Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle

If you've ever felt creatively stuck or invisible after becoming a mom, this conversation will speak to you. Nearly 15 years ago, a single storytelling show about motherhood sparked a nationwide movement—and it's still going strong.

Here, we explore how Listen to Your Mother grew from one stage to 70, how the blogging boom birthed a wave of creative expression, and how vulnerability can turn into community power. We also dive into what happens after the kids grow up—when ambition, burnout, and joy collide in midlife.

Ann Imig is an award-winning founder and speaker with numerous national media and stage appearances. An MSW and certified coach (PQCC), Ann helps burned-out moms regain their mojo, crush their goals, and fuel their joy at home and work. In 2010 she created the storytelling series (and then book) titled LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER. Almost 15 years later, LTYM continues Giving Motherhood A Microphone on stages across North America (70 cities and counting).

In this episode:

• The surprising origin of Listen to Your Mother and how it grew to 70 cities [3:41]

• Why storytelling (and vulnerability) creates powerful community [7:05]

• How the blogging era fueled a generation of creative women [10:07]

• Moving from burnout to brain science: Ann's shift to coaching midlife women [19:11]

• Ambition, motherhood, and redefining success in midlife [23:38]

• The impact of positive intelligence and rewiring your brain for joy [31:46]

Connect with Ann

Schedule a free breakthrough session with Ann at listenlifecoaching.com.

Episodes on Freelance Writing Direct Mentioned

Wendi Aarons

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freelance-writing-direct-with-estelle-conversations/id1647429472?i=1000591556294

Nina Badzin

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freelance-writing-direct-with-estelle-conversations/id1647429472?i=1000698989926

Amy Wilson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCCmKnX0BRM

Listen to Your Mother YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/ltymshow

Estelle's Listen to Your Mother Reading of "And She Danced" on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmV4abTKy8Q

Buy Ann's book Listen To Your Mother on Estelle's Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/p/books/listen-to-your-mother-what-she-said-then-what-we-re-saying-now-ann-imig/11302088?aid=98827&ean=9780399169854&listref=authors-who-have-appeared-on-freelance-writing-direct

If you haven't yet—watch my TEDx Talk:

How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

In this bold, funny, and widely shared talk, I blend personal storytelling with the real-world writing strategies I've developed as a longtime magazine editor, NYU professor, and writing coach. It all starts with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine—and builds into a powerful message about how to stand out in a crowded, noisy world, no matter the medium.

📺 Watch, comment, and share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ

About Estelle: Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest and adjunct instructor at NYU, she's written for over 150 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine, and has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

✨ Explore More: 📚 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the Book | Listen to the Audiobook📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras. Latest post How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips

Follow Estelle: 📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky

AI is disrupting the writing industry—fast. But what does that mean for you as a freelance writer, content creator, or journalist?

In this Summer Shorts with Estelle solo episode, I share my editorial perspective on the recent Chicago Sun-Times controversy involving an AI-generated listicle that included fake book titles attributed to real authors.

You'll learn:

• Why listicles and content marketing assignments are disappearing [3:38]

• What types of editorial content are most vulnerable to AI outsourcing [6:09]

• How ghostwriting and white papers are emerging as higher-paying, human-centered alternatives [9:30]

• Why editorial integrity and fact-checking are more essential than ever in the AI era [11:13]

• How to tell the difference between short-term panic and long-term opportunity [11:51]

Want context on where the industry is heading? Don't miss my 2025 Forecast episode:

How to Steer Through the Publishing Gauntlet https://estelleserasmus.com/119-solo-episode-estelles-edge-on-steering-through-the-publishing-gauntlet/

And if you haven't yet—watch my TEDx Talk:

How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

In this bold, funny, and widely shared talk, I blend personal storytelling with the real-world writing strategies I've developed as a longtime magazine editor, NYU professor, and writing coach. It all starts with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine—and builds into a powerful message about how to stand out in a crowded, noisy world, no matter the medium.

📺 Watch, comment, and share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ

About Estelle: Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest and adjunct instructor at NYU, she's written for over 150 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine, and has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

✨ Explore More: 📚 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the Book | Listen to the Audiobook📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras. Latest posts Stop Counting Words. Start Shaping Your Story (and a bonus for paid subscribers) and How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips

Follow Estelle: 📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky

What does it mean to grow up in a world that doesn't fully reflect your identity? In this episode, covering memoir, race, religion, the stories we're told, and the ones we learn to write ourselves, Estelle Erasmus sits down with writer and memoirist Shannon Luders-Manuel, author of The One Who Loves You: A Memoir of Growing Up Biracial in a Black and White World. Shannon shares the deeply personal journey behind her memoir, which explores her childhood growing up mixed-race in a predominantly white family, her complex relationship with her Black father, and how those dynamics shaped her identity, relationships, and voice as a writer.

In this episode:

• The story behind the book's title and structure [3:31]

• How Shannon used personal artifacts, like journals and letters, to write memoir [6:08]

• The challenges and emotional truths of writing about family [7:15]

• Writing scenes, trusting memory, and tips for memoirists [15:02]

• How religion, race, and belonging intersected in Shannon's upbringing [18:37]

• Her experience as a sensitivity reader and why nuance matters [19:46]

Shannon Luders-Manuel is the author of The One Who Loves You: A Memoir of Gorwing Up Biracial in a Black and White World (Lawrence Hill Books, 2025). Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, JSTOR Daily, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among others. She holds an M.A. in English literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and performs sensitivity reads for major publishers, providing feedback on Black and mixed-race characters and issues.

Connect with Shannon:

Website

https://www.shannonludersmanuel.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/shannon.ludersmanuel

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/shannon_luders_manuel

Threads

https://www.threads.com/@shannon_luders_manuel

Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

In her widely shared TEDx Talk, Estelle Erasmus reveals how to command attention in a noisy world—starting with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine. It's bold, funny, and packed with real-world strategies for writers who want to be seen and heard. 🎥 Watch, comment, and share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ

About Estelle: Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest and adjunct instructor at NYU, she's written for over 150 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine, and has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

✨ Explore More: 📚 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the Book | Listen to the Audiobook📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras 🎓 Sign Up for Estelle's NYU Classes🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips

Follow Estelle: 📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky

Submitting your work doesn't have to feel like a mystery. In this episode, Estelle Erasmus is joined by Dennis James Sweeney, author of How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses (New World Library). Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, this conversation offers a grounded and empowering look at how to navigate the literary submission process.

In this episode:

• How to find the right literary magazines and small presses for your work [5:56]

• How platforms like Substack are changing the publishing landscape [7:21]

• The differences between consumer/mainstream and literary publishing [11:15]

• The role of vulnerability, validation, and a curated community [16:16]

• Why positive rejections are invitations, not failures [25:38]

• How to build a submission strategy that makes sense [27:40]

• What makes a cover letter stand out (without overthinking it) [28:22]

• The importance of aligning submissions with the write intention [30:06]

• Creating a joyful writing space [32:55]

Dennis James Sweeney is the author of How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses, a guide for writers. His first book, In the Antarctic Circle, won the Autumn House Rising Writer Prize and was a Debut Poetry Book of 2021 in Poets & Writers. You're the Woods Too, his second book, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller and a finalist for the Deborah Tall Lyric Essay Prize. Most recently, The Rolodex Happenings won the Stillhouse Press Novella Prize. Sweeney's fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have appeared in Ecotone, Ninth Letter, The New York Times, The Southern Review, and Witness, among others.

He has an MFA from Oregon State University and a PhD from the University of Denver. Originally from Cincinnati, he lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he teaches at Amherst College.

Connect with Dennis

Website: https://www.dennisjamessweeney.com

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

Substack https://dennisjamessweeney.substack.com/

Get How to Submit on Estelle's Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-submit-publishing-your-writing-with-small-presses-and-literary-magazines/21264529?aid=98827&ean=9781608689361&listref=authors-who-have-appeared-on-freelance-writing-direct

Podcast Episodes Mentioned

Casey Mulligan Walsh, Episode #137 https://estelleserasmus.com/137-writing-through-rupture-finding-belonging-after-loss-with-casey-mulligan-walsh/

Rachel Kramer Bussel, Episode #128

https://estelleserasmus.com/128-crafting-cathartic-personal-essays-with-rachel-kramer-bussel-of-open-secrets-magazine/

Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

In her widely shared TEDx Talk, Estelle Erasmus reveals how to command attention in a noisy world—starting with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine. It's bold, funny, and packed with real-world strategies for writers who want to be seen and heard. 🎥 Watch, comment, and share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ

About Estelle: Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest and adjunct instructor at NYU, she's written for over 150 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine, and has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

✨ Explore More: 📚 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the Book | Listen to the Audiobook📬 Subscribe on Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras 🎓 Sign Up for Estelle's NYU Classes🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips

Follow Estelle: 📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky

What gives memoir its momentum—and its magic and what if the structure you're resisting is exactly what your writing needs?

Before we dive in…✨New TEDx Talk! I share a deeply personal story—and the actionable lessons I teach at NYU and in Writing That Gets Noticed—in my TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Please watch to the end (that's what counts!), and if it resonates, I'd be so grateful for a comment on the TEDx YouTube page. 🎥 Watch, comment, and share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ

Back to my illustrious guest...In this episode, I talk with celebrated writer, author, and teacher Dinty W. Moore about why the peculiar often makes the most powerful material. We explore how to shape scenes that move, lean into voice and vulnerability, and write with the kind of tension that keeps readers turning pages. Plus, Dinty shares craft insights, revision tips, and the surprising ingredient every great memoir needs.

As the founding editor of Brevity, the journal that helped define flash nonfiction, Dinty shares his honest take on voice, structure, and how to write toward truth—even when memory is imperfect.

Dinty W. Moore is author of the memoirs Between Panic & Desire and To Hell With It, and the writing guides Crafting the Personal Essay and The Mindful Writer, among other books. He has published essays and stories in Harper's, The New York Times Magazine, Georgia Review, Kenyon Review, Short Reads, and elsewhere. He is founding editor of Brevity, the journal of flash nonfiction.

In this episode:

• How Brevity began and why it still matters [2:37]

• Dinty's philosophy on truth, memory, and writing nonfiction [7:53]

• The mistake many memoirists make with voice—and how to fix it [10:56]

• Why structure often emerges after the writing [12:31]

• How to excavate childhood memories with sensory detail [18:30]

• The connection between humor and grief in storytelling [24:50]

• What he's learned from years of revising, publishing, and teaching[26:31]

Connect with Dinty

Website: https://dintywmoore.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/dintymoore

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

Connect with Brevity

X: https://twitter.com/brevitymag

Mentioned in This Episode

Cheryl Strayed's episode #38

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

Maggie Smith's episode #81

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

About Estelle: Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest and adjunct instructor at NYU, she's written for over 150 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine, and has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

✨ Explore More: 📚 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the Book | Listen to the Audiobook📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras 🎓 Sign Up for Estelle's NYU Classes🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips

Follow Estelle: 📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky

What does it mean to truly belong — and how do we find our way back to ourselves after unimaginable loss? In this episode,I talk with memoirist Casey Mulligan Walsh about grief, belonging, resilience, and the journey behind her powerful book The Full Catastrophe.

In this episode:

• Casey's path to writing The Full Catastrophe and how the theme of belonging revealed itself [1:57]

• How early losses shaped her search for identity and home [4:42]

• Why grief looks different for everyone — and why there's no "right" way to heal [6:22]

• The moment Casey realized her memoir wasn't just about resilience, but belonging [9:32]

• How a writing book helped her plug in the structure the story of her life [18:29]

• The creative structure behind her memoir and how she used scene to deepen emotional resonance [20:11]

• The role of spirituality, dreams, and unexpected moments of peace in her healing journey [20:58]

• Casey's advice for memoirists about theme, structure, and trusting your story's evolution [33:17]

Casey Mulligan Walsh writes about life at the intersection of grief and joy, embracing uncertainty, and the nature of true belonging. Her memoir, The Full Catastrophe: All I Ever Wanted, Everything I Feared, was released from Motina Books on February 18, 2025. She has written for The New York Times, HuffPost, Next Avenue, Modern Loss, Hippocampus, Barren Magazine, and numerous other literary magazines, and her essay, "Still," published in Split Lip, was nominated for Best of the Net. She is a founding editor of In a Flash literary magazine. She also serves as an ambassador for and on the Board of the Family Heart Foundation, which raises awareness of the genetic lipid disorders that have affected her family across generations. Casey lives in upstate New York with her husband Kevin and too many books to count. When not traveling, they enjoy visits from their four children and ten grandchildren—the very definition of "the full catastrophe."

Connect with Casey

Website: https://caseymulliganwalsh.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casey.m.walsh.1

Facebook author: https://www.facebook.com/caseymulliganwalshwriter

Instagram: https://instagram.com/CaseyMulliganWalsh

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

BlueSky: @caseymulliganwalsh.bsky.social

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-mulligan-walsh-522ba231/

Casey's Piece Still (originally from Split Lip Magazine): https://www.short-reads.org/still/

In A Flash Substack: https://inaflashlitmag.substack.com/

Submission Info for In A Flash: https://inaflashlitmag.substack.com/p/submission-guidelines?r=3uom7p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Find The Full Catastrophe on Estelle's Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-full-catastrophe-all-i-ever-wanted-everything-i-feared-casey-mulligan-walsh/21932235?aid=98827&ean=9798887840413&listref=authors-who-have-appeared-on-freelance-writing-direct

Estelle Erasmus: an award-winning journalist, is the author of WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers Magazine), a Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest, and host of the podcast Freelance Writing Direct. She is an adjunct instructor for NYU's School of Professional Studies/Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, has written for over 150 publications, including The New York Times, Next Avenue/PBS, WIRED, The Independent,The Washington Post, and AARP: The Magazine, and was the editor-in-chief of five national publications. Find out more at estelleserasmus.com

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

Read Estelle's latest post on Substack (and an offer for paid subscribers): How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-get-published-in-cosmopolitan

Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email [email protected] and state three of the issues you are dealing with that you would like Estelle's help with.

Sign up for Estelle's NYU Classes

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

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

Follow Estelle:

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSerasmus

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

Freelance Writing Direct has been named a 2025 Podcast of the Year Winner in the Education category by the American Writing Awards. For a list of winners go here https://americanwritingawards.com/

Jackie Goldschneider gets real about writing her powerful memoir The Weight of Beautiful, opening up about her lifelong battle with an eating disorder, her journey to recovery, and what it was really like turning her story into a book—on her own terms.

In this episode:

• Why Jackie chose not to use a ghostwriter for her memoir [5:25]

• How her eating disorder shaped her life and why recovery was non-negotiable [6:17]

• The writing process behind The Weight of Beautiful [7:00]

• What helped Jackie write a book while filming, parenting, and working [7:48]

• Tips for structuring memoir scenes that connect with readers [8:39]

• How she decided what to include (and leave out) about family and TV life [10:56]

• The importance of voice and honesty in memoir writing [15:17]

• Jackie's next project—and how a screenplay idea turned into a novel [34:34]

Jackie Goldschneider is an author, activist, speaker and a longtime cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Before joining the show, Jackie was an attorney and freelance journalist, and has contributed extensively to publications including Good Housekeeping, HuffPost and Scary Mommy, and wrote a weekly parenting column for New Jersey's The Record newspaper for several years. Her debut memoir, The Weight of Beautiful, was published by ‎Simon and Schuster in September 2023. Since then, Jackie has been a nationally recognized advocate for eating disorder recovery. Jackie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston University and received her Juris Doctorate from Fordham University School of Law. Jackie lives in Tenafly, NJ with her husband, Evan, and their two sets of twins, ages 17 and 14.

Connect with Jackie

Website: https://Jackiegoldschneider.com

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

Twitter: https://x.com/jgschneid

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

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@jackiegold100

Get The Weight of Beautiful on Estelle's Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-weight-of-beautiful-jackie-goldschneider/19748044?aid=98827&ean=9781668023808&listref=authors-who-have-appeared-on-freelance-writing-direct

Estelle Erasmus: an award-winning journalist, is the author of WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers Magazine), a Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest, and host of the podcast Freelance Writing Direct. She is an adjunct instructor for NYU's School of Professional Studies/Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, has written for over 150 publications, including The New York Times, Next Avenue/PBS, WIRED, The Independent,The Washington Post, and AARP: The Magazine, and was the editor-in-chief of five national publications. Find out more at estelleserasmus.com

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

Mentioned in the episode: Estelle's substack post Why Taping My Podcast Reminds Me of Working in Magazines

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-taping-my-podcast-reminds-me

Read Estelle's latest post on Substack (and an editing offer for paid subscribers): 5 Hard Truths about Essay Writing

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/5-hard-truths-about-essay-writing

Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email [email protected] and state three of the issues you are dealing with that you would like Estelle's help with.

Sign up for Estelle's NYU Classes

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

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

Follow Estelle:

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSerasmus

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

Freelance Writing Direct has been named a 2025 Podcast of the Year Winner in the Education category by the American Writing Awards. For a list of winners go here https://americanwritingawards.com/

Joëlle Delbourgo is President of Joëlle Delbourgo Associates, a boutique literary agency founded in 1999. She represents a broad range of adult nonfiction and fiction. Her authors include NYT bestselling and award-winning novelist Ben H. Winters; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Debbie Cenziper and Dale Russakoff; award-winning educator Michele Borba, the late Dr. Susan Forward, memoirists Ariel Burger, Rachel Stolzman, Grace Jung and Sara Sherbill; historians Philip Freeman, Joanna Sliwa and Elizabeth White; true crime writer James Renner; and novelists Marilyn Simon Rothstein, Lindsey J. Palmer, Roy Hoffman and Rosa Kwon Easton, and Tommy Hays. A former senior executive at HarperCollins and Ballantine Books, she has a Masters in Literature from Columbia University and graduated from Williams College.

• Joëlle shares what she looks for in nonfiction and fiction submissions [6:50]

• Her background in both sides of the publishing wall [6:50]

• Why she considers herself a "Renaissance Agent" [7:10]

• The excellence advantage that writers need to get on her radar [14:24]

• How to craft a compelling proposal that gets attention from agents and publishers [14:49]

• Joëlle's tips for memoirists [18:05]

• Why your query letter matters and what red flags agents look for [19:59]

• Why obsession can help get a writer a book deal [26:54]

• Can a writer jump genres? [27:26]

• Some of her authors success stories [31:16]

Connect with Joëlle

Website: https://www.delbourgo.com

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

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

Episodes Mentioned

Georgia Hughes formerly Editorial Director of New World Library

https://estelleserasmus.com/69-a-chat-with-the-editorial-director-of-new-world-library/

Michele Borba

Writing a Bestselling Book and Making Mistakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY0JTzbnFrY

Estelle Erasmus: an award-winning journalist, is the author of WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers Magazine), a Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest, and host of the podcast Freelance Writing Direct. She is an adjunct instructor for NYU's School of Professional Studies/Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, has written for over 150 publications, including The New York Times, Next Avenue/PBS, WIRED, The Independent,The Washington Post, and AARP: The Magazine, and was the editor-in-chief of five national publications. Find out more at estelleserasmus.com

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

Mentioned in the episode: Estelle's substack post Why Taping My Podcast Reminds Me of Working in Magazines

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-taping-my-podcast-reminds-me

Read Estelle's latest post on Substack (and an editing offer for paid subscribers): 5 Hard Truths about Essay Writing

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/5-hard-truths-about-essay-writing

Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email [email protected] and state three of the issues you are dealing with that you would like Estelle's help with.

Sign up for Estelle's NYU Classes

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

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

Follow Estelle:

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSerasmus

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

Freelance Writing Direct has been named a 2025 Podcast of the Year Winner in the Education category by the American Writing Awards. For a list of winners go here https://americanwritingawards.com/

How do you turn personal experience into a powerful memoir that names names? Estelle Erasmus talks with Hannah Selinger, author of Cellar Rat, about transitioning from essayist to memoirist while tackling the dark side of the restaurant industry.

In this episode:

• How Hannah's viral essay led to a book deal

• What it means to write a memoir that's also investigative

• Naming names and dealing with backlash

• The role of narrative in exposing abuse and toxic culture

About Hannah:

Hannah Selinger, author of Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly, is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and mother of two based in Boxford, MA. Her print and digital work has appeared in the New YorkTimes Magazine, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Eater, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and elsewhere. Her 2021 Bon Appétit essay, "In My Childhood Kitchen, I Learned Both Fear and Love," is anthologized in the 2022 Best American Food Writing collection, published by HarperCollins and edited by Sohla El-Waylly.

Connect with Hannah

Website: www.hannahselinger.net

Instagram: https://instagram.com/druishamericanprincess

🎙️ Hosted by Estelle Erasmus Award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, NYU professor, and 2025 Podcast of the Year (Education) winner.

📚 Learn more: estelleserasmus.com 📘 Buy the book: Writing That Gets Noticed 📰 Subscribe: estelleserasmus.substack.com

Get Cellar Rat on Estelle's bookshop

https://bookshop.org/p/books/cellar-rat-my-life-in-the-restaurant-underbelly-hannah-selinger/21633914?aid=98827&ean=9780316570770&listref=authors-who-have-appeared-on-freelance-writing-direct

Mentioned in the episode: Estelle's substack post Why Taping My Podcast Reminds Me of Working in Magazines

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-taping-my-podcast-reminds-me

Read Estelle's latest post on Substack (and an editing offer for paid subscribers): 5 Hard Truths about Essay Writing

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/5-hard-truths-about-essay-writing

Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email [email protected] and state three of the issues you are dealing with that you would like Estelle's help with.

Sign up for Estelle's NYU Classes

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

AMY WILSON is a writer, podcaster, and performer. She is the author of the memoir When Did I Get Like This? and her latest book Happy to Help. Amy is also the co-host of the Webby-honored parenting podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood. She and co-host Margaret Ables have racked up over 11 million lifetime downloads and 800 episodes since the podcast's launch in 2016, and regularly perform live shows for audiences around the country.

As an actor, Amy appeared on Broadway as "Sunny Freitag" in the Tony Award-winning play The Last Night of Ballyhoo. She was a series regular on the sitcoms Norm (ABC) and Daddio (NBC). Other TV guest appearances include Veep, Felicity, Blue Bloods, Unforgettable, Ed, Law and Order: CI, and Deadline. She wrote and performed sketch comedy for NBC's Live on Tape, which filed in Saturday Night Live's famed Studio 8H. Amy is also the creator of Mother Load, a one-woman show which she toured to 16 cities after its hit off-Broadway run. Amy's writing has also appeared in The New York Times, Redbook, CNN.com, NPR Books, Parenting, Parents, Baby Talk and Big Apple Parent. Amy graduated from Yale University with a dual degree in English and Theater Studies. She lives with her family in New York City.

In this episode:

• The way Estelle and Amy first connected through Listen to Your Mother [1:32]

• How Amy's book Happy to Help: Adventures of a People Pleaser manifested [6:43]

• The formative experience in Catholic school that shaped Amy's overachiever mindset [9:19]

• The way Amy used adage to structure her book, and how that happened [10:57]

• Why Amy included research in her essays and how she seamlessly weaved it into narrative [13:33]

• The real reason many women take on too much, and why that's not a personal flaw [17:03]

• How perfectionism and people-pleasing show up differently at home vs. in the workplace [24:46]

• Her creative process, perfectionism, and letting go of "doing it all" [31:55]

• The early impact of magazines on Amy — and women [33:10]

• Advice for women feeling overwhelmed: It's not you—it's the system. [38:07]

• Sitting in the silence of not knowing [39:54]

Connect with Amy Wilson:

Website: https://amywilson.com

Podcast https://whatfreshhellpodcast.com

TikTok https://tiktok.com/@amywilsonauthor

Buy Happy to Help on Estelle's Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/happy-to-help-adventures-of-a-people-pleaser-amy-wilson/cd2aa83f8af88dfc?ean=9781958506783&next=t&aid=98827&listref=authors-who-have-appeared-on-freelance-writing-direct

Estelle's Listen to Your Mother episode (Amy Wilson as director)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmV4abTKy8Q&list=PL1159293EC380EFD1&index=5

Estelle Erasmus: an award-winning journalist, is the author of WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers Magazine), a Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest, and host of the podcast Freelance Writing Direct. She is an adjunct instructor for NYU's School of Professional Studies/Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, has written for over 150 publications, including The New York Times, Next Avenue/PBS, WIRED, The Independent,The Washington Post, and AARP: The Magazine, and was the editor-in-chief of five national publications. Find out more at estelleserasmus.com

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

Mentioned in the episode: Estelle's substack post Why Taping My Podcast Reminds Me of Working in Magazines

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-taping-my-podcast-reminds-me

Read Estelle's latest post on Substack (and an editing offer for paid subscribers): 5 Hard Truths about Essay Writing

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/5-hard-truths-about-essay-writing

Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email [email protected] and state three of the issues you are dealing with that you would like Estelle's help with.

Sign up for Estelle's NYU Classes

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

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

Follow Estelle:

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSerasmus

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

Freelance Writing Direct has been named a 2025 Podcast of the Year Winner in the Education category by the American Writing Awards. For a list of winners go here https://americanwritingawards.com/