Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle

Hosted by Estelle Erasmus

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Aug 2026

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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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August 20, 202640 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 . Links Website: 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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202629 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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202634 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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202618 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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202624 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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202641 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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202631 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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202631 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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202636 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. Links Website: https://tiffanygrahamcharkosky.com Instagram: @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. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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 , 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, 202630 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 Class My Next 6-week session that begins September 2026 has one more spot left. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/Watch Freelance 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.