Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle

In this episode:

• How Claire's viral article led to her writing her book [2:32]

• Why Claire decided to add a memoiristic approach to this book, rather than just a journalistic approach [8:22]

• The process and structure of Claire's book [12:32]

• Claire's opinion on 'cancel culture' and how she approaches writing about it [18:58]

• Adding a humanizing element to the book through memoir [29:13]

• The importance of writing with scene [34:29]

Claire Dederer is a bestselling memoirist, essayist, and critic. Her books include the national bestseller Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma and the critically acclaimed memoir Love and Trouble: A Midlife Reckoning, as well as Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses. Dederer is a longtime contributor to The New York Times. Her essays, criticism, and reviews have also appeared in The Paris Review, The Atlantic, The Nation, Vogue, and many other publications. She began her career as the chief film critic for Seattle Weekly. She is the recipient of a Hedgebrook residency and a Lannan Foundation residency.

Connect with Claire:

Website: https://www.clairedederer.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claire.dederer/

X: https://twitter.com/ClaireDederer

Read Monsters: https://www.clairedederer.com/monsters

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

In this episode:

• The benefit of starting your story with a hook [3:09]

• Going from interviewing experts to becoming an expert [7:36]

• Her pivot from journalist to author [10:53]

• Writing about family in your book and the challenge of sharing their voices [13:57]

• Navigating covering a fraught topic like money in your book [7:36]

• Bobbi's favorite tips for organizing her writing/writing time [21:19]

Bobbi Rebell, CFP® is the founder of Financial Wellness Strategies and the author of Launching Financial Grownups: Live Your Richest Life by Helping Your (Almost) Adult Kids Become Everyday Money Smart. She is a financial wellness advocate, the host of the Wellness for Financial Grownups podcast and the founder of GrownupGear.com. Bobbi was previously a global business news anchor and personal finance columnist at Reuters and held various journalist positions at top news outlets including CNBC, CNN and PBS.

Connect with Bobbi:

Website: https://www.bobbirebell.com

Business Website: https://financialwellnessstrategies.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbirebell1/

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

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

In this episode:

• How Anna came up with the topic of her book [4:09]

• Using your book cover to promote your book and your business [11:39]

• A site that you can use to grow your authority [10:34]

• Using your team to get the word out [7:39]

• How speaking about your book can become lucrative, and where to start [23:35]

• Anna's best tips for marketing yourself as an expert [23:37]

Anna David is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books and founder of Legacy Launch Pad Publishing. She's been published in the New York Times, Time, LA Times, Vanity Fair, Playboy, Vice, Cosmo, The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed and Salon, among many others, written about in Forbes, Martha Stewart Living, Entrepreneur, Allure and Women's Health and has appeared repeatedly on Today, The Talk, Good Morning America and numerous other programs.

A featured speaker at three different TedX events, Anna hosts a hit publishing podcast that has featured interviews with authors such as Robert Greene and Chris Voss. Her first book, Party Girl, is in development as a film tentatively scheduled to be shot in 2023.

Connect with Anna:

Legacy LaunchPad Pub: https://www.legacylaunchpadpub.com

Book To Business Class: https://www.legacylaunchpadpub.com/book-to-business

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

On Good Author-ity Podcast: https://www.legacylaunchpadpub.com/podcast

Connect with Estelle:

Estelle's 2 month Zoom class for NYU: Writing About Midlife and Beyond Through Memoir, Essays and Articles (limited spots available)

https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/courses/WRIT1-CE9800-writing-about-midlife-and-beyond-through-memoir-essays-and-ar.html

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

CONTENT WARNING: This episode covers a novel that features a character who has gone through childhood sexual assault.

In this episode:

• Finding the courage to tell a personal story [3:04]

• Alle's experience of publishing with a small press [4:19]

• Working with a PR agency [19:58]

• Advice for calling independent bookstores to set up in-person events or other opportunities [8:40]

• How to get the word out about your book with help from your readers [17:40]

• Actionable tips on how to promote your book [18:57]

Nominated for The National Book Award and The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Book Award, Alle C. Hall's debut literary novel, As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back was winning prizes before its publication, including the National League of American Pen Women's Mary Kennedy Eastham Prize. Her short stories and essays appear in journals including Dale Peck's Evergreen Review, Tupelo Quarterly, New World Writing, Litro, Creative Nonfiction, and Another Chicago. Alle lived in Asia, traveled there extensively, speaks what she calls "clunky" Japanese, and has a tai chi practice of 35 years running.

Connect with Alle:

Website: https://allehall.wordpress.com

Substack: https://allechall.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allec.hall/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alle.hall

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/allechall1

Alle's interview on Literary Mama: https://literarymama.com/articles/departments/2023/07/expect-the-miracle-a-conversation-with-alle-c-hall

Connect with Estelle:

Estelle's 2 month Zoom class for NYU: Writing About Midlife and Beyond Through Memoir, Essays and Articles

https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/courses/WRIT1-CE9800-writing-about-midlife-and-beyond-through-memoir-essays-and-ar.html (Sign up now)

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

In this episode:

• How and why Brendan and Noah, his co-founder, created Narratively [3:04]

• Writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories [5:38]

• Tips for writing with narrative scenes [8:42]

• Advice for writing historical pieces that do not read like a wikipedia article [16:55]

• Brendan's best tips for writers and editors who want to work with Narratively [19:02]

• Advice for self editing [30:46]

Brendan Spiegel is the co-founder and Editorial Director at Narratively. A New York City native, Brendan got his start in journalism as a political reporter and editor at Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C. His articles on food, travel, politics, news and humans have appeared frequently in The New York Times, as well as The Washington Post, Wired, New York magazine, Travel + Leisure and many other publications.

Connect with Brendan:

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

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BrennanSpiegel

Narratively: https://www.narratively.com

Narratively's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Narratively

Narratively's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Narratively

Narratively's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Narratively/

Narratively's most popular stories:

The Deep South's Dames of Dildos: https://www.narratively.com/p/the-deep-souths-dames-of-dildos

My High-Flying Life as a Corporate Spy Who Lied His Way to the Top: https://www.narratively.com/p/my-high-flying-life-as-a-corporate-spy-who-lied-his-way-to-the-top

The Man with the Golden Airline Ticket

https://www.narratively.com/p/the-man-with-the-golden-airline-ticket

Estelle's articles she edited mentioned in the episode

Confessions of a Fainting Man

https://www.narratively.com/p/confessions-of-a-fainting-man

I Quit My Job At 50 To Reinvent Myself: Pro Tip: Don't Do This

https://www.narratively.com/p/i-quit-my-job-at-50-to-reinvent-myself-pro-tip-dont-do-this

Connect with Estelle:

Estelle's 2 month Zoom class for NYU: Writing About Midlife and Beyond Through Memoir, Essays and Articles

https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/courses/WRIT1-CE9800-writing-about-midlife-and-beyond-through-memoir-essays-and-ar.html (Sign up now)

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

In this episode:

• Switching genres from memoir to fiction writing [2:54]

• The freedom of writing fiction [7:07]

• What to leave out in your story and why? [10:22]

• The power of deadlines [11:49]

• Coming to writing later in life [13:33]

• Using literary devices, such as objective correlative to enhance your story [18:18]

William Dameron is an award winning blogger, memoirist, essayist and the author of "The LIE, A Memoir of Two Marriages, Catfishing & Coming Out." His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Salon, The Huffington post, and in the book, Fashionably Late: Gay, Bi and Trans Men Who Came Out Later in Life. He is an IT Director for a global economic consulting firm, where he educates users on the perils of social engineering in cybersecurity. William, his husband, and blended family of five children split their time between Boston and the coast of southern Maine.

Connect with Bill:

Website: https://www.williamdameron.com

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

The Way Life Should Be: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Life-Should-Be-Novel/dp/1662511590

The Lie: A Memoir of Two Marriages, Catfishing & Coming Out

https://www.amazon.com/Lie-Memoir-Marriages-Catfishing-Coming/dp/1542044731/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PE6QI2KYYUTG&keywords=the+lie+by+william+dameron&qid=1692144535&sprefix=The+Lie+by+Will%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-1

Estelle's podcast with Ann Hood: Flying High with Storyteller Ann Hood

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freelance-writing-direct/id1647429472?i=1000614421113

Connect with Estelle:

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

My next course: Writing About Midlife and Beyond Through Memoir, Essays and Articles

https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/courses/WRIT1-CE9800-writing-about-midlife-and-beyond-through-memoir-essays-and-ar.html (Sign up now)

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

In this episode:

• Writing about parenting and personal life experiences [4:14]

• The power of relatability [8:48]

• Writing profile pieces for Literary Mama [13:40]

• ASJA and the impact of conferences [15:45]

• Actionable editing tips [16:54]

Holly is an award-winning writer and an editor at Literary Mama, a board member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), and a mom to three kids and a dog. As a freelance writer, her passion lies in parenting and interfaith family relationships, although she also writes about a broad range of other topics.

Her essays and articles appear in Parents, The New York Daily News, The Independent, Newsday, Literary Mama, Kveller, Huffington Post, Your Teen Magazine, Psycom, and more. She speaks at events and conferences. She is working on a book about her interfaith family.

Connect with Holly:

Website: www.hollyrizzutopalker.com

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

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

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/hollyrizzutopal

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyrizzutopalker/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hollyrizzutopal

Holly's article for the NY Daily News: My Six Year Old Has Calmed Me During Quarantine

Holly's Profile of Estelle Erasmus on Literary Mama: It's Not Selfish, It's Self-Full: A Conversation with Estelle Erasmus

Connect with Estelle:

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

In this episode:

• The ongoing theme of motherhood in her writing [2:20]

• What effect podcasting has had on Andrea's storytelling [4:04]

• Writing strong woman protagonists [5:51]

• Advice for writing through the lens of different characters and incorporating multiple POVs in your story [10:51]

• How to keep from repeating a story in a tight timeline [13:10]

• Tips on making sure not to bore the reader [14:27]

• Andrea's writing practice [15:27]

Andrea Dunlop is the author of five books including WE CAME HERE TO FORGET (Atria/ Simon & Schuster; 2019), and a true crime account forthcoming from St. Martin's in 2024. She is the host and creator of Nobody Should Believe Me, a true crime podcast from Larj Media (October 2022) that explores Munchausen by Proxy from the intimate lens of a family member.

In addition to her work as an author and podcaster, she is a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children's Munchausen by Proxy Committee and is the co-creator of Munchausen Support, an online resource and 501 c 3 that supports survivors, families, and professionals dealing with MBP. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children.

Connect with Andrea:

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

Website: https://www.andreadunlop.net

Women Are The Fiercest Creatures: A Novel: https://www.amazon.com/Women-Are-Fiercest-Creatures-Novel/dp/1958506001

Nobody Should Believe Me Podcast: https://www.nobodyshouldbelieveme.com

Connect with Estelle:

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 https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

(Sign up for her latest classes)

Her newsletter: https://estelleserasmus.com

Her substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

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

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

In this episode:

• Allison's personal story and her inspiration for her book [2:35]

• How Allison took her real life struggles and wrote about it unapologetically [4:06]

• Allison's advice for writing about a protagonist, antagonist and hero [12:17]

• Advice on writing about someone to protect their privacy [18:30

• Allison's writing tips [23:18]

• How and where to submit your book for writing awards [26:05]

Allison Hong Merrill is a loveaholic, a Taiwanese immigrant, and the author of Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops, A Memoir. Her work appears in the New York Times. She is an editor at Dialogue Journal and a keynote speaker, instructor, and panelist at various writer's conferences nationwide and in Asia. She also appears on TV, radio, and podcasts; in magazines, newspapers, and journals. She's available for interviews, teaching, and speaking engagements nationwide.

Poets and Writers: https://www.pw.org

Winning Writers: https://winningwriters.com

Book Award Pro: https://bookawardpro.com

Connect with Allison:

Website + Sign up for her monthly email: www.AllisonHongMerrill.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/allisonhongmerrill

Instagram:www.instagram.com/allison.hong.merrill

Get Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops: A Memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Ninety-Nine-Fire-Hoops-Allison-Merrill/dp/1647421896?asin=1647421896&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1

Connect with Estelle:

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 https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

(Sign up for her latest classes)

Her newsletter: https://estelleserasmus.com

Her substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

In this episode:

• Mistakes that Dr. Borba made when getting into writing and publishing, and what she learned so you don't have to [3:31]

• The best process for writing a book proposal [4:06]

• Dr. Borba's writing process for 24 books [6:30]

• How to write tight, while keeping your voice [11:39, 14:54]

• Discovering your own writing style [13:36]

• Ways to make your writing sing [14:05]

• Advice on using and finding credible research for your writing. [23:08]

Dr. Michele Borba is an internationally renowned educator, award-winning author and parenting and child expert recognized for her solution-based strategies to strengthen children's resilience, social-emotional intelligence and character and reduce peer cruelty.

She is the award-winning author of 25 books translated into 21 languages, including her new book, Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine as well as Nobody Likes Me, No More Misbehavin', Don't Give Me That Attitude!, Building Moral Intelligence, Parents Do Make a Difference, The Big Book of Parenting Solutions, End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy, and UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World.

Dr. Borba is an NBC contributor who has appeared 150 times on the TODAY show and countless other shows, including three Dateline specials, Dr. Phil, The View, NBC Nightly News, The Doctors, Dr. Oz, Anderson Cooper, three NBC Education Nation specials, Fox and CNN. Her work is featured in TIME, The Washington Post, Newsweek, People, The Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, The New York Times, Reader's Digest and The Globe and Mail. She's a media spokesperson for major corporations, including 3M, Office Depot, Fisher-Price, Unilever, Mattel, General Mills, Mastercard, All, Galderma, V-Tech, Cetaphil, Splenda, Hershey, KidStrong, Walmart, and Johnson & Johnson. She also served as a consultant to McDonald's, Disney, Apple TV's series, 'Get Rolling with Otis' and Learning Curve's "Caring Corner Mrs. Goodbee Dollhouse."

She lives in Palm Springs with her husband and has three grown sons.

Connect with Dr. Michele Borba:

Website: MicheleBorba.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/micheleborba

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

Connect with Estelle:

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 https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

Her newsletter: https://estelleserasmus.com

Her substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus