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

Estelle Erasmus
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Want to get published or land a book deal? Join TEDx speaker and author Estelle Erasmus for smart writing tips, publishing insights, and behind-the-scenes advice for fiction writers, memoirists, and authors at every stage. Winner of the 2026 Podcast of the Year (Business) and the 2025 Podcast of the Year (Education) from the American Writing Awards, Freelance Writing Direct is your go-to podcast for writing tips, publishing advice, and insider strategies to help you get published—whether in essays, memoir, fiction, books, or journalism. Hosted by Estelle Erasmus—award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, NYU writing professor, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers)—this show blends writing craft, career strategy, and behind-the-scenes publishing insight. Each week, Estelle shares short, practical episodes full of: Writing tips for essays, memoir, and books Pitch strategies that get editors' attention Publishing advice from agents and bestselling authors Solo episodes, coaching episodes and candid conversations with industry insiders Whether you're just starting your freelance writing journey or aiming for your next book deal, you'll find actionable tools, story prompts, and the momentum you need to grow your writing career. Listeners often ask: *How do I get published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, or WIRED? *What writing tips will make my voice stand out? *How do I find an agent or land a book deal? *What do editors actually want? *How do I shape my personal story for publication? You're in the right place. It's time to elevate your writing—with Freelance Writing Direct. 🎙️ About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She's a Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest, an adjunct writing professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Estelle's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, AARP, Next Avenue, and The Independent, among 150+ other outlets. She is also the host of Freelance Writing Direct, named the 2025 Podcast of the Year in the Education category by the American Writing Awards. Learn more: estelleserasmus.com Newsletter: estelleserasmus.substack.com Social: @EstelleSErasmus on Instagram, X, Threads, and LinkedIn

  1. 2D AGO

    #186 Burn the Haystack: Decoding Men's Language, Power Moves, and Red Flags with Jennie Young

    The words people use tell you exactly who they are, if you know how to read them. Estelle Erasmus sits down with Jennie Young, a professor of rhetoric whose "Burn the Haystack" method and Facebook group sparked a powerful movement, now captured in her book Burn the Haystack. She flips the traditional dating narrative on its head, showing women how to find their "needle" by torching the men who are duds. As a former magazine editor and longtime writing teacher, Estelle was especially drawn to how Jennie breaks down language, tone, and behavior with precision. This conversation goes far beyond dating. It's about learning how to read what people say and how they say it, whether you're navigating relationships, the workplace, or your own writing. Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwQ2rvupeXM About Jennie Young Jennie Young is a professor of rhetoric at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, specializing in applied rhetoric, humor, and feminism. Her work focuses on helping women detect manipulation and decode power dynamics in dating, work, and everyday life. Her book, Burn the Haystack: Decode Dating, Torch the Duds, and Make Room for Men Who Matter, has inspired a global movement and a rapidly growing online community. Links & Resources: Jennie Young's book: Burn the Haystack  Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/9116647515019601 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/word_case_scenario/ Estelle's website: https://estelleserasmus.com Subscribe for exclusive podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Sign up for the NYU Editor-on-Call Event on April 22 with the Editor-in-Chief of Provoked Magazine. https://events.nyu.edu/event/384509-editor-on-call-ready-to-pitch-publish-and-g 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.

    40 min
  2. You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    2D AGO ·  BONUS

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing How to Navigate Life’s Big Transitions with Oprah and Bestselling Author Jim Collins from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Oprah talks with the international bestselling author of Good to Great, Jim Collins, to discuss his groundbreaking new book What to Make of a Life. Drawing on ten years of research, Collins offers a data-driven answer to one of life’s most enduring questions: What do we do with this one precious life we’ve been given and how do you know what you’re truly meant to do? Collins explores how to navigate life’s “cliffs”—periods of great transition that leave us disoriented and how to find direction in the midst of mental fog. Oprah shares her own journey through 'the fog' and how she found her way out. Collins also offers practical guidance for anyone confronting a major career transition. This is a conversation for anyone, at any stage of life, seeking greater clarity, direction and meaning. BUY THE BOOK! What to Make of a Life, published by HarperCollins and written by Jim Collins, is available wherever books are sold. https://www.harpercollins.com/products/what-to-make-of-a-life-jim-collins?variant=44343300227106 00:00:00 - Welcome Jim Collins, author of ‘What to Make of a Life’ 00:03:19 - Why Jim started writing the book 00:06:50 - Every life has a cliff 00:10:25 - Cliffs can take many forms 00:14:30 - Self compassion for the cliff 00:19:00 - Oprah’s many revelations while reading 00:22:44 - Oprah on her encoding 00:25:00 - Oprah cold calling Toni Morrison 00:30:20 - How to deal with the fog after the cliff 00:35:22 - What holds people back 00:36:45 - How to embrace the tumult and the calm 00:44:10 - The color of your fire changes 00:47:00 - The relationship between work and money 00:50:40 - The competence-doom loop Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. APR 2

    #185 The Rise of Authorpreneurship with Literary Agent Regina Brooks

    What does the rise of authorpreneurship mean for writers today? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus sits down with Regina Brooks, founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency and president of the Association of American Literary Agents, to explore how publishing is shifting and what writers need to understand now. From what agents look for in submissions to how platform, AI, and direct-to-consumer models are reshaping the industry, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at how writers can move beyond simply writing a book to building a sustainable writing career. Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_luHYAPHp4&t=131s About Regina Regina Brooks is the founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency, where she represents award-winning and bestselling authors and illustrators whose work has earned honors such as the National Book Award, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals, and the NAACP Image Awards. She also serves as President of the Association of American Literary Agents and is co-founder of the People of Publishing Conference in New York, helping lead industry conversations about rights, technology, and professional development across the publishing ecosystem. Regina brings a deep respect for the creative process and a sharp instinct for helping writers bring powerful ideas into the world. Connect with Regina Serendipity Literary Agency: https://www.serendipitylit.com/our_team/regina-brooks/ Regina Brooks' book: You Should Really Write a Book: How to Write, Sell, and Market Your Memoir https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312609344/youshouldreallywriteabook/ Don't miss episode #184  From Silence to Story: Writing a Hostage Memoir 50 Years Later  https://estelleserasmus.com/184-from-silence-to-story-writing-a-hostage-memoir-50-years-later/ And find the free resource guide from the panel I moderated at AWP: https://estelleserasmus.com/teaching-speaking/awp-2026-writing-and-publishing-resources/ Get More From Estelle Erasmus • Free NYU "Editor on Call" Event Join Estelle Erasmus and the editor-in-chief of PROVOKED on April 22 from 12:30–1:30 PM EDT to learn how to pitch and publish your work. Register here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/384509-editor-on-call-ready-to-pitch-publish-and-g • Private Small-Group Memoir Class Next 6-week session begins September 2026. (May session is sold out). Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. Recent Student Piece in The Cut: https://www.thecut.com/article/search-rescue-volunteer-missing-person-motherhood.html • Read & Subscribe Substack: NEW POST — Why Your Memoir Draft Still Feels Flat (And How to Fix It) https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-your-memoir-draft-still-feels • Newsletter Sign up at estelleserasmus.com for show updates and a free Pitching Guide. • Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ • Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." https://www.amazon.com/Writing-That-Gets-Noticed-Storyteller/dp/1608688364 • Listen Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 and 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast/ About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist,TEDx Speaker, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, and host of Freelance Writing Direct. An adjunct professor at NYU, her work has appeared in 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 https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus  https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus https://x.com/EstelleSErasmus • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

    42 min

  4. MAR 26

    #184 From Silence to Story: Writing a Hostage Memoir 50 Years Later with Mimi Nichter

    What does it take to write about a life-altering trauma decades after it happened? In this episode, Estelle Erasmus chats with Mimi Nichter about the long arc from lived experience to the page, and what it means to revisit a moment of crisis with clarity. They talk about writing through memory, shaping a narrative around a defining event, and the emotional and craft challenges of telling a story that has festered inside for years, waiting to be heard. Mimi shares how she approached writing about being held hostage, why timing mattered, and how she transformed silence into story. In this episode, we discuss: Writing about trauma years later How distance shapes perspective on the page Structuring a memoir around a central event Balancing emotional truth with narrative control What writers need to consider when revisiting difficult experiences Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/YlxImrMbqNA About Mimi  Mimi Nichter is an award-winning cultural anthropologist who studies core concerns in contemporary American society and global public health. She is a professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Arizona. Dr. Nichter is the author or coauthor of four anthropology-related books and the recipient of the Margaret Mead Award for writing that reaches a wide public audience. Her memoir, Hostage, was selected as a finalist for the Literary Award in Non-Fiction at the Tucson Festival of Books. Her essays have appeared in Newsweek, HuffPost, and Brevity. Connect with Mimi Website: https://www.miminichter.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/mimi.nichter Instagram: https://instagram.com/miminichter Threads: https://www.threads.com/@miminichter Don't miss episode #183 Don't Give Up on Ghostwriting. What Pays and What's Still Dead. https://estelleserasmus.com/183-dont-give-up-on-ghostwriting-what-still-pays-and-whats-dead/ And find the free resource guide from the panel I moderated at AWP: https://estelleserasmus.com/teaching-speaking/awp-2026-writing-and-publishing-resources/ Get More From Estelle Erasmus • Free NYU "Editor on Call" Event Join Estelle Erasmus and the editor-in-chief of PROVOKED on April 22 from 12:30–1:30 PM EDT to learn how to pitch and publish your work. Register here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/384509-editor-on-call-ready-to-pitch-publish-and-g • Private Small-Group Memoir Class Next 6-week session begins September 2026. (May session is sold out). Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. Recent Student Piece in The Cut: https://www.thecut.com/article/search-rescue-volunteer-missing-person-motherhood.html • Read & Subscribe Substack: NEW POST — Why Your Memoir Draft Still Feels Flat (And How to Fix It) https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-your-memoir-draft-still-feels • Newsletter Sign up at estelleserasmus.com for show updates and a free Pitching Guide. • Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ • Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." https://www.amazon.com/Writing-That-Gets-Noticed-Storyteller/dp/1608688364 • Listen Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 and 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast/ About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist,TEDx Speaker, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, and host of Freelance Writing Direct. An adjunct professor at NYU, her work has appeared in 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 https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus  https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus https://x.com/EstelleSErasmus • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

    37 min

  5. MAR 19

    #183 Don't Give Up on Ghostwriting. What Still Pays and What's Dead

    Ghostwriting isn't dead. It's just napping. The smart writers know exactly where to wake it up. It can be one of the most lucrative paths for writers, but not all ghostwriting opportunities are created equal. In this solo episode, Estelle Erasmus reveals which ghostwriting gigs are thriving in 2026 and which ones are quietly disappearing. If you've ever been curious about ghostwriting (or you're already doing it and wondering about your future), this episode is essential listening. Estelle shares insider predictions about the market, explains why the "whisper network" matters more than you think, and breaks down exactly what it takes to land high-paying ghostwriting projects. In This Episode The surprising truth about which ghostwriting clients are worth pursuing—and which aren't Why AI is reshaping the ghostwriting landscape (and what this means for your income) Two key organizations every ghostwriter should know about The one skill that separates successful ghostwriters from everyone else Real talk about ghostwriting earnings: what you can actually make How to position yourself as the go-to ghostwriter (even if you're just starting out) Resources Mentioned Gotham Ghostwriters https://gothamghostwriters.com/ Association of Ghostwriters https://associationofghostwriters.org/ Jane Friedman's Newsletter https://janefriedman.com/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g0DUVX2Xg_E Get More From Estelle Erasmus • Free NYU "Editor on Call" Event Join Estelle Erasmus and the editor-in-chief of PROVOKED on April 22 from 12:30–1:30 PM EDT to learn how to pitch and publish your work. Register here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/384509-editor-on-call-ready-to-pitch-publish-and-g • Private Small-Group Memoir Class Next 6-week session begins September 2026. (May session is sold out). Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. • Read & Subscribe Substack: NEW POST — Why Your Memoir Draft Still Feels Flat (And How to Fix It) https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-your-memoir-draft-still-feels • Newsletter Sign up at estelleserasmus.com for show updates and a free Pitching Guide. • Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ • Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." https://www.amazon.com/Writing-That-Gets-Noticed-Storyteller/dp/1608688364 • Listen Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 and 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast/ About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist,TEDx Speaker, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, and host of Freelance Writing Direct. An adjunct professor at NYU, her work has appeared in 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 https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus  https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus https://x.com/EstelleSErasmus • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

    21 min

  6. MAR 12

    #182 The A–Z of AWP: Insider Tips for Writers Attending the Conference

    Thinking about attending the AWP Conference and wondering how to prepare for it? With thousands of writers, panels, book fairs, and networking opportunities, AWP can feel both exciting, inspiring and a little overwhelming. That's why it helps to have a strategy. In this solo episode of Freelance Writing Direct, host Estelle Erasmus shares how she prepared for AWP, what it was like moderating her standing-room-only panel, and the simple strategies that helped her navigate the conference with aplomb. Estelle talks through everything from packing light and bringing snacks to creating meaningful connections with other writers. She also shares highlights from her panel discussion on publishing in both literary journals and mainstream outlets, along with a few insights from other sessions she attended. Whether you're attending AWP for the first time or looking for ways to approach it more thoughtfully, this episode offers practical tips to help you prepare, connect, and get more out of the experience. In this episode: How to prepare for the AWP Conference [1:10] Networking strategies for writers who prefer smaller conversations [6:42] What to bring to make long conference days easier [8:13] Lessons from other panels on writing and the publishing journey [22:00] Behind the scenes of Estelle's panel on literary vs. mainstream publishing [25:27] Why following up after conferences matters [26:46] AWP 2026 Writing and Publishing Resources: https://estelleserasmus.com/teaching-speaking/awp-2026-writing-and-publishing-resources/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oziyWtYTZfI   Get More From Estelle Erasmus • Free NYU "Editor on Call" Event Join Estelle Erasmus and the editor-in-chief of PROVOKED on April 22 from 12:30–1:30 PM EDT to learn how to pitch and publish your work. Register here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/384509-editor-on-call-ready-to-pitch-publish-and-g • Private Small-Group Memoir Class (Almost Full) Next 6-week session begins May 2026. Two spots left. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. • Read & Subscribe Substack: NEW POST — Why Your Memoir Draft Still Feels Flat (And How to Fix It) https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-your-memoir-draft-still-feels • Newsletter Sign up at estelleserasmus.com for show updates and a free Pitching Guide. • Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ • Book Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." https://www.amazon.com/Writing-That-Gets-Noticed-Storyteller/dp/1608688364 • Listen Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 and 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast/ About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist,TEDx Speaker, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, and host of Freelance Writing Direct. An adjunct professor at NYU, her work has appeared in 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 https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus  https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus https://x.com/EstelleSErasmus • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

    30 min

  7. MAR 5

    #181 From Ashram to Author: Finding the Transformative Thread in a Near Cult Memoir with Blair Glaser

    What happens when a story that could be told as trauma is instead shaped as triumph? Blair Glaser joins Estelle Erasmus to discuss her journey from a Catskills ashram in the 1990s to published author, and how she turned her time in a spiritual organization into her memoir, This Incredible Longing: Finding Myself in a Near Cult Experience. Rather than writing a simple escape narrative, she explores spiritual longing, group dynamics, depression, leadership, and the unexpected skills she developed inside a restrictive system. Instead of focusing solely on abuse and escape, Blair takes a nuanced approach, examining how that experience helped her find her voice, build professional skills, and ultimately claim her self worth. This episode is essential listening for memoir writers wrestling with how to structure layered stories, navigate family fallout, and uncover the thematic thread that elevates personal experience into crafted memoir.  In this episode: Why her memoir rejects the typical "cult survivor" narrative and how she found unexpected gifts within a harmful experience [02:55] The rookie mistake many memoirists make and how she corrected it in revision [12:05] How the ashram taught her to rise through the ranks, create transformational programs, and become a writer, even while struggling with depression [16:00] Why she defines spiritual awakening as "a kind of madness" that rarely makes sense to the people around you [25:25] How to write about depression and suicidal ideation without deadening the reader [27:00] Why writing from therapeutic distance made revisiting trauma feel reflective, even sweet, rather than painful [27:20] Her best advice for writers who do not have journals to draw from [28:15] The family fallout that followed publication and why she chose authentic storytelling over protection [30:00] How indie publisher Heliotrope Books cha Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AofD5lloQ_E   About Blair: Blair Glaser is a writer and leadership consultant whose essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, Longreads, Oldster, Quartz, HuffPost, Inside Higher Ed, and others, as well as in literary magazines such as Brevity, Dorothy Parker's Ashes, In Short, and The Mantlepiece. She's read stories live at events such as Writer's Read, Generation Women, and The Woodstock Bookfest. Her debut memoir, This Incredible Longing, was published by Heliotrope in February 2026. She lives with her husband and dog-ter, Vanna White, in Venice Beach, CA. More can be found at www.blairglaser.com. Connect with Blair: Website: https://www.blairglaser.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blair_glaser/ Book: This Incredible Longing: Finding Myself in a Near Cult Experience: https://www.blairglaser.com/books   Get More From Estelle  Private Small-Group Memoir Class — Next 6-week session begins May 2026. Email me at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details and to get on the waiting list. Read & Subscribe • Substack:— NEW POST: Why Your Memoir Draft Still Feels Flat: And How  To Fix Ithttps://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-your-memoir-draft-still-feels Newsletter: Sign up at estelleserasmus.com for show updates + a free Pitching Guide. Watch: Estelle's TEDx Talk — How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ Book: Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." https://www.amazon.com/Writing-That-Gets-Noticed-Storyteller/dp/1608688364 Listen: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast/ About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist,TEDx Speaker, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, and host of Freelance Writing Direct. An adjunct professor at NYU, her work has appeared in 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 https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus  https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus https://x.com/EstelleSErasmus • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

    36 min

  8. FEB 26

    #180 Unlearning Childhood Lessons and Reinventing a Memoir with Anna Rollins

    What does it take to unlearn the messages you were raised with and reshape them into a publishable memoir? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus chats with Anna Rollins about the internal and structural shifts that reshaped her debut memoir, Famished. Anna reveals how expanding the scope of her manuscript, incorporating reporting, and strengthening her platform repositioned the project and led to multiple offers. They also explore how diet culture and evangelical purity culture shaped the 1990s media landscape, and what it means to critically reexamine the messages women absorbed about appetite, obedience, and ambition. Estelle reflects on her own experience crafting magazine cover lines that reinforced those narratives, and what it means to revisit that era from a different vantage point. In This Episode: • How purity culture shaped her early beliefs about body, faith, and obedience [2:34] • How questioning those inherited ideas reshaped both her identity and the structure of her memoir [4:19] • How writing during the pandemic helped her quiet marketplace anxiety [23:00] • The unconventional way she landed her agent [27:16] • The interview question she learned from Estelle that consistently yielded stronger quotes [26:39] • How that reinvention ultimately led to multiple offers [28:48] • Why some of the strongest sections emerged when she stopped writing for the audience and started writing to discover and play [29:53] About Anna: Anna Rollins is the author of Famished: On Food, Sex, and Growing Up as a Good Girl. Her groundbreaking debut memoir examines the rhyming scripts of diet culture and evangelical purity culture, both of which direct women to fear their own bodies and appetites. Her writing has appeared in outlets like The New York Times, Slate, Electric Literature, Literary Hub, Joyland, and more. She's an award-winning instructor who taught English in higher education for nearly 15 years and a 2025 West Virginia Creative Network Literary Arts Fellow. A lifelong Appalachian, she lives with her husband in West Virginia where they're raising their three small children. Follow her on Substack and Instagram @annajrollins.  Connect with Anna:  Website: https://www.annajrollins.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annajrollins/?hl=en Famished: On Food, Sex, and Growing Up as a Good Girl: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224466981-famished   Estelle's Substack feature on Anna https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/writers-that-get-noticed-anna-rollins?utm_source=publication-search   Get More From Estelle  Upcoming Webinar with Writer's Digest: Amplifying the Echo Effect in Memoir and Essays, February 26th, 1:00-2:30 pm ET If you want to understand how patterns, callbacks, and emotional echoes can deepen your work, join me for this brand new interactive craft webinar. Learn more and register here. https://writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/amplifying-the-echo-effect-in-memoir-and-essays Private Small-Group Memoir Class — January and March are sold out. Next 6-week session begins May 2026. Email me at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details and to get on the waiting list. Read & Subscribe • Substack:— NEW POST: On Craft, Revision, and the Paragraph You Almost Cut https://estelleserasmus.substack.com  Newsletter: Sign up at estelleserasmus.com for show updates + a free Pitching Guide. Watch: Estelle's TEDx Talk — How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ Book: Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." https://www.amazon.com/Writing-That-Gets-Noticed-Storyteller/dp/1608688364 Listen: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast/ About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist,TEDx Speaker, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, and host of Freelance Writing Direct. An adjunct professor at NYU, her work has appeared in 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 https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus  https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

    32 min
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Want to get published or land a book deal? Join TEDx speaker and author Estelle Erasmus for smart writing tips, publishing insights, and behind-the-scenes advice for fiction writers, memoirists, and authors at every stage. Winner of the 2026 Podcast of the Year (Business) and the 2025 Podcast of the Year (Education) from the American Writing Awards, Freelance Writing Direct is your go-to podcast for writing tips, publishing advice, and insider strategies to help you get published—whether in essays, memoir, fiction, books, or journalism. Hosted by Estelle Erasmus—award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, NYU writing professor, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers)—this show blends writing craft, career strategy, and behind-the-scenes publishing insight. Each week, Estelle shares short, practical episodes full of: Writing tips for essays, memoir, and books Pitch strategies that get editors' attention Publishing advice from agents and bestselling authors Solo episodes, coaching episodes and candid conversations with industry insiders Whether you're just starting your freelance writing journey or aiming for your next book deal, you'll find actionable tools, story prompts, and the momentum you need to grow your writing career. Listeners often ask: *How do I get published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, or WIRED? *What writing tips will make my voice stand out? *How do I find an agent or land a book deal? *What do editors actually want? *How do I shape my personal story for publication? You're in the right place. It's time to elevate your writing—with Freelance Writing Direct. 🎙️ About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She's a Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest, an adjunct writing professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Estelle's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, AARP, Next Avenue, and The Independent, among 150+ other outlets. She is also the host of Freelance Writing Direct, named the 2025 Podcast of the Year in the Education category by the American Writing Awards. Learn more: estelleserasmus.com Newsletter: estelleserasmus.substack.com Social: @EstelleSErasmus on Instagram, X, Threads, and LinkedIn

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