bestselling author Wade Rouse and his husband, Gary Edwards, about Wade's deeply personal new novel, That's What Friends Are For. After publishing bestselling novels under the pen name Viola Shipman, Wade shares why he felt compelled to write this story under his own name and how The Golden Girls, grief, aging, friendship, and his experience growing up gay in the Missouri Ozarks inspired the book. Wade and Gary discuss: • Why Wade chose to step away from an established brand and publish under his own name • How The Golden Girls helped him connect with his mother and grandmother after a family tragedy • Creating four unforgettable characters inspired by the spirit, not the stereotypes, of television's most beloved sitcom • The importance of found family and community • Writing about aging, mortality, second chances, and late-life love • The role Gary plays as Wade's husband, business partner, and self-described "Kim Kardashian stage mom" • Building a sustainable writing career and the realities of the publishing business • Why readers connect so deeply with authenticity • The value of humor, pop culture references, and trusting your creative instincts This conversation is filled with wisdom about storytelling, reinvention, resilience, and what it means to finally become comfortable in your own skin. Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUzg0GrzXLQ About My Guests Wade Rouse is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of five memoirs and twelve novels. His novels, written under the pen name Viola Shipman in honor of his grandmother, have been selected as must-reads by NBC's Today Show and named Michigan Notable Books. His latest novel, That's What Friends Are For, is published under his own name. It was a national bestseller, a BookBub Best New Fiction and Most Uplifting Book of the Year, a Zibby Media Most Anticipated Book of 2026, and featured on CBS-NY/Club Calvi Book Club. Wade's next book, The Bluff, will publish October 13. It is a Christmas novel and family drama inspired by the holiday classic, The Family Stone, and romance classic, Somewhere in Time, and set on Mackinac Island. Gary Edwards left a successful sales career to help Wade build and sustain his writing career. He manages social media, events, book tours, reader engagement, and the thriving Wine, Words & Wade community, while serving as Wade's biggest champion and creative partner. Connect with Wade Rouse Website: ViolaShipman.com (https://violashipman.com) Website: WadeRouse.com (https://waderouse.com) FB: Viola Shipman (https://www.facebook.com/authorviolashipman/) FB: Author Wade Rouse (https://www.facebook.com/authorwaderouse/) Instagram: Viola_Shipman (https://www.instagram.com/viola_shipman/) IG: AuthorWadeRouse (https://www.instagram.com/authorwaderouse/) Bookbub: @violashipman (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/viola-shipman) Get More From Estelle Erasmus Estelle on My First Byline (a walk down memory lane as a former beauty editor at Woman's World) https://yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/my-first-byline-estelle-erasmus Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay ClassMy Next 6-week session that begins September 2026 has two more spots left. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. Read & SubscribeSubstack: NEW post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. My next Editor-on-Call event is September 16. Sign up for my substack to get notified early. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct and an adjunct professor at NYU. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. She has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • May 28 · 32 min

    #193 Restorative Writing with Carolyn Roy-Bornstein

    In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus speaks with Carolyn Roy-Bornstein about restorative writing, burnout, and healing through storytelling. Carolyn shares how writing became a lifeline after her son survived a devastating car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. She explains how journaling and narrative writing helped her process ambiguous grief, anger, and emotional isolation, ultimately inspiring her new book, A Prescription for Burnout: Restorative Writing for Healthcare Professionals. The book offers practical advice for anyone struggling with burnout or emotional exhaustion, whether they work in medicine or simply feel overwhelmed by modern life. Together, Estelle and Carolyn discuss: • Why expressive writing has been linked to improved emotional and physical health • How writing can help healthcare professionals manage burnout and secondary trauma • The science behind writing and stress reduction • Narrative medicine and the importance of bearing witness • Using prompts to unlock scene, dialogue, and emotional truth • The role of writing in building resilience, self-awareness, and professional identity • Why even 15 minutes of writing can make a difference • How to structure a prescriptive nonfiction book around reader transformation • Carolyn's experience publishing with Johns Hopkins University Press and navigating peer review Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I360StNGvQ About Carolyn Roy-Bornstein Carolyn Roy-Bornstein is a board-certified pediatrician, former registered nurse, and writer-in-residence at the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, where she teaches narrative medicine. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, JAMA, Poets & Writers, and many other publications. She lives and writes in Maine and Massachusetts. LinksCarolyn's website: www.carolynroybornstein.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.roybornstein LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-roy-bornstein-8a329636/ Follow Estelle Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ Find her on Instagram/TikTok/X/BlueSky/Threads: @estelleserasmus NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-pitch-provokedmagazine-inside Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • May 21 · 27 min

    #192 How to Get Published inThe Persistent with Features Editor Paula Derrow

    How to Get Published in The Persistent with Features Editor Paula Derrow What makes a pitch stand out in today's crowded publishing landscape? And what exactly are editors looking for from writers right now? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus speaks with writer and editor Paula Derrow, Features Editor at The Persistent, the feminist publication known for publishing voice-driven, intellectually sharp stories centered on women's experiences. Paula shares how The Persistent was founded by former New York Times editor Francesca Donner to create a space where women's stories could take center stage without compromise. She also opens up about why working there feels like a "dream job" after decades in glossy magazines. In this episode: • The kinds of pitches that grab Paula's attention • Why feminist, funny, counterintuitive, and intellectually ambitious ideas rise to the top • The difference between riffs, essays, Q&As, and reported features • Why editors are increasingly asking for essay pitches instead of completed drafts • What "intellectual heft" means in practice • How The Persistent works collaboratively with writers through deep editorial relationships • What writers can expect in terms of rates, rights, and editing process • How to get in touch with Paula Paula also reflects on the evolution of women's media, the realities of publishing after the magazine boom years, and why she believes strong editor-writer relationships still matter deeply. Whether you're pitching essays, reported features, or cultural criticism, this conversation offers an inside look at what editors want and how writers can better position their ideas in today's media landscape. Watch on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a1SDzE_lLY Read and sign up for The Persistent https://www.thepersistent.com Follow Paula LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-derrow-52814014/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romawriter/ Follow Estelle Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ Instagram/TikTok/X/BlueSky/Threads: @estelleserasmus NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. All the intel you need to get published there including a free pitching guide and portal link. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-pitch-provokedmagazine-inside Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

  • May 14 · 25 min

    #191 Writing Characters Who Make Questionable Decisions with Vanessa Hua

    What makes readers care about flawed characters making questionable decisions? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with bestselling author Vanessa Hua about her new novel Coyoteland and the craft behind creating emotionally layered fiction filled with tension, community, family dynamics, and difficult choices. They discuss: • Writing omniscient and multiple point-of-view narration • Why flawed characters create compelling stories • Building escalating stakes in fiction • Using setting as an active force in storytelling • How journalism shaped Vanessa's fiction writing • Reverse-engineering stories to improve craft • The importance of empathy in storytelling • Writing family, community, and social tension • Balancing multiple writing projects at once • Why movement and listening to your manuscript aloud can strengthen revision Vanessa also shares insights into writing morally complex characters while exploring the hidden pressures shaping modern communities and relationships. Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/KP9W2VZT5Nk About Vanessa Hua Vanessa Hua is the author of the national bestsellers A River of Stars and Forbidden City, as well as the story collection Deceit and Other Possibilities, a New York Times Editors' Pick. A National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellow, she has also received a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a California Arts Council Fellowship, and a Steinbeck Fellowship in Creative Writing, as well as honors from the de Groot Foundation, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Asian American Journalists Association, among others. Previously, she was an award-winning columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. She teaches at the Warren Wilson MFA Program, Sewanee Writers Conference, and elsewhere. Her book of narrative nonfiction, Uprooted, is forthcoming. Links & Resources: Vanessa: Website: http://www.vanessahua.com Instagram: @mononoke97 Facebook: @vanessahuawriter Bluesky: r@vanessahua.bsky.social Estelle Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ Instagram/X/TikTok/BlueSky: @EstelleSErasmus NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. All the intel you need to get published there including a free pitching guide and portal link. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-pitch-provokedmagazine-inside Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career. Enjoying the show Follow, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch full episodes on YouTube.

  • May 7 · 39 min

    #190 Building a Memoir Around a Defining Moment with Jacque Gorelick

    In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus speaks with author Jacque Gorelick about her debut memoir Map of a Heart: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Finding the Way Home, a powerful, braided narrative that weaves a present-day medical crisis with a deeply personal exploration of family, identity, estrangement, and belonging. Jacque shares the harrowing inciting incident at the center of her book: her husband collapsing on a trail just weeks after the birth of their child, leading to a life-or-death ICU experience that unfolds in real time over ten days. From there, she unpacks how that crisis triggered a flood of memory and reflection, bringing her past into conversation with her present. Together, Estelle and Jacque dive into the craft behind the memoir, including how to braid timelines effectively, how to balance scene and reflection, and how to write about emotionally charged experiences without losing the reader. Jacque also opens up about the challenges of writing about family estrangement, the visceral experience of reliving trauma on the page, and the importance of honoring truth while maintaining compassion. They also discuss: How to structure a memoir using a real-time framework The shift from alternating timelines to a fully braided narrative Writing epistolary sections to create intimacy and emotional depth The role of memory, research, and fact-checking in memoir Navigating vulnerability when writing about loved ones The realities of the publishing path, including querying, setbacks, and choosing a small press Why giving yourself emotional space while writing difficult material is essential Jacque offers practical advice for writers looking to tell their own stories, including how to access emotional truth, gather sensory memory, and begin shaping raw experience into narrative. Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0A-RQy7FKo About Jacque Gorelick Jacque Gorelick is a writer and former educator whose work explores the complexities of family, identity, and belonging. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Salon, Newsweek, The Washington Post, HuffPost, and more. Map of a Heart is her debut memoir. She lives in California with her husband, two sons, and a menagerie of rescue animals. Links & Resources:Jacque's website: https://www.jacquegorelick.com/ Her instagram/Threads: @Jacgorelick Estelle's website: https://estelleserasmus.com Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. All the intel you need to get published there including a free pitching guide and portal link. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-pitch-provokedmagazine-inside Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career. Enjoying the show Follow, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch full episodes on YouTube.

  • April 30 · 40 min

    #189 Turning a Story of Escape Into a Powerful Memoir And Real Impact with Tia Levings

    Freelance Writing Direct chats with Tia Levings about writing a memoir of escape, and how strong scenes, structure, and editorial choices turn personal experience into a powerful narrative. Tia Levings is the New York Times bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, a memoir about her escape from Christian patriarchy and high-control religious culture. She writes about religious trauma, evangelical influence, and the cultural forces shaping women's lives today. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and The Huffington Post, and she was featured in the Shiny Happy People docuseries. Her next book, I Belong to Me, releases May 2026. In this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Tia Levings discuss: How to turn lived experience into a compelling, page-turning memoir Why choosing the right scenes matters more than including everything that happened The difference between situation and story, and how it shapes narrative drive How to weave research and cultural context into memoir without slowing the pace Writing about trauma while maintaining momentum and reader engagement The role of developmental editing in strengthening structure and emotional build How to create a memoir that resonates beyond your personal experience Why memoir is not a "parade of bad things," but a search for meaning and connection Crafting chapter endings that keep readers turning the page Building a platform and expanding your story into broader cultural impact Tia also shares how she broke free from a high-control environment, how visibility became a form of safety, and how storytelling can create both personal healing and collective awareness. Watch on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6kJKMI77Go Links & Resources: Follow Tia Levings on social media: @TiaLevingsWriterEstelle's website: https://estelleserasmus.com Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. All the intel you need to get published there. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-pitch-provokedmagazine-inside Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career. Enjoying the show Follow, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch full episodes on YouTube.

  • April 23 · 32 min

    #188 Reclaiming "Selfish": On Craft, Creativity, and Braiding Truth into Memoir With Kerry Docherty

    In this episode, Estelle Erasmus talks with Kerry Docherty, author of Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth, about what it really takes to write a bold, emotionally honest memoir. They dive into: Why "selfish" is a loaded word for women and how to reclaim it Starting a memoir with rupture to hook the reader Using dreams, spirituality, and what Estelle calls the "echo effect" to deepen narrative impact Writing about marriage, motherhood, desire, and identity without holding back The risks and consequences of telling the truth on the page How to balance scene, reflection, and tension to keep a memoir propulsive What gets cut and why it matters for the arc of the story Kerry also shares how writing this book changed her, and the one piece of advice every aspiring memoirist needs to hear. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHWRP-qjJyA About Kerry Docherty Kerry Docherty cofounded the lifestyle clothing brand Faherty with her husband and his identical twin. A graduate of Yale University and Pepperdine Law School, she is passionate about community building, sustainability, and creativity. Kerry is also the author of the children's book Somewhere, Right Now, featuring art by New York Times bestselling illustrator Suzie Mason. She lives with her husband and two children on the New Jersey shore, where she is constantly looking for sea glass. Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth is a memoir by Kerry Docherty, cofounder of the lifestyle clothing brand Faherty. Blending personal narrative and cultural critique, it explores what happens when a woman decides to prioritize her own desires and wellbeing after years of people-pleasing and overgiving. Links & Resources: Order Selfish: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/775631/selfish-by-kerry-docherty/ Estelle's website: https://estelleserasmus.com Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career. Enjoying the show Follow, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch full episodes on YouTube.

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