Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle

Rona Maynard found happiness at 65—a story she tells in her new memoir Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World. She first broke into print at 14 with a short story about bullying and still receives fan mail from teens who are reading it in class. Rona capped a stellar career in magazines with a decade at the helm of Chatelaine, Canada's leading magazine for women. Her editor's column won a loyal following. When she disclosed a struggle with depression, she helped kickstart a national conversation about mental health. After Chatelaine, Rona had to learn to unwind—and found that her best teacher was a rescue mutt who had received his basic training in a prison. She has been married more than 50 years and is a firm believer that road trips go better with a dog in the back seat.

In This Episode:

• The important step Rona took while looking for her next chapter [3:19]

• How she tests the waters by sharing mini stories on Facebook [5:36]

• Giving your reader a reason to turn the page [7:48]

• Why beautiful writing isn't enough [8:07]

• Living in the moment with a dog and how Rona applied that to her life [9:02]

• Inviting readers into the book with your sense of mission [10:12]

• Working as an editor-in-chief at Chatelaine and what that showed her about herself [11:20]

• Discovering what makes her day glow and finding purpose [13:01]

• Mining the conflict in your story [15:00]

• Rona's advice for organizing your writing and effectively using tools like Scrivener [16:15]

• Writing your stories, even when the memories are hard [29:04]

• Why she doesn't do the "vomit" draft [31:49]

Connect with Rona

Substack: https://ronamaynard.substack.com/

Website:http://www.ronamaynard.com

Connect with Estelle:

Sign up for Estelle's September 5th free Zoom AMA with journalist Aly Walansky from 4:30-5:30 PM ET, where they will discuss pitching, publishing, grabbing an editor's attention, working with editors, and getting noticed by pr people, and so much more. Email Estelle at [email protected] with your question for the AMA and to secure your spot.

Watch Estelle's episode #99 with Aly Walansky

https://estelleserasmus.com/99-notes-from-a-lifestyle-journalist-with-10k-substack-subscribers/

Watch Estelle's episode #38 with Cheryl Strayed

https://estelleserasmus.com/38-cheryl-strayed-on-writing-and-tiny-beautiful-things/

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Pre-Order Her Audiobook:

https://shorturl.at/4uG2P

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Estelle's latest substack post on Micro Memoir

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Elissa Bassist is the editor of the "Funny Women" column on The Rumpus and the author of the award-deserving memoir Hysterical. As a founding contributor to The Rumpus, she's written cultural and personal criticism since the website launched in 2009. Most recently her writing appears in her newsletter, Tragedy Plus Time. Elissa teaches humor writing at The New School, 92NY, Lighthouse Writers Workshop, and elsewhere, and she is probably her therapist's favorite. Her next book is INSIDE JOKES: A Comedy and Creativity Guide for All People, coming in 2026.

In This Episode:

• Writing with humor on heavy topics aka "traumedy" [3:08]

• Why Elissa wrote Hysterical [4:11]

• The Importance of external validation [4:41]

• The value of researching her book and how Elissa did it [6:28]

• Cultivating an external world for your book in the midst of great interiority [8:30]

• Why its essential to work with an agent and editor who understands you [12:01]

• Standing up to your editor and agents and why you might need to break up with them [12:57]

• The benefits of stalking (and writing about) your obsessions [18:16]

• An unusual horror film that put her life in perspective [21:39]

• Explaining why the footnote was the essay [23:24]

• The life affirming advice she received from Cheryl Strayed [25:26]

• Elissa's role at The Rumpus [26:14]

• Her next big project [31:45]

Connect with Elissa

Website | Classes | Newsletters

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Elissa's viral piece on the Human Centipede for The Paris Review

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2012/11/01/the-human-centipede-or-how-to-move-to-new-york/

Connect with Estelle:

Watch Estelle's episode #38 with Cheryl Strayed (who gave the advice to Elissa she mentions in Episode #101)

https://estelleserasmus.com/38-cheryl-strayed-on-writing-and-tiny-beautiful-things/

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Order Her Audiobook:

https://shorturl.at/4uG2P

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Estelle's latest substack post on Micro Memoir

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Beth Ann Fennelly, Poet Laureate of Mississippi from 2016-2021, teaches in the MFA Program at the University of Mississippi where she is a four-time teaching award winner. She's received grants from the N.E.A., the United States Artists, the Academy of American Poets, and a Fulbright to Brazil. Her work has won a Pushcart Prize and three times been included in The Best American Poetry Series. Fennelly has published three poetry books: Open House, Tender Hooks, and Unmentionables, and a book of nonfiction, Great with Child, all published with W. W. Norton. A novel she co-authored with her husband, Tom Franklin, called The Tilted World, was published by HarperCollins. Her sixth book, Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs (W. W. Norton), was named an Atlanta Journal Constitution Best Book, a Goodreaders Favorite for 2017, and the winner of the Housatonic Book Prize. Fennelly and Franklin live in Oxford with their three children.

In this episode:

• Beth Ann's writing journey [5:29]

• Coining the concept of micro memoir [8:00]

• Taking personal anecdotes and making them resonate [8:37]

• The evolution of how Beth Ann structured her book [9:00]

• Crafting through lines with purpose [15:28]

• The art of collaborating with a partner on a novel and how Beth Ann made it work [15:28]

• Why you can't ignore the concept of fun when it comes to writing [19:43]

• Why transitions need to be addressed carefully [24:42]

• Establishing an effective writing practice [28:00]

Connect with Beth Ann Fennelly

Website: https://www.bethannfennelly.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/bethann.fennelly.9

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bethannfennelly

Listen to her TedX Talk

How Literature Can Help Us Develop Empathy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nJv8sxpUKU&t=334s

See Her Talk for The Moth

The Proper Time to Eat

https://themoth.org/stories/the-proper-time-to-eat

Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs and The Tilted World on Estelle's Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/shop/EstelleSErasmus

Connect with Estelle:

Estelle's New York Times Essay Singing My Dad Back to Me

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/well/family/singing-my-dad-back-to-me.html

Episodes Referenced Here

Joanna Rakoff

Episode #87 Writing Memoir That Reads Like a Novel and Captivates on Every Page

https://estelleserasmus.com/87-writing-memoir-that-reads-like-a-novel-and-captivates-on-every-page-featuring-joanna-rakoff/

Maggie Smith

Episode #81 The Art of Shaping a Compelling Story

https://estelleserasmus.com/81-the-art-of-shaping-a-compelling-story-featuring-maggie-smith/

Ann Hood

Episode #95 The Catalysts and Craft for Charting and Plotting Novels https://estelleserasmus.com/95-the-catalysts-and-craft-for-charting-and-plotting-novels-featuring-ann-hood/

Episode #35 Flying High with Storyteller Ann Hood

https://estelleserasmus.com/35-flying-high-with-storyteller-ann-hood/

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Pre-Order Her Audiobook:

https://shorturl.at/4uG2P

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Estelle's latest substack post on Micro Memoir

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Aly Walansky has been covering lifestyle topics, with a focus on food, travel, and cocktails, for two decades. She's done all of this living and working (and eating!) from a tiny New York City studio apartment — so she knows a thing or two about cooking and eating well on a budget, in small spaces -- and sharing it with her audience. Her daily Substack newsletter goes out to close to 10,000 people each day.

In this episode:

• How Aly Walansky found her niche.[3:26]

• Secrets of building sustainable relationships with editors [4:43]

• The gift of Substack when it comes to time management [6:10]

• How Aly created content during the pandemic [10:17]

• Her experience writing for 10,000 substack subscribers and what she offers paid subscribers. [12:59]

• How she structures her AMAs [14:26]

• The new wave of AI in Journalism [15:55]

• Adding yourself into the story [17:30]

• The importance of a social media footprint for writers, even if you're an introvert [20:52]

Connect with Aly

alywalansky.substack.com

Connect with Estelle:

Watch Estelle's episode #88 with Former HARO Founder, Peter Shankman

https://estelleserasmus.com/88-the-founder-of-haro-peter-shankman-a-hero-to-journalists-on-deadline-launches-source-of-sources/

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Pre-Order Her Audiobook:

https://shorturl.at/4uG2P

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Estelle's latest substack post on Micro Memoir

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Emily Paulsen has built a successful career as a freelance writer and editor. She has contributed to more than a dozen books, including three as co-author. She has covered a variety of subjects over the years, but specializes in health and healthcare, with an emphasis on health equity and improving the healthcare experience for patients and providers. She is currently president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the leading professional organization for independent journalists, authors, and content writers.

In this episode:

• What is ASJA and Emily and Estelle's' experience with this professional organization [2:07]

• The upcoming ASJA virtual conference (September 24-26) and the breakdown of sessions in each track [6:07]

• The Importance of storytelling in journalism [11:20]

• Estelle's fireside chat at ASJA with Abigail Thomas [13:28]

• ASJA diversity efforts for the freelance writing community [22:51]

• The benefits of ASJA membership and the associate and professional tier [26:38]

• The in-person ASJA conference in February 2025 [29:47]

Connect with Emily

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eapaulsen/

Website: emilypaulsen.com

Connect with ASJA

asja.org

https://www.facebook.com/ASJAinc/

https://x.com/ASJAhq

https://www.linkedin.com/company/asja/

https://www.instagram.com/asjahq

https://www.tiktok.com/@asjafreelancewriters

More on ASJA

Register for the 2024 Virtual Conference: https://www.asja.org/2024-asja-conference/

Info on the Conference Keynoters: https://www.asja.org/asja-2024-conference-keynoters-are-krishan-trotman-peter-shankman-david-brown/

The benefits of ASJA membership and eligibility requirements: https://www.asja.org/join-asja/benefits/

https://www.asja.org/join-asja/eligibility/

Info on Client Connections 2024 (you have to be a professional member to participate): https://www.asja.org/what-we-do/client-networking/client-connections/cc24/

The deadline for applying for the scholarship has been extended to 9/1. The deadline is 8/23 for non-members who apply for membership at the same time as applying for the scholarship. https://www.asja.org/asja-offers-members-scholarships-to-ghostmasters-business-of-ghostwriting-course/)

ASJA will also be offering scholarships to the virtual conference, but that application has not been set up yet.

Info on ASJA's diversity initiative plus resources on how to be a more inclusive writer: https://www.asja.org/who-we-are/diversity-and-inclusion/

Connect with Estelle:

Watch Estelle's episode #83 with Abigail Thomas

https://estelleserasmus.com/83-writing-your-way-into-an-engaging-and-enthralling-story-featuring-abigail-thomas/

Watch Estelle's episode #88 with Peter Shankman

https://estelleserasmus.com/88-the-founder-of-haro-peter-shankman-a-hero-to-journalists-on-deadline-launches-source-of-sources/

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Pre-Order Her Audiobook: https://shorturl.at/4uG2P

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Estelle's latest substack post on Micro Memoir

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Estelle's Latest 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/

Sally Wiener Grotta is an award-winning writer, photographer and speaker. Her two most recent books are Of Being Woman, a collection of feminist science fiction (NobleFusion Press) and Daughters of Eve, an essay-based discussion & journaling workbook which mines the tales of biblical matriarchs to explore modern lives, concerns and crises (Bayit Publishing). As a journalist, Sally has traveled on assignment throughout the world, to all the continents, plus many remote islands, covering a wide diversity of cultures and traditions. Sally's far-ranging experiences flavor her stories and presentations with a sense of wonder, appreciation for human potential and a healthy dose of common sense. Her American Hands narrative photographic project featuring traditional tradespeople (blacksmiths, weavers, spinners, glassblowers, bookbinders, etc.) has received dozens of grants, and the exhibition has been seen in person by over 300,000 people. Sally is co-curator of Galactic Philadelphia Salon reading series, and a member of The Authors Guild and SFWA.

• How Sally became an accidental biblical student

• Fighting against the patriarchy with writing

• The deep roots in female friendships

• Structuring a discussion workbook designed for self reflection and book clubs

• Helping people put themselves into the story and making readers your collaborators

• Writing essays for the book with a personal touch

• How she decided to pick her characters and aligned them with the modules in her book

• The must-have writing pledge (and process) for workshops

Connect with Sally:

Website: https://sallywienergrotta.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SallyWienerGrotta/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SallyWGrotta

YouTube: https://YouTube.com/SallyWienerGrotta

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sallywienergrotta.bsky.social

Connect with Estelle:

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Pre-Order Her Audiobook:

https://shorturl.at/4uG2P

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Estelle's Latest 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/

Jessica Strawser is editor-at-large at Writer's Digest and the USA Today bestselling author of suspenseful book club novels, including Almost Missed You; Not That I Could Tell (a Book of the Month pick); A Million Reasons Why; The Next Thing You Know (a People Magazine Pick), and her latest, The Last Caretaker, an instant USA Today bestseller. Her seventh novel, Catch You Later, is forthcoming October 22, 2024. She has written for The New York Times Modern Love, Publishers Weekly and other fine venues, and is a popular writing instructor and freelance editor specializing in helping writers with their submission packages. She lives with her husband and children in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she was named 2019 Writer-in-Residence for the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County and awarded an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for 2024.

In this episode:

• How Jessica came up with the concept for her novel based on her life experiences [3:27]

• Writing about domestic violence and underground networks in an empowering way [6:47]

• Using nature as a setting [10:28]

• Her decision making process for writing the POV of one character, when many are available [12:48]

• Ending chapters with emotional beats [18:28]

• How to keep raising the stakes in a book by bringing out the tension in relationships [22:32]

• Dealing with the "muddle in the middle" [21:18]

• Secrets of writing using dialogue, action and reflection [24:55]

• Thinking of a book in terms of an arc, not an outline [28:24]

• Using time as a device to create a sense of urgency and move the story forward [29:26]

• Jessica's role as Editor at Large at Writer's Digest [29:44]

Connect with Jessica

Website: https://jessicastrawser.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/Jessicastrawserauthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/Jessicastrawserauthor

The Last Caretaker on Estelle's Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-last-caretaker-jessica-strawser/19674038?ean=9781662510229&next=t&next=t

Other Episodes Featuring Novelists

Episode #95: The Catalysts and Craft for Charting and Plotting Novels Featuring Ann Hood

https://estelleserasmus.com/95-the-catalysts-and-craft-for-charting-and-plotting-novels-featuring-ann-hood/

Episode #89 Level Up Your Novel By Mastering Visual Imagery and Research

https://estelleserasmus.com/89-level-up-your-novel-by-mastering-visual-imagery-and-research/

Episode #70 Writing a YA Romance Novel

https://estelleserasmus.com/70-writing-a-ya-romance-novel-with-jennifer-chen/

Episode #63 Witchy Writing With the Shit No One Tells You About Writing Host, Bianca Marais

https://estelleserasmus.com/63-witchy-writing-with-bianca-marais/

Episode #47 The Way Life and Writing Should Be With William Dameron

https://estelleserasmus.com/episode-47-the-way-life-and-writing-should-be-with-william-dameron/

Episode #45 Writing Women Are the Fiercest Creatures

https://estelleserasmus.com/45-writing-women-are-the-fiercest-creatures/

Episode #37 Writing On Fire Island with Jane L. Rosen

https://estelleserasmus.com/37-writing-on-fire-island/

Episode #33 My What If Year with Author Alisha Fernandez Miranda

https://estelleserasmus.com/33-my-what-if-year-with-author-alisha-fernandez-miranda/

Episode #32 Parallel Lives: Meshing Journalism Into Fiction Writing with Vanessa Hua

https://estelleserasmus.com/32-parallel-lives-meshing-journalism-into-fiction-writing-with-vanessa-hua/

Ann Hood is the author of a dozen books of memoir and fiction, including the bestselling novels THE BOOK THAT MATTERS MOST and THE KNITTING CIRCLE, and editor of the anthologies KNITTING YARNS and KNITTING PEARLS. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, and New York.

In this episode:

• How Ann came up with the concept for her book [2:12]

• Writing characters born from life experience and cultural history [7:06]

• The elements of research in historical novels [9:06]

• The Kirkus Review that changed the trajectory of Ann's career [12:54]

• Navigating through multiple POVs [16:38]

• Food as a character in the novel and as a portal for emotion [19:55]

• How Ann tracks timelines [21:42]

• Finding the patterns throughout a book [22:48]

• Ann's favorite part of the publishing process [27:34]

Connect with Ann

Website: https://www.annhood.us/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/annhood56

Facebook: https://facebook.com/annmariehood/

Ann's episode on her book Flygirl

Episode #35 Flying High with Storyteller Ann Hood

https://estelleserasmus.com/35-flying-high-with-storyteller-ann-hood/

Get Ann's novel The Stolen Child on Estelle's Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-stolen-child-ann-hood/20610013?ean=9780393609806

Connect with Estelle:

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Estelle's Latest 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/

Other Recent Episodes Focused on Novelists

Episode #89 Level Up Your Novel By Focusing on Visual Imagery and Research

https://estelleserasmus.com/89-level-up-your-novel-by-mastering-visual-imagery-and-research/

Episode #70 Writing a YA Romance Novel

https://estelleserasmus.com/70-writing-a-ya-romance-novel-with-jennifer-chen/

Episode #63 Witchy Writing with the Host of the Shit Noone Tells You About Writing, Bianca Marais

https://estelleserasmus.com/63-witchy-writing-with-bianca-marais/

Episode #47 The Way Life and Writing Should Be

https://estelleserasmus.com/episode-47-the-way-life-and-writing-should-be-with-william-dameron/

Sue William Silverman is an award-winning author of eight works of nonfiction and poetry. Her most recent book is Acetylene Torch Songs: Writing True Stories to Ignite the Soul. Her previous book, How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences, won the gold star in Foreword Reviews Indie Book of the Year Award and the Clara Johnson Award for Women's Literature. Other works include Love Sick: One Woman's Journey through Sexual Addiction, made into a Lifetime TV movie; Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, which won the AWP Award; and The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew. She is faculty co-chair in the MFA in Writing Program at Vermont College of Fine Arts.

• How Sue came up with the title 'Acetylene Torch Songs' [2:54]

• Writing down situation, emotions and dialogue that grip the reader [4:24]

• Addressing the gap in memory [7:03]

• Crafting the "Aware" and "Unaware" voice in memoir [11:06]

• The untruth about only writing about headline heavy events [16:53]

• The power of small moments, sensory language and metaphors [20:54]

• Employing texture for the ending of your essay [24:41]

• The key distinction between writing an essay collection vs. memoir [29:24]

Connect with Sue:

Website: https://www.suewilliamsilverman.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SueWilliamSilverman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suewilliamsilverman/

Recent Episodes with Other Writing Teachers

Episode #87 Writing Memoir That Reads Like a Novel and Captivates on Every Page Featuring Joanna Rakoff

https://estelleserasmus.com/87-writing-memoir-that-reads-like-a-novel-and-captivates-on-every-page-featuring-joanna-rakoff/

Episode #85 Jumping Genres in Writing Featuring Melissa Hart

https://estelleserasmus.com/85-jumping-genres-in-writing-and-advice-on-successfully-submitting-to-awp/

Episode #83 Writing Your Way Into an Engaging and Enthralling Story Featuring Abigail Thomas

https://estelleserasmus.com/83-writing-your-way-into-an-engaging-and-enthralling-story-featuring-abigail-thomas/

Episode #81 The Art of Writing A Compelling Story Featuring Maggie Smith

https://estelleserasmus.com/81-the-art-of-shaping-a-compelling-story-featuring-maggie-smith/

Connect with Estelle:

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Estelle's Latest 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/

Mimi Zieman is a writer, physician, and speaker with a new memoir, Tap Dancing on Everest, about the risks we take to become our truest selves. She's written a play, The Post-Roe Monologues, that has been performed in multiple cities and has co-authored 16 editions of a medical guide, Managing Contraception. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Sun Magazine, Ms. Magazine, The Forward, NBC News THINK, and other publications. She did her OB/GYN training at Columbia University and is an advocate for reproductive rights, having served as Director of Family Planning, Emory University School of Medicine, Chief Medical Officer Planned Parenthood Southeast and as an advisor to the CDC working on contraceptive guidelines. Her newsletter provides medical news along with inspiration from art and nature.

In this episode:

• Mimi's career shift from working in the medical field to writing a memoir [1:11]

• Ignoring "expert" advice and focusing on what works for you [5:55]

• How she used throughlines to address multiple topics [9:34]

• The genesis of her book's title [11:45]

• Writing about her cultural and religious background and family history to honor her ancestors [13:35]

• Cultivating the book's structure [16:40]

• Adding poetry, metaphor and alliteration to enhance the book on the sentence and word level [22:40]

• Finding that inciting incident that starts the book off [24:50]

• Pushing through difficult moments to find the gold [27:00]

• Writing to capture a universal experience for the reader [27:24]

• The benefits of using precise language to build credibility [28:35]

Connect with Mimi

Website: https://www.mimiziemanmd.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mimiziemanmd

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mimiziemanmd

Facebook: https://facebook.com/mimiziemanmd

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mimiziemanmd

Other Episodes Featuring Memoirists

Episode #87 Writing Memoir That Reads Like a Novel and Captivates on Every Page Featuring Joanna Rakoff

https://estelleserasmus.com/87-writing-memoir-that-reads-like-a-novel-and-captivates-on-every-page-featuring-joanna-rakoff/

Episode #83 Writing Your Way into An Engaging and Enthralling Story Featuring Abigail Thomas

https://estelleserasmus.com/83-writing-your-way-into-an-engaging-and-enthralling-story-featuring-abigail-thomas/

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/

Episode #79 Being Vulnerable on the Page and Finding Empathy In Your Heart Featuring Amy Ferris

https://estelleserasmus.com/79-being-vulnerable-on-the-page-and-finding-empathy-in-your-heart/

Episode #44 Telling Your Stories without Shame or Apology

https://estelleserasmus.com/44-telling-your-stories-without-shame-or-apology/

Episode #40 My Father's List

https://estelleserasmus.com/40-my-fathers-list-and-laura-carney/

Episode #39 The Literary Gifts of the Leaving Season

https://estelleserasmus.com/39-the-literary-gifts-of-the-leaving-season/

Episode #38 Cheryl Strayed on Writing and Tiny Beautiful Things

https://estelleserasmus.com/38-cheryl-strayed-on-writing-and-tiny-beautiful-things/

Episode #35 Flying High with Storyteller Ann Hood

https://estelleserasmus.com/35-flying-high-with-storyteller-ann-hood/

Episode #33 My What If Year

https://estelleserasmus.com/33-my-what-if-year-with-author-alisha-fernandez-miranda/

Connect with Estelle:

​​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 Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

See Estelle's latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/

Get Her Book

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch and essay reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Estelle's Latest 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/