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

Estelle Erasmus

Grief

Food Writing

Writing

Motherhood

Friendship

Womenhood

Cellar Rat

Memoir Writing

Literary Analysis

Feminism

Beauty Standards

Family Dynamics

Toicn Restaurant Culture

Belonging

Solitude

Mental Load In Motherhood

Mothers and Other Fictional Characters

David Chang

Me Too Movement

Loss

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 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 insi... more

74 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	179	Founded	3 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Self-ImprovementBusinessEntrepreneurshipEducation

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Latest Episodes

#178 From Viral Essay to Memoir Plus: Writing Longing into a Book Deal with Amanda McCracken

What does it take to turn a viral essay about longing into a deeply researched memoir and a book deal?

For Amanda McCracken, it took 11 years, multiple agent rejections, a pandemic, creative platform-building, and an unwavering commitment to her st... more

12 Feb 2026 • 26 min

#177 The Power of Narrative Tension with Peter Mountford

Great writing doesn't come from inventing drama. It comes from putting characters in situations where something meaningful is at stake.

In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle talks with fiction writer and essayist Peter Mountford abou... more

5 Feb 2026 • 41 min

YouTube

#176 The Domino Effect of Plot: Writing Emotionally Complex Characters with Tova Mirvis

Family loyalty can push ordinary people toward unimaginable choices.

Estelle Erasmus chats with novelist and memoirist Tova Mirvis about her latest book, We Would Never, a gripping murder mystery inspired by a true crime case. While real events spa... more

29 Jan 2026 • 32 min

YouTube

#175 From Mews(es) to Manuscript: How Inspired by Cats Became an Illustrated Literary Book

Did you know that cats have, in their feline way, shaped some of the greatest writing careers in literary history?

Bob Eckstein and Nava Atlas join Estelle Erasmus to talk about their collaboration on Inspired by Cats: Writers and Their Mews(es), a... more

22 Jan 2026 • 37 min

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Dinty W. Moore

Author of memoirs and writing guides, founding editor of Brevity.

Brevity, author

Episode: #138 Making Memoir Peculiar—and Propulsive Featuring Dinty W. Moore

Casey Mulligan Walsh

Author of the memoir, The Full Catastrophe, All I Ever Wanted, Everything I Feared

Episode: #137 Writing Through Rupture: Finding Belonging After Loss Featuring Casey Mulligan Walsh

Jackie Goldschneider

Author, activist speaker, and long-time cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Simon and Schuster

Episode: #136 Writing Towards Recovery: Jackie Goldschneider on The Weight of Beautiful

Joëlle Delbourgo

President of Joëlle Delbourgo Associates, a boutique literary agency

Episode: #135 Query Letters, Persuasive Proposals, and Publishing Secrets Featuring Literary Agent Joëlle Delbourgo

Hannah Selinger

James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and author of 'Cellar Rat'

Little Brown

Episode: #134 Writing a Memoir That's Also an Industry Exposé Featuring Hannah Selinger

Amy Wilson

Author of the memoir 'When Did I Get Like This?' and co-host of 'What Fresh Hell?', a Webby-honored podcast.

Episode: #133 Writing the Book You Need to Read When You're Always Happy to Help Featuring Amy Wilson

Nicole Graev Lipson

Author of the memoir and essays, Mothers and Other Fictional Characters

Episode: #132 The Blurry Boundary Between Truth and Fiction in Women's Lives Featuring Nicole Graev Lipson

Bonny Reichert

Author of How to Share An Egg, a National Magazine Award-winning journalist

Episode: #131 The Flavor of Trauma: A Food Memoir Wrapped Around a Family Story Featuring Bonny Reichert

Nina Badzin

Host of the top 1% charted podcast, Dear Nina, Conversations About Friendship. An essayist and freelance writer focused on friendship.

Episode: #130 Focus on Friendship Featuring Nina Badzin

Host

Estelle Erasmus

Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She has extensive experience in the writing and publishing industries and serves as a Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest and an adjunct writing professor at NYU.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 74 ratings

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 States22 days ago
Thank you
Such a generous episode with Abigail Thomas—thank you!
Apple Podcasts
3
Oreille attentive
Francea month ago
Must Listen To For Writers
I’m a huge fan of this podcast and can say it has definitely helped with my publishing career while being entertained. I have recommended Estelle’s words of wisdom to many writing friends.
Apple Podcasts
5
The Bob Eckstein
United States3 months ago
One of the Most Insightful Interviews I’ve Ever Had
I’ve been interviewed many times over the years, and Estelle Erasmus is truly one of the most prepared and thoughtful hosts I’ve ever encountered. She knew my memoir Bullied to Besties inside and out, and her questions and insights were both deep and compassionate. She also gracefully navigated the dynamic between me and my 102-year-old mother, who joined me on the episode, giving us both space to shine. Freelance Writing Direct is a must-listen for any writer—you’ll come away with practical tip... more
Apple Podcasts
5
BulliedtoBesties
United States3 months ago
Passionate reader and writer
Estelle loves stories. She works to unpack what makes good writing work, and does so in an inspiring way. Her podcast is a must for writers and readers alike!
Apple Podcasts
5
Mfraterr
United States3 months ago

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Listeners Say

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

Reviews highlight the engaging interview style and the depth of knowledge shared by both the host and guests.

Listeners appreciate the high-quality, actionable writing advice and industry insights provided by the host.

The podcast is praised for its practical tips that cater to both new and experienced writers.

Many find the conversations to be inspiring and informative, encouraging them to improve their writing careers.

It is often recommended as an essential resource for anyone interested in academic or literary publishing.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts

#195

Hong Kong/Business/Entrepreneurship

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#132 The Blurry Boundary Between Truth and Fiction in Women's Lives Featuring Nicole Graev Lipson

Q: Where's the line between a healthy rejection of female stereotypes and misogyny absorbed and turned inward?

I started thinking about this a number of years ago when my oldest was nine and she longed for a girl power t-shirt, just the slogan, girl power. I started to wonder, is there some unconscious way in which I've sent my daughter the message that it's not okay to embrace things like pink?

#132 The Blurry Boundary Between Truth and Fiction in Women's Lives Featuring Nicole Graev Lipson

Q: Can you talk a little bit about your choices of layering the literary piece with the piece of the real life stuff that was going on?

I wanted to give myself a challenge of, could I dramatize my encounters with literature in the way that they feel sometimes in real life, in terms of how they profoundly change the way I look at a particular aspect of my life?

#132 The Blurry Boundary Between Truth and Fiction in Women's Lives Featuring Nicole Graev Lipson

Q: Can you talk to me about how you decided to start the memoir and essays with this particular choice of writing about your mother and segueing to writing about you as a mother?

I felt like it served as a really good overture to a theme that carries through the book, which is the blurry boundary between truth and fiction when one is a woman, and how the stories that we inherit from our culture can become entangled with our own until we no longer really know what parts of us are true.

#129 Intentional About Structure: Dual Timelines and POVs As a Bridge Featuring Jessica Strawser

Q: How did you make sure that the middle of the novel resonated?

I am not an outliner, but I make sure to refer back to my synopsis to stay on track and the back-and-forth between the timelines helps maintain suspense during the middle section.

#129 Intentional About Structure: Dual Timelines and POVs As a Bridge Featuring Jessica Strawser

Q: Can you tell us how the idea for dual timelines and two POVs came about?

The idea was to alternate back and forth between the two timelines, with one character knowing more than the other. This structure creates suspense as the reader knows what happens to Mickey while Lark does not.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast offers a wealth of insights for writers looking to enhance their careers across various genres, including essays, memoirs, and novels. Discussions often revolve around practical writing tips, publishing strategies, and candid talks with industry insiders, making it ideal for both emerging and established writers. Additional themes include finding an agent, understanding what editors seek, and how to effectively pitch stories to leading publications. Unique in its approach, the show provides not only expert guidance but also personal stories that resonate with listeners, blending expertise with relatability.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
2. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
3. Let’s Talk Memoir

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 179 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Dinty W. Moore
2. Casey Mulligan Walsh
3. Jackie Goldschneider
4. Joëlle Delbourgo
5. Hannah Selinger
6. Amy Wilson
7. Nicole Graev Lipson
8. Bonny Reichert

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