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Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle

Estelle Erasmus
Memoir Writing
Memoir
Grief
Feminism
Food Writing
Motherhood
Publishing Industry
Writing
Friendship
Womenhood
Cellar Rat
Belonging
Literary Analysis
Beauty Standards
Family Dynamics
Toicn Restaurant Culture
Personal Essays
Dating Apps
Loss
Mothers and Other Fictional Characters

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 pro... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes200Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEducationSelf-ImprovementEntrepreneurship

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Freelance Writing Direct

Latest Episodes

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 fea... more

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 fea... more

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... more

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, perso... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Deborah Sosin
Writer, editor, psychotherapist, and instructor at GrubStreet
GrubStreet
Episode: #198 Micro Memoirs with Maximum Impact: Distilling a Life into Seventy 70-Word Stories with Deborah Sosin
Tiffany Graham Charkosky
Author of Living Proof and Director of Arts and Culture at Cleveland Public Library
Cleveland Public Library
Episode: #197 How Dual Timelines Brought a Family Story to Life with Tiffany Graham Charkosky
Dionne Ford
Author of Go Back and Get It; editor and journalist
Author, Editor; Fordham University adjunct
Episode: #196 Going Back Through Time to Get the Story: Dionne Ford on Family History, Reporting, and Memoir
Rachel Weaver
Author, memoirist and novelist
Author of Dizzy; Point of Direction; The Last Run
Episode: #195 Writing Through Brain Fog, Chronic Illness, and Uncertainty with Rachel Weaver
Wade Rouse
USA Today and internationally best selling author of five memoirs and 12 novels; writes as Viola Shipman
Author (Viola Shipman)
Episode: #194 Why Wade Rouse Finally Wrote the Book He Was Meant to Write
Gary Edwards
Wade Rouse's husband and manager, coordinates publishing, marketing, and events
Personal/Professional collaborator of Wade Rouse
Episode: #194 Why Wade Rouse Finally Wrote the Book He Was Meant to Write
Carolyn Roy-Bornstein
Board-certified pediatrician, writer in residence at Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Johns Hopkins University (acquired via publisher/presentation)
Episode: #193 Restorative Writing with Carolyn Roy-Bornstein
Paula Derrow
Features Editor at The Persistent, former Articles Director of Self at Glossy Magazines
The Persistent
Episode: #192 How to Get Published inThe Persistent with Features Editor Paula Derrow
Vanessa Hua
Author of Coyoteland and Uprooted
Author
Episode: #191 Writing Characters Who Make Questionable Decisions with Vanessa Hua

Host

Estelle Erasmus
Host of Freelance Writing Direct, curator of industry conversations and craft-focused interviews.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 84 ratings
  • Must-Listen

    In depth interviews with journalist and fiction writers, incredibly helpful

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mononoke97
    United Statesa month ago
  • An Invaluable Resource to Writers

    As someone who came to writing after another profession and felt behind the curve, this podcast was an essential part of my learning process. The interviews are packed with thoughtful questions about craft and process from writers of diverse backgrounds and paths to publication. After writing for years now, I still learn so much on every episode. Estelle’s podcast is a must-listen for writers at any stage!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    STAR STAR STAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️
    United States4 months ago
  • This podcast goes deep

    After listening to Freelance Writing Direct and then having the honor of being a guest, I can say that Estelle Erasmus is an excellent interviewer. Not only does she bring passion and charm to each episode, but she is thoughtful and really takes her time with the material, yielding a rich discussion. As a writer I always learn something new from listening, something that I think about for a few days after… the mark of time well spent.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BlairGlaser
    United States5 months ago
  • So valuable

    This podcast is fascinating for writers who are just getting started and those who are more seasoned. The discussions about craft, content, and all the nuances of the publishing industry are priceless. Host Estelle Erasmus is a font of knowledge and has a lot of valuable experience in this realm, so her questions are always insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jocelyn Cox
    United States6 months ago
  • Thank you

    Such a generous episode with Abigail Thomas—thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Oreille attentive
    France6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host is described as prepared, thoughtful, and able to yield rich discussions.
Listeners praise deep, thoughtful interviews and practical craft tips from industry insiders.
Episodes are seen as valuable resources for writers at all stages, with actionable advice and candid industry insights.
The show is commended for featuring top guests and for its supportive, informative tone.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#193 Restorative Writing with Carolyn Roy-Bornstein
Q: Talk to me first about why you wrote the book and what you hoped to achieve with it.
I wrote it to share how reflective writing can be a healing practice for people in demanding professions, not just doctors, and to provide a clear pathway—from addressing physical stress to building resilience and a sense of agency—through structured prompts and a narrative framework.
#194 Why Wade Rouse Finally Wrote the Book He Was Meant to Write
Q: So let's start from the very beginning. Tell me the genesis of this book and what made you decide to come out as yourself and write it under your own name?
The book grew out of Wade's personal history, combining his experiences of coming out, family dynamics, and a longing to tell a story that honors his own voice and identity, with the editorial push to publish under his own name rather than a pseudonym.
#148 How to Hook Readers by Planting Curiosity Seeds in Interactive Novels with Bianca Marais
Q: Did you consciously apply or ignore established storytelling frameworks like Save the Cat?
She says she doesn't consciously follow such theories, but advocates studying pacing frameworks to internalize them, while trusting her instincts to guide the narrative when needed.
#148 How to Hook Readers by Planting Curiosity Seeds in Interactive Novels with Bianca Marais
Q: How long did it take to write the book and how did you structure your day?
Bianca explains she tackled the project in about a year, writing with a flexible, nontraditional schedule that prioritized the book's needs as they emerged, rather than a fixed routine.
#150 Coaching Episode: From Reported to Personal—Crafting and Pitching Essays That Sell
Q: How should one approach submission strategy for personal essays?
Estelle advises focusing on simultaneous submissions, building a targeted list of publications, and tailoring pitches to each outlet with a compelling subject line and a clear, friendly summary of the idea.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Freelance Writing Direct

What is Freelance Writing Direct about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show curates candid conversations with bestselling authors, editors, agents, and publishing insiders to unpack writing craft, memoir, platform-building, and navigating the book industry. Across episodes, listeners hear practical storytelling techniques, behind-the-scenes pitching and editorial processes, and strategies for getting noticed in a crowded market. The host steers in-depth discussions with a focus on craft, publishing realities, and career development, making it a valuable resource for writers at every stage who want actionable guidance and real-world context from industry professionals. Notable strengths include a steady stream of high-profile guests, concrete takeaways for manuscript development and pitching, and a collabo... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Freelance Writing Direct?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Freelance Writing Direct:

1. Writers on Writing
2. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
3. SmartLess
4. Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
5. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

How many episodes of Freelance Writing Direct are there?

Freelance Writing Direct launched 4 years ago and published 200 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Freelance Writing Direct?

Recent guests on Freelance Writing Direct include:

1. Deborah Sosin
2. Tiffany Graham Charkosky
3. Dionne Ford
4. Rachel Weaver
5. Wade Rouse
6. Gary Edwards
7. Carolyn Roy-Bornstein
8. Paula Derrow

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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