Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle

In this episode:

• Writer's Digest's publication schedule [3:52]

• The niches that print and online cover [2:12]

• Writing and craft tips Amy has gleaned from novelists [8:40]

• The secret to a writer's persistence, when being faced with rejection [20:49]

• Amy's dream 2024 articles and pitches based on the Writer's Digest editorial calendar [23:52]

• Where to send submissions [26:27]

• Paid subscribers to Estelle's substack get to see even more from Amy Jones (https://estelleserasmus.substack.com)

Amy Jones is Editor-in-Chief of Writer's Digest and the former managing content director for Writer's Digest Books. She is the editor of the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market and the Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. Prior to joining the WD team, she was the managing editor for North Light Books and IMPACT Books. She also spent time producing instructional videos for ArtistsNetworkTV. Like most WD staffers, Amy is a voracious reader and has a particular interest in literary fiction, historical fiction, page-turning mysteries, and steamy romance. She volunteers for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and at Ohio Alleycat Resource, her local no-kill cat shelter.

Connect with Amy Jones:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyMJones_5

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/AmyMJones_5

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her free pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes-Writing That Gets Noticed is now a course for the Journalism Certificate) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Estelle's latest piece for Writer's Digest

What To Do to Maximize Your Launch Week and Get Your Book Noticed

https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-to-maximize-your-launch-week-and-get-your-book-noticed

In this episode:

• What Mom Rage is and why this topic is relevant [2:06]

• Why Minna decided to write about this parenting topic [2:54]

• Writing about a controversial topic and feminist values [22:32]

• Tips for pitching and creating scenes that resonate with readers [20:12]

• To see additional clips, please visit https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

Minna Dubin (she/her) is the author of MOM RAGE: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood. Her writing has been featured in the New York Times, Oprah Daily, The Times Sunday Magazine, Salon, Lit Hub, Parents, Romper, and elsewhere. She is the recipient of an artist enrichment grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women. As a leading feminist voice on mom rage, Minnahas appeared on MSNBC, Good Morning America, The Tamron Hall Show, the BBC and NPR. She lives in Berkeley, CA with her husband, two kids, and no pets because enough is enough.

Connect with Minna:

Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood: https://www.minnadubin.com/book

Website: https://www.minnadubin.com

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

X: https://twitter.com/minnadubin

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her free pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes-Writing That Gets Noticed is now a course for the Journalism Certificate) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Estelle's piece on postpartum rage for Parents.com

What Postpartum Rage Looked Like for One New Mom https://www.parents.com/baby/health/postpartum-depression/i-was-uncontrollably-angry-after-giving-birth/

Estelle's interview on CapeTalk for her article on postpartum rage.

https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/487132/postpartum-rage-a-symptom-of-postpartum-depression-why-don-t-we-talk-about-it

In this episode:

• How to locate and verify images to use with your writing [4:05]

• What exactly is a photo license? [5:00]

• Free sources for writers to find pictures [10:10]

• Keywords to help find the best photos for your creative writing pieces [11:12]

• Specs to consider, such as color, composition and file size [15:11]

• How colors can impact the way people feel about your writing [15:11]

• How Nicole got into this niche industry [18:09]

Nicole DiMella is a lifelong art student, working as a photographer, with photographers, and with photography her entire career. She believes pictures have the power to teach and is doing her small part to grow brains of all ages every day.

With publishers such as Encyclopedia Britannica, National Geographic and Dorling Kindersley she consults on image research, copyright and permissions, and photo editing. She also works one-on-one with authors and other content creators to find and clear images for their projects. Nicole was going to be a rock photographer but instead lives in New Jersey and drives a minivan.

Connect with Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ndimella/

Website: lemon-snap.com/

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her free pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Estelle's Interview in Freedom with Writing: https://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/uncategorized/interview-with-editor-author-estelle-erasmus/

Her Interviews for Inc. Magazine

17 Small Changes That Will Make Your Writing Irresistible, According to An NYU Writing Professor: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/17-small-changes-that-will-make-your-writing-irresistible-according-to-an-nyu-writing-professor.html

How Smart People Use the Empathy Rule to Make Sure Their Emails Get Read: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/heres-how-smart-people-use-empathy-rule-to-make-sure-their-emails-get-read.html

In this episode:

• Teri's process for writing about herself in her book

• How a small every day moment can be universal through writing

• How Teri structured her book to encompass different topics

• The practice of elevating your readers with your writing

• Writing with humor.

• Why the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop registration is an appointment event

Teri Rizvi is the founder and director of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop at the University of Dayton, where she serves as executive director of strategic communications.

She is the author of One Heart with Courage: Essays and Stories and the co-editor of Laugh Out Loud: 40 Women Humorists Celebrate Then and Now ... Before We Forget and Sisters!, Bonded by Love and Laughter, both published in conjunction with the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. Her essay "Living in the Moment" appeared in Fast Fierce Women (Woodhall Press, 2022).

Her essays and feature stories have appeared in USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, The Guardian (London), University of Dayton Magazine and the Dayton Daily News, among other print and online media.

Connect with Teri

Website: https://teririzvi.com

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop: https://go.udayton.edu/erma

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her free pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Estelle's interview with Zibby Owens on Freelance Writing Direct

https://estelleserasmus.com/36-zibby-owens-is-upending-the-publishing-world/

Estelle's Interview in Freedom with Writing: https://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/uncategorized/interview-with-editor-author-estelle-erasmus/

Her Interviews for Inc. Magazine

17 Small Changes That Will Make Your Writing Irresistible, According to An NYU Writing Professor: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/17-small-changes-that-will-make-your-writing-irresistible-according-to-an-nyu-writing-professor.html

How Smart People Use the Empathy Rule to Make Sure Their Emails Get Read: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/heres-how-smart-people-use-empathy-rule-to-make-sure-their-emails-get-read.html

In this episode:

• How Audrey came up with the idea of her book Girls and Their Monsters: The Genain Quadruplets and the Making of Madness in America [5:23]

• Audrey's process of writing about real life people from history [9:32]

• Advice for simplifying complex topics so the readers can understand it easier [11:42]

• Integrating research into writing [13:43]

• Tips for identifying the untold parts of stories and finding the lessons in them [23:21]

• Integrating societal issues in your writing [25:44]

Audrey Clare Farley is a writer, editor, and scholar of twentieth-century American culture with special interests in science and religion. She earned a PhD in English literature at University of Maryland, College Park. She now teaches U.S. history at Mount St. Mary's University. She is the author, most recently, of Girls and Their Monsters: The Genain Quadruplets and the Making of Madness in America, which was reviewed in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Review of Books, Associated Press, and Times Literary Supplement. Her own essays have appeared in the Atlantic, New Republic, Washington Post, and many other outlets. She lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

Connect with Audrey:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AudreyCFarley

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

Book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/audrey-clare-farley/girls-and-their-monsters/9781538724477/?lens=grand-central-publishing

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her free pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Estelle's Interview in Freedom with Writing: https://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/uncategorized/interview-with-editor-author-estelle-erasmus/

Her Interviews for Inc. Magazine

17 Small Changes That Will Make Your Writing Irresistible, According to An NYU Writing ProfessorL https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/17-small-changes-that-will-make-your-writing-irresistible-according-to-an-nyu-writing-professor.html

How Smart People Use the Empathy Rule to Make Sure Their Emails Get Read: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/heres-how-smart-people-use-empathy-rule-to-make-sure-their-emails-get-read.html

In this episode:

• The inspiration behind and evolution of Emily's book, Cost of Living [2:27]

• Emily's research process to get specific details for her essays [5:43]

• Writing about a broken system, and getting feedback from people with opposing views [10:05]

• How she details her personal medical experiences [13:17]

• The benefit of finding a supportive writing group [22:08]

• Her next book [25:15]

Emily Maloney is the author of COST OF LIVING (Holt), a USA Today Best Book of 2022. Her work has also appeared in Glamour, Virginia Quarterly Review, Best American Essays, and the American Journal of Nursing, among others. In addition to her work as an EMT and ER tech, she has worked as a dog groomer, pastry chef, general contractor, tile setter, and catalog model and has sold her ceramics at art fairs. Maloney has twice been awarded a MacDowell Fellowship. She lives in Evanston, Illinois. Her next book, BURN THIS HOUSE DOWN, is forthcoming in 2025.

Connect with Emily:

Website: https://www.emilymaloney.net

Substack: https://substack.com/@emilymaloney

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her free pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Estelle's Interviews for Inc. Magazine

17 Small Changes That Will Make Your Writing Irresistible, According to An NYU Writing Professor

https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/17-small-changes-that-will-make-your-writing-irresistible-according-to-an-nyu-writing-professor.html

How Smart People Use the Empathy Rule to Make Sure Their Emails Get Read: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/heres-how-smart-people-use-empathy-rule-to-make-sure-their-emails-get-read.html

In this episode:

• Laura's expertise writing about food [2:43]

• Writing and interviewing in short sound bites [17:14]

• Working with editors [5:33]

• Tips for writing reader-friendly, inspirational stories [4:24]

• How to become the go-to expert in your industry or niche [11:46]

• Trendspotting to excel at writing and publishing [23:45]

Laura Burak is a nationally recognized registered dietitian of over 20 years, a media spokesperson, published author, and freelance writer and recipe developer. Laura founded GetNaked® Nutrition with a mission to teach you how to ditch serial dieting and strip down to the simplicity of food and nutrition while also finding joy and pleasure from it, including lots of fun snacks and food finds.

Although the majority of her time has been spent working in hospital and private practice settings, Laura has been an adjunct professor at NYU, frequently contributes to media outlets and is the founder of the online community and course GetNaked Prep School. Her most recent publication is a health and recipe book entitled Slim Down with Smoothies. Laura sits on the medical expert board for Eat This, Not That and is an ambassador for The Nutritious Life Studio. Most significantly, Laura is a mom to two kids who love to challenge her encouragement of green foods and lives in the Long Island suburbs outside the city.

Laura keeps it realer than real when it comes to the craziness of your busy life and strives to create a positive, comfortable environment to discuss what can sometimes feel like daunting and sensitive topics.

Connect with Laura:

Instagram page: www.instagram.com/getnakednutrition

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lauraburaknutrition

Website: https://www.lauraburaknutrition.com

Get Naked Snack Bar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getnakedsnackbar

Get Laura's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Slim-Down-Smoothies-21-Day-Weight/dp/1646117077

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available wherever books are sold at https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Estelle's article on Maximizing Book Launch for Writer's Digest https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-to-maximize-your-launch-week-and-get-your-book-noticed

Estelle's interview with Sheryl Ziegler on Freelance Writing Direct: Getting the Sound Bite: A Media Expert Speaks about Interviews

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freelance-writing-direct/id1647429472?i=1000608731314

In this episode:

• What the non-profit organization Pen Parentis offers parents who are writers [3:34]
• Milda's best tips for staying productive and finding accountability [7:35]
• Actionable tips for finding a writing routine that works best for you [12:14]
• Being a creative person in a relationship and creating priorities [15:20]
• Writing tips for creatives [28:00]

M. M. De Voe is an internationally published creator of short fiction and poetry and holds numerous writing awards in a broad range of genres including poetry, literary fiction, horror/fantasy, and creative nonfiction. De Voe also runs Pen Parentis, a literary nonprofit she founded in 2013 to help writers stay on creative track while raising children. She is the author of Book & Baby, a fun-to-read guide showing parents how to find the time, money and energy to devote to creative writing. The book is organized from infancy to grown-and-flown and includes personal anecdotes from various established authors. In 2021, it won first prize at the NextGen Indie Book Awards. Her debut story collection A FLASH OF DARKNESS just launched in 2023 and is available here. Reviewers have called her "a femme-Kafka." Connect with Milda: Website: mmdevoe.com website also has links to BOOK & BABY for purchase. Substack: mmdevoe.substack.com Medium: mmdevoe.medium.com X: Twitter.com/mmdevoe Facebook: Facebook.com/mmdevoe

How to find Pen Parentis: Website: penparentis.org X: twitter.com/penparentis Instagram: instagram.com/penparentis Facebook: facebook.com/penparentis

Photographer credit for Milda's headshot: Luba Grossman.

Connect with Estelle: Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her pitching guide). Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available wherever books are sold at https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets- noticed/ Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional- pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

In this episode:

• Kathleen's experience writing about publishing and public relations for her substack Publishing Confidential and why those newsletter issues have gone viral. [3:08]

• Why is the publishing industry broken? [3:45]

• Kathleen's view on book tours, and why they might not be the best options for selling books. [15:26]

• How to create a strategy for your book launch. [17:11]

• The 411 on signing books at bookstores. [13:16]

• Best practices for leveraging substack. [17:21]

As the Founder and CEO of Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations, she is a well-respected voice in book publishing with in-depth experience in all aspects of the industry, including as a publicist, literary agent, acquisitions editor, and ghostwriter. Her career encompasses 30 years of creating and directing impactful and strategic global media, marketing, and branding campaigns for politicians, A-List celebrities, athletes, and high-profile personalities. To date, she has worked on 50 New York Times bestsellers, and her clients have continuously appeared in top-tier national print, broadcast, and radio outlets such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, Vogue, Elle, Financial Times, Vanity Fair, GQ, and Sirius XM.

Her fast-growing Substack newsletter, Publishing Confidential, shares her wealth of inside knowledge that she hopes will help demystify the book industry. Married with two children, she resides in New Jersey.

Connect with Kathleen Schmidt:

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

Substack: https://substack.com/@kathleenschmidt

Website: https://kmspr.com

To watch the extended version of this interview, with Kathleen's recommendations on what to read, watch, buy and more to gain insight and information, become a paid subscriber to Estelle's substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available wherever books are sold at https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Estelle's article on Maximizing Book Launch for Writer's Digest https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-to-maximize-your-launch-week-and-get-your-book-noticed

In this episode:

• How Kevin came up with the idea of writing Junior Miles and the Junkman [3:13]

• The transition of writing poetry to writing middle grade fiction [6:24]

• Writing compelling characters and taking them on a conflict-filled, dramatic journey [9:58]

• Tips for telling short stories in the literary journal Molecule in 50 words or less [13:27]

• Stealing fact from fiction [29:07]

• Revising and tightening up your writing [31:01]

Kevin Carey is Coordinator of Creative Writing at Salem State University. Books include: The Beach People (2014), The One Fifteen to Penn Station (2012), Jesus Was a Homeboy (2016) which was an Honor book for the Paterson Literary Prize, & Set in Stone (2020). His poems have appeared on The Writers Almanac on National Public Radio three times and on The Academy of American Poets Poem a Day. Kevin is also a playwright and a filmmaker. He has co-directed & co-produced two documentaries about poets, All That Lies Between Us and Unburying Malcolm Miller. A crime novel, Murder in the Marsh, from Darkstroke Books, was released in October (2020). A new middle grade novel Junior Miles and the Junkman will be out in September of 2023 from Fitzroy Books / Regal House Publishing and a co-written poetry collection Olympus Heights (Lily Poetry Review) will hit in October of 2023. Kevincareywriter.com

Connect with Kevin:

Email: [email protected]

Website: kevincareywriter.com

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/kcarey127

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

Connect with Estelle:

Her website: https://estelleserasmus.com (sign up for her newsletter and receive her pitching guide).

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available wherever books are sold at https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/

Adjunct Instructor, NYU (Sign up for her latest classes) https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

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

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@estelleserasmus

Blue Sky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social