Freelance Writing Direct: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, agents, publ Estelle Erasmus

Abigail Thomas has four children,12 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, eleven books, and a high school education. She was asked to leave Bryn Mawr freshman year when she told the Dean she was pregnant, and she never went back.  She had always wanted to be a writer, but for a long time the closest she came was bopping around her kitchen to Paperback Writer, by the Beatles. When she was forty-eight, after an interesting adventure, when she got home, she left her ego outside, and began to write a story. It didn't work, but instead of crumpling it up saying "who do you think you are?" sat in a different chair, and another, and at the end of the afternoon, she had written a story. It was published in the Columbia Journal of Poetry and Prose. She had learned you have to keep at it. Writing is work of the best kind.
She has written two short story collections, one novel and four works of non-fiction, including the memoirs Safekeeping; A Three Dog Life; What Comes Next and How to Like It; and a book about writing, Thinking about Memoir. Still Life at Eighty: The Next Interesting Thing is her latest memoir.
 
In this episode:
Finding inspiration in unlikely places [4:13]
The allure of getting older [10:49]
Deciding on writing from a side door to deal with difficult material [18:18]
Abigail’s go-to source for analyzing words [23:49]
Tips for editing your work [28:29]
Writing exercises she gives to her students [36:40]
The requirement of ruthlessness in memoir [40:59]
 
Connect with Abigail Thomas:
Website: https://www.abigailthomas.net
Books: https://www.abigailthomas.net/books/
Photo Credit : Jennifer Waddell
 
FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at 
https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter.
 
Sign up for Estelle’s Micro Memoir Workshop with Writer’s Digest on May 23
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/making-your-mark-with-micro-memoir
 
Sign up for Estelle’s Writing Parenthood Class for NYU
https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/courses/WRIT1-CE9225-writing-parenthood.html
 
Sign up for Estelle’s Personal Essay Class for Writer’s Digest 
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals



Connect with Estelle:
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/ 
Sign up for her  Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities) 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
 
For another episode focused on a top memoirist, episode #81 The Art of Shaping a Compelling Story Featuring Maggie Smith 
https://estelleserasmus.com/81-the-art-of-shaping-a-compelling-story-featuring-maggie-smith/



Estelle’s New Articles
I’m Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland)
https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/



What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer’s Digest)
https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed
 
How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired)
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/
 

Kim Rittberg is an award-winning digital marketer and thought leader who helps professionals become thought leaders and businesses become brands through video & podcasts. She is the founder of Video Boot Camp and spent 15 years as a media executive at Netflix, PEOPLE Magazine, in TV News and launched the first-ever video unit for Us Weekly magazine and was integral in its $100 million sale. She now applies that to business owners to grow their income, leads & credibility. Kim has been featured in Business Insider and Forbes and contributes to Fast Company, is a speaker across the country including at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Convention, Fast Company Innovation Festival and guest lectures at Syracuse University. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School. She also hosts the top 1% podcast The Exit Interview with Kim Rittberg and is a judge for the Webbys and Anthem Awards. Kim’s podcast was spurred by her decision to quit corporate and launch her own business after working in the hospital while giving birth to her second child. The podcast helps self-employed people bet on themselves and win with founders’ stories and tangible concrete advice as well as solo mini-masterclass marketing episodes. Fun fact: Kim spent a year backpacking solo and used to perform improv comedy. Not at the same time obliviously. She also speaks Spanish. 



In this episode: 
How writers and authors should be leveraging video
Common mistakes that writers and authors make 
How to pull wisdom nuggets from every genre to video
The “Fast C’s” to making content that connect with people 
Kim’s PATCH method 



Connect with Kim:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimrittberg/ 
YouTube http://youtube.com/@kimrittbergcontent?sub_confirmation=1 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/kimrittberg/
Grab Kim’s Free Tips to Make Magnetic Video that Grows Your Revenue + a bonus How to Be Confident on Camera & Public Speaking: https://www.kimrittberg.com/newsletter 
Kim’s Podcast: Listen to The Exit Interview with Kim Rittberg here: https://link.chtbl.com/NQd2mLmU 
Kim’s website: https://www.kimrittberg.com/



FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode #81 at 
https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for my newsletter.
 
Sign up for Estelle’s Micro Memoir Workshop with Writer’s Digest on May 23
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/making-your-mark-with-micro-memoir
 
Estelle’s Episode on The Exit Interview with Kim Rittberg
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exit-interview-with-kim-rittberg/id1629467633?i=1000651296866
 
Connect with Estelle:
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/
 
Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus 



For another media-focused episode try Episode #67  How to Be a Media-Friendly Author
https://estelleserasmus.com/67-how-to-be-a-media-friendly-author-with-paula-rizzo/



Estelle’s New Articles
I’m Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland)
https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/



What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer’s Digest)
https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed
 
How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired)
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/
 

Maggie Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books of poetry and prose, including You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Good Bones, Goldenrod, Lamp of the Body, The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, and Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change. Her newest book is My Thoughts Have Wings, a picture book for children, illustrated by Leanne Hatch. Smith’s poems and essays have appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, TIME, The Nation, The Atlantic, and The Best American Poetry. She lives with her two children in Columbus, Ohio.



In this episode: 
How Maggie came up with the idea for her children's book
The metaphor that Maggie used throughout the book
Finding collaboration in every stage of the process
Maggie’s writing and structuring process for her works 
Surprising writing advice for memoirists or writers working their craft  
 
Connect with Maggie:
Website: https://maggiesmithpoet.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/maggiesmithpoet
X: https://twitter.com/maggiesmithpoet
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggiesmithpoet
Substack: https://maggiesmith.substack.com
Get her books: https://bookshop.org/lists/authors-who-have-appeared-on-freelance-writing-direct



FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode #81 at 
https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for my newsletter.
 
Connect with Estelle:
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/
 
Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus 



Estelle’s New Articles
I’m Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland)
https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/



What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer’s Digest)
https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed
 
How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired)
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/



Sign up for Estelle’s Micro Memoir Workshop with Writer’s Digest on May 23
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/making-your-mark-with-micro-memoir

Amy Collins is an agent with the Talcott Notch Literary Services agency. She has over 30 years in the publishing industry and  is a USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author. She has spent her career working with Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Target, Costco, Wal-Mart, as well as independent bookstores and libraries. Collins is a trusted speaker, and teacher, featured at conferences and in articles across the globe. In her agent role, Collins focuses on fantasy, horror, sci-fi, & romance. She lives and travels in a 40’ bus and rides her motorcycle to meetings with editors and authors. 



In this episode:
Amy’s genre picks and why they work for her/her clients [3:59]
The number one tool Estelle recommends her students use to research agents [6:02]
The genre Amy finds tricky to work in and why [9:37]
Her most successful books [11:55]
Red flags that Amy notices before she signs someone [21:05]
The specific areas Amy can assist when working with contracts and during the negotiation process [24:17]
The ultimate rule for success in a creative field [30:34]
 
Connect with Amy:
Website:  www.amysadvice.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askamycollins
X: https://twitter.com/askamycollins



FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode #76 at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for my newsletter.
 
Connect with Estelle:
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/
 
Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus 



Estelle’s New Articles
I’m Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland)
https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/



What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer’s Digest)
https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed
 
How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired)
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/



Sign up for Estelle’s Micro Memoir Workshop with Writer’s Digest on May 23
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/making-your-mark-with-micro-memoir
 

Amy Ferris is an author, a writer, a screenwriter, an editor and a playwright. Her memoir, Marrying George Clooney, Confessions From a Midlife Crisis (Seal Press) was adapted into an Off-Broadway play in 2012. Amy has written for both the small screen (TV) and the big screen (Feature Films). As a screenwriter, she nominated for a Best Screenplay Award (BET, Black Reel Award) for her adaptation of the film, Funny Valentines (Director, Julie Dash) As an editor, she curated the anthology Shades of Blue, Writers on Depression, Suicide and Feeling Blue (Seal Press), and co-edited the anthology, Dancing at the Shame Prom (Seal Press). She co-authored Old School Love (HarperCollins, 2020) with Rev Run of RUN DMC fame. Amy serves on a variety of advisory boards supporting women and the Arts. She co-founded The Milford Readers & Writers Festival, is on the Advisory Board of the Women’s Media Center (Founded by Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem and Robin Morgan) and is on faculty at The Kauai Writer's Conference. 
 
in 2019 she was named one of Women's eNews 21 LEADERS FOR THE 21st CENTURY, in 2021 she was a recipient of NextTribe's The 12 Women Who Changed the World,  and in 2022, Amy was awarded and honored by the Thoughtful Book Festival as Inspirational Woman in Media.  
 
Her new memoir, Mighty Gorgeous - A Little Book About Messy Love, is published by SheWritesPress.
 
In this episode:
Amy’s search for self-worth [3:25] 

Using social media (particularly Facebook) to build community [4:48] 

The truth behind imposter syndrome [20:30] 

The power in writing with vulnerability [26.59]

Where to get into a story for maximum impact [30.25]  
Connect with Amy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054335055726
Book: Mighty Gorgeous
https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Gorgeous-Little-Book-About-Messy-Love/dp/1647425530
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ferris_a/




FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode #76 at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for my newsletter.
 
Connect with Estelle:
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/
Sign up for my Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus 



New Article Estelle Referred to 
I’m Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland)
https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/
 
New Article
What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer’s Digest)
https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed
 

William Kenower is the author of Everyone Has What It Takes: A Writer’s Guide to the End of Self-Doubt, Fearless Writing: How to Create Boldly and Write With Confidence, and Write Within Yourself: An Author’s Companion, and the Editor-in-Chief of Author magazine. In addition to his books he’s been published in The New York Times, Writer’s Digest, Edible Seattle, Parent Map, and has been a featured blogger for the Huffington Post. He also hosts the popular podcasts Author2Author, and Fearless Writing With Bill Kenower. 
 
In this episode:
How Bill came up with the concept for his book [2:40]
Following curiosity in your reading [12:20]
Letting yourself write about what you want to write, without worrying about selling your writing [18:09]
Advice for getting into the writing flow [16:54]
Writing with the ‘three narrative arcs.’ [22:33]
Bill’s opinion on gatekeepers in this industry [29:31]
 
Connect with Bill:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.kenower
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/wdbk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williamkenower/



FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode #76 at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for my newsletter.
 
Connect with Estelle:
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/
Sign up for my Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus (Come see me every Monday at 7 pm for a live AMA)