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Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle
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Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle

Author: Estelle Erasmus

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Winner of the 2026 American Writing Award for Podcast of the Year (Business), Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle is an award-winning podcast featuring candid conversations with bestselling authors, literary agents, editors, and publishing insiders about writing craft, memoir, publishing, platform-building, and getting noticed.

Hosted and curated by Estelle Erasmus, TEDx speaker, NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed, the show delivers practical strategies, publishing insight, and creative inspiration for writers at every stage.

Whether you're pitching essays, shaping a memoir, building your platform, or pursuing a book deal, you'll find actionable advice, coaching insights, and behind-the-scenes industry conversations to help move your writing career forward.

Learn more at EstelleErasmus.com and subscribe to Estelle's newsletter at Estelle's Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com
210 Episodes
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In this episode: How Jennifer started her YA writing journey [2:52] Going on submission during the pandemic, and eventually getting a 2 book deal [6:15] The exercise of narrowing down characters [13:20] The art of writing time pressure into your story [20:00] Jen's advice for excavating specific emotions for your characters [32:31]   Jennifer Chen is a freelance journalist who has written for Today, New York Times, Oprah Daily, Real Simple, and Bust. Jennifer has a MFA and BFA in dramatic writing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She is a proud volunteer for WriteGirl, a creative writing and mentoring organization. She lives in Los Angeles with her TV writer husband, twins, two pugs, and a cat named Gremlin.  Contact Jennifer Twitter: https://twitter.com/jchenwriter  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jchenwriter/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jchenwriter  Substack newsletter: https://jenniferchen.substack.com  Website: https://jchenwriter.com Connect with Estelle: Estelle's Bookshop (where you can buy the books from the authors in this podcast):  https://bookshop.org/shop/EstelleSErasmus 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
In this episode: The elements of a good author/publisher relationship [20:12] The kinds of books New World Library publishes [12:04] What proposal submissions need to include [30:05] How authors can road test their book ideas [17:07] Insights on how authors should be building their platforms [14:15] Trends that Georgia has seen in the publishing industry and her thoughts on AI [30:49] What makes New World Library stand out from other publishers [18:30] Estelle's experience with New World Library [20:19]   Georgia A. Hughes is editorial director at New World Library, where she acquires and edits nonfiction books in the areas of spirituality, personal growth, sustainable business, relationships, health and well-being, animals, and women's issues. New World Library, publisher of the bestselling The Power of Now and other award-winning books, strives to publish books that help readers change their lives and the world, and aims for diversity and inclusion. Prior to joining New World Library, Georgia worked as a bookseller, at HarperCollins, and as a freelance editor. Recent acquisitions include Writing That Gets Noticed by Estelle Erasmus, Say It Out Loud by Vasavi Kumar,  Hagitude by Sharon Blackie, The Eloquence of Silence by Thomas Moore, Bones & Honey by Danielle Dulsky, and Growing Big Dreams by Robert Moss.   Connect with New World Library: Website: www.newworldlibrary.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewWorldLibrary Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/newworldlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewWorldLibrary?ref=br_tf YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/NewWorldLibrary Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/newworldlibrary/   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 Bookshop (where you can buy the books from the authors in this podcast  Writing That Gets Noticed Wins a Zibby Award for the "Best Book for The Writer" https://estelleserasmus.com/writing-that-gets-noticed-wins-a-zibby-award/
In this episode: Liz's inspiration for writing her book [5:05] How Liz got her book published and the process she went through [6:45] The importance of a social media presence and creating a brand when writing [7:31] Advice for picking a book cover [11:43] The importance of active verbs [19:10] How Liz structured her book and used alliteration [18:15] Choosing what stories to put in your book, and what not to include [26:40]   Liz Elting, Founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, is an entrepreneur, business leader, bestselling author, linguaphile, philanthropist, feminist, and mother. After living, studying, and working in five countries across the globe, Liz founded TransPerfect out of an NYU dorm room in 1992 and served as Co-CEO until 2018. TransPerfect is the world's largest language solutions company, with over $1.1 billion in revenue and offices in more than 100 cities worldwide. Liz received the 2019 Charles Waldo Haskins Award for business and public service from NYU's Stern School of Business, the American Heart Association's 2020 Health Equity Leadership Award, the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs' 2021 Vertex Award for changing the face and direction of women's high-growth entrepreneurship, the American Heart Association's 2022 Woman Changing the World Award, Trinity College's 2022 Kathleen O'Connor Boelhouwer '85 Alumni Initiative Award, and the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation's 2023 Angel of Hope Award. Liz has been recognized as a NOW Woman of Power & Influence, American Express' and Entrepreneur magazine's Woman of the Year, and one of Forbes' Richest Self-Made Women every year since the list's inception. Elting is the bestselling author of Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business.   Connect with Liz: Website: https://lizelting.com Liz's Foundation: https://www.elizabetheltingfoundation.org Get Liz's Book: Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizelting/ X: https://twitter.com/LizElting Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Liz-Elting/pfbid0384nDaMaX8DzW1u3Zvnqn9N6HSzeWAq56AXHhEXWbVHgRKgBsztpNn6RzGHW72nVsl/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelting   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 Bookshop (where you can buy the books from the authors in this podcast): https://bookshop.org/shop/EstelleSErasmus
In this episode: What authors don't know about media [2:26] How to be media ready [3:33] Timing on preparing for media interviews [5:27] Advice for authors on getting comfortable on camera [5:45] Paula's accordion method for sharing information [10:20] Advice on speaking good sound bites to break through the noise [16:29] How to pitch media and where to find contacts [20:25] Lists and using them to stay productive [26:53]   Paula Rizzo is an Emmy Award-winning television producer, best-selling author of Listful Thinking & Listful Living, a media-training coach, speaker, LinkedIn Learning Instructor, host of the live-stream show Inside Scoop, and creator of the popular online training Media-Ready Author.   She media trains fiction and nonfiction authors who are both traditionally and self-published. Harper Collins, Workman Publishing and Time Inchave all hired Paula to prepare their authors for book launches. She's also media trained executives from The New York Times, Dow Jones, Fortune 200 companies and privately-owned organizations. Paula served on the advisory board of Books for Kids, is a member of The Authors Guild and Women's Media Group, as well as a founding member of Chief in New York City. She's currently working on a novel and several children's books.    Connect with Paula: 10 Media Questions That Every Author Needs to Answer: http://paularizzo.com/10Q LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paularizzo1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listproducer/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/ListProducer    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
In this super short episode Estelle Erasmus shares a recap of her year with Freelance Writing Direct and her book, Writing That Gets Noticed, which just received a Zibby Award for the "Best Book For The Writer".   There is so much more to come, so be sure to keep following the podcast, and Estelle's website EstelleSErasmus.com and her substack at https://estelleserasmus.substack.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-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   The Articles/News Estelle Mentioned   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   Inc. Magazine: Here's 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   Freedom with Writing: An Interview with Editor/Author Estelle Erasmus https://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/uncategorized/interview-with-editor-author-estelle-erasmus/   Writing That Gets Noticed Wins a Zibby Award https://estelleserasmus.com/writing-that-gets-noticed-wins-a-zibby-award/   Writing That Gets Noticed is Now an Official NYU Journalism Course https://estelleserasmus.com/writing-that-gets-noticed-is-now-an-official-nyu-journalism-course/
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