Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.

Jessica Strawser is editor-at-large at Writer's Digest and the USA Today bestselling author of suspenseful book club novels, including Almost Missed You; Not That I Could Tell (a Book of the Month pick); A Million Reasons Why; The Next Thing You Know (a People Magazine Pick), and her latest, The Last Caretaker, an instant USA Today bestseller. Her seventh novel, Catch You Later, is forthcoming October 22, 2024. She has written for The New York Times Modern Love, Publishers Weekly and other fine venues, and is a popular writing instructor and freelance editor specializing in helping writers with their submission packages. She lives with her husband and children in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she was named 2019 Writer-in-Residence for the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County and awarded an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for 2024. In this episode: How Jessica came up with the concept for her novel based on her life experiences [3:27] Writing about domestic violence and underground networks in an empowering way [6:47] Using nature as a setting [10:28] Her decision making process for writing the POV of one character, when many are available [12:48] Ending chapters with emotional beats [18:28] How to keep raising the stakes in a book by bringing out the tension in relationships [22:32] Dealing with the "muddle in the middle" [21:18] Secrets of writing using dialogue, action and reflection [24:55] Thinking of a book in terms of an arc, not an outline [28:24] Using time as a device to create a sense of urgency and move the story forward [29:26] Jessica's role as Editor at Large at Writer's Digest [29:44] Connect with Jessica Website: https://jessicastrawser.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/Jessicastrawserauthor Instagram: https://instagram.com/Jessicastrawserauthor The Last Caretaker on Estelle's Bookshop https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-last-caretaker-jessica-strawser/19674038?ean=9781662510229&next=t&next=t Other Episodes Featuring Novelists Episode #95: The Catalysts and Craft for Charting and Plotting Novels Featuring Ann Hood https://estelleserasmus.com/95-the-catalysts-and-craft-for-charting-and-plotting-novels-featuring-ann-hood/ Episode #89 Level Up Your Novel By Mastering Visual Imagery and Research https://estelleserasmus.com/89-level-up-your-novel-by-mastering-visual-imagery-and-research/ Episode #70 Writing a YA Romance Novel https://estelleserasmus.com/70-writing-a-ya-romance-novel-with-jennifer-chen/ Episode #63 Witchy Writing With the Shit No One Tells You About Writing Host, Bianca Marais https://estelleserasmus.com/63-witchy-writing-with-bianca-marais/ Episode #47 The Way Life and Writing Should Be With William Dameron https://estelleserasmus.com/episode-47-the-way-life-and-writing-should-be-with-william-dameron/ Episode #45 Writing Women Are the Fiercest Creatures https://estelleserasmus.com/45-writing-women-are-the-fiercest-creatures/ Episode #37 Writing On Fire Island with Jane L. Rosen https://estelleserasmus.com/37-writing-on-fire-island/ Episode #33 My What If Year with Author Alisha Fernandez Miranda https://estelleserasmus.com/33-my-what-if-year-with-author-alisha-fernandez-miranda/ Episode #32 Parallel Lives: Meshing Journalism Into Fiction Writing with Vanessa Hua https://estelleserasmus.com/32-parallel-lives-meshing-journalism-into-fiction-writing-with-vanessa-hua/

Ann Hood is the author of a dozen books of memoir and fiction, including the bestselling novels THE BOOK THAT MATTERS MOST and THE KNITTING CIRCLE, and editor of the anthologies KNITTING YARNS and KNITTING PEARLS. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, and New York. In this episode: How Ann came up with the concept for her book [2:12] Writing characters born from life experience and cultural history [7:06] The elements of research in historical novels [9:06] The Kirkus Review that changed the trajectory of Ann's career [12:54] Navigating through multiple POVs [16:38] Food as a character in the novel and as a portal for emotion [19:55] How Ann tracks timelines [21:42] Finding the patterns throughout a book [22:48] Ann's favorite part of the publishing process [27:34] Connect with Ann Website: https://www.annhood.us/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/annhood56 Facebook: https://facebook.com/annmariehood/ Ann's episode on her book Flygirl Episode #35 Flying High with Storyteller Ann Hood https://estelleserasmus.com/35-flying-high-with-storyteller-ann-hood/ Get Ann's novel The Stolen Child on Estelle's Bookshop https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-stolen-child-ann-hood/20610013?ean=9780393609806 Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/ Other Recent Episodes Focused on Novelists Episode #89 Level Up Your Novel By Focusing on Visual Imagery and Research https://estelleserasmus.com/89-level-up-your-novel-by-mastering-visual-imagery-and-research/ Episode #70 Writing a YA Romance Novel https://estelleserasmus.com/70-writing-a-ya-romance-novel-with-jennifer-chen/ Episode #63 Witchy Writing with the Host of the Shit Noone Tells You About Writing, Bianca Marais https://estelleserasmus.com/63-witchy-writing-with-bianca-marais/ Episode #47 The Way Life and Writing Should Be https://estelleserasmus.com/episode-47-the-way-life-and-writing-should-be-with-william-dameron/

Sue William Silverman is an award-winning author of eight works of nonfiction and poetry. Her most recent book is Acetylene Torch Songs: Writing True Stories to Ignite the Soul. Her previous book, How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences, won the gold star in Foreword Reviews Indie Book of the Year Award and the Clara Johnson Award for Women's Literature. Other works include Love Sick: One Woman's Journey through Sexual Addiction, made into a Lifetime TV movie; Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, which won the AWP Award; and The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew. She is faculty co-chair in the MFA in Writing Program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. How Sue came up with the title 'Acetylene Torch Songs' [2:54] Writing down situation, emotions and dialogue that grip the reader [4:24] Addressing the gap in memory [7:03] Crafting the "Aware" and "Unaware" voice in memoir [11:06] The untruth about only writing about headline heavy events [16:53] The power of small moments, sensory language and metaphors [20:54] Employing texture for the ending of your essay [24:41] The key distinction between writing an essay collection vs. memoir [29:24] Connect with Sue: Website: https://www.suewilliamsilverman.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SueWilliamSilverman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suewilliamsilverman/ Recent Episodes with Other Writing Teachers Episode #87 Writing Memoir That Reads Like a Novel and Captivates on Every Page Featuring Joanna Rakoff https://estelleserasmus.com/87-writing-memoir-that-reads-like-a-novel-and-captivates-on-every-page-featuring-joanna-rakoff/ Episode #85 Jumping Genres in Writing Featuring Melissa Hart https://estelleserasmus.com/85-jumping-genres-in-writing-and-advice-on-successfully-submitting-to-awp/ Episode #83 Writing Your Way Into an Engaging and Enthralling Story Featuring Abigail Thomas https://estelleserasmus.com/83-writing-your-way-into-an-engaging-and-enthralling-story-featuring-abigail-thomas/ Episode #81 The Art of Writing A Compelling Story Featuring Maggie Smith https://estelleserasmus.com/81-the-art-of-shaping-a-compelling-story-featuring-maggie-smith/ Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/

Mimi Zieman is a writer, physician, and speaker with a new memoir, Tap Dancing on Everest, about the risks we take to become our truest selves. She's written a play, The Post-Roe Monologues, that has been performed in multiple cities and has co-authored 16 editions of a medical guide, Managing Contraception. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Sun Magazine, Ms. Magazine, The Forward, NBC News THINK, and other publications. She did her OB/GYN training at Columbia University and is an advocate for reproductive rights, having served as Director of Family Planning, Emory University School of Medicine, Chief Medical Officer Planned Parenthood Southeast and as an advisor to the CDC working on contraceptive guidelines. Her newsletter provides medical news along with inspiration from art and nature. In this episode: Mimi's career shift from working in the medical field to writing a memoir [1:11] Ignoring "expert" advice and focusing on what works for you [5:55] How she used throughlines to address multiple topics [9:34] The genesis of her book's title [11:45] Writing about her cultural and religious background and family history to honor her ancestors [13:35] Cultivating the book's structure [16:40] Adding poetry, metaphor and alliteration to enhance the book on the sentence and word level [22:40] Finding that inciting incident that starts the book off [24:50] Pushing through difficult moments to find the gold [27:00] Writing to capture a universal experience for the reader [27:24] The benefits of using precise language to build credibility [28:35] Connect with Mimi Website: https://www.mimiziemanmd.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mimiziemanmd Instagram: https://instagram.com/mimiziemanmd Facebook: https://facebook.com/mimiziemanmd TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mimiziemanmd Other Episodes Featuring Memoirists Episode #87 Writing Memoir That Reads Like a Novel and Captivates on Every Page Featuring Joanna Rakoff https://estelleserasmus.com/87-writing-memoir-that-reads-like-a-novel-and-captivates-on-every-page-featuring-joanna-rakoff/ Episode #83 Writing Your Way into An Engaging and Enthralling Story Featuring Abigail Thomas https://estelleserasmus.com/83-writing-your-way-into-an-engaging-and-enthralling-story-featuring-abigail-thomas/ Episode #81 The Art of Shaping a Compelling Story Featuring Maggie Smith https://estelleserasmus.com/81-the-art-of-shaping-a-compelling-story-featuring-maggie-smith/ Episode #79 Being Vulnerable on the Page and Finding Empathy In Your Heart Featuring Amy Ferris https://estelleserasmus.com/79-being-vulnerable-on-the-page-and-finding-empathy-in-your-heart/ Episode #44 Telling Your Stories without Shame or Apology https://estelleserasmus.com/44-telling-your-stories-without-shame-or-apology/ Episode #40 My Father's List https://estelleserasmus.com/40-my-fathers-list-and-laura-carney/ Episode #39 The Literary Gifts of the Leaving Season https://estelleserasmus.com/39-the-literary-gifts-of-the-leaving-season/ Episode #38 Cheryl Strayed on Writing and Tiny Beautiful Things https://estelleserasmus.com/38-cheryl-strayed-on-writing-and-tiny-beautiful-things/ Episode #35 Flying High with Storyteller Ann Hood https://estelleserasmus.com/35-flying-high-with-storyteller-ann-hood/ Episode #33 My What If Year https://estelleserasmus.com/33-my-what-if-year-with-author-alisha-fernandez-miranda/ Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch and essay reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/

Lara Lillibridge (she/they) is the author of The Truth About Unringing Phones: Essays on Yearning; Mama, Mama, Only Mama: An Irreverent Guide for the Newly Single Parent, and Girlish: Growing Up in a Lesbian Home. Lara is the Interviews Editor for Hippocampus Magazine and Creative Nonfiction Co-editor for HeartWood Literary Magazine. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from West Virginia Wesleyan College In this episode: How she approached writing about tough family topics [3:04] Building bridges into each chapter of your book [5:18] Developing a writing practice after you've lost your words [7:44] The surprising genesis of Lara's book's title and how it works as a throughline [10:03] How Lara found her publisher [13:16] The importance of audio rights to your book with the advent of AI [16:31] The trauma of writing about difficult relationships and the importance of self-care [21:11] Researching family history with handy online tools[23:20] Lara's work as Interviews editor for Hippocampus Magazine [28:08] Connect with Lara: Twitter: @Only_Mama Facebook: @LaraBethLillibridge Instagram: @LaraLillibridge Website: www.LaraLillibridge.com Lara's Interview with Estelle on Hippocampus Magazine https://hippocampusmagazine.com/2024/04/interview-with-estelle-erasmus-author-of-writing-that-gets-noticed/ Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed

Lisa Sharkey is the SVP and Publisher of the newly inaugurated HarperCollins imprint, Harper Influence, where her team acquires high profile non-fiction spanning popular culture, from general lifestyle and entertainment to stories of survival and inspiration. Whether in the fields of science, medicine, nature, music, lifestyle, spirituality, cooking, design, or news-driven narratives, the defining theme of her books surrounds cultural impact and relevance. Sharkey has overseen the acquisition and publication of more than seventy-five New York Times Bestsellers, including multiple number one bestsellers. Prior to her publishing career, Sharkey was President of Al Roker Entertainment, Senior Producer of Good Morning America and worked at various network news organizations from CBS to PBS and KingWorld's Inside Edition. She executive produced the documentary Profiles in Courage: A Kennedy Legacy, hosted by Caroline Kennedy. A two-time Emmy Award winner, Sharkey is also the recipient of Peabody and Dupont Awards for her work as part of the ABC News team during 9/11. Sharkey is also a member of various groups and organizations including: the New York regional cabinet for Washington University in St. Louis, and the advisory board for NABU.org. Sharkey also spearheads the annual Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture, honoring her late mother Mona Sherman, bringing high-profile speakers to the Berkshires in Massachusetts at no cost to the community. For the past eleven years, Sharkey has been a mentor for American Corporate Partners helping veterans transition out of the military and into civilian jobs. She is also a certified Yoga instructor. In this episode: The evolution of social media and publishing [5:09] Partnering with your publisher [6:11] Lisa's thoughts discoverability and TikTok for authors [10:06] Backlists: The backbone of publishing [13:15] How Lisa approaches publishing from a news and journalism background [20:33] How Lisa stays on top of trends as an early adapter [23:02] The power of networking [26:33] AI's influence on publishing and how Lisa uses it [33:46] Lisa's acquisitions and how she comes up with new ideas for books [34:21] How to get on Lisa's radar [38:17] Connect with Lisa: Instagram: @sharkogram LinkedIn: @lisasharkey X: @lisasharkey Facebook: @lisa.sharkey Wash U Distinguished Alumni Award Introduction Video: https://youtu.be/FPOmW1p5cxg Wash U Distinguished Alumni Award Acceptance Speech: https://www.youtube.com/live/r7fK7APGjP8?si=HhpuCJ26x0r3UsDG&t=1959 Estelle mentions Lisa in Episode #90 Estelle's Edge on the U.S. Book Show 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kh2TKt8lok Episode mentioning Harris Faulkner: Episode #41 Harris Faukner and How Faith Still Moves Mountains https://estelleserasmus.com/41-harris-faulkner-and-how-faith-still-moves-mountains/ Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do Pre-Launch to Get Your Book Noticed Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/

In this bonus episode, Estelle shares her first-hand experience of attending the 2024 U.S. Book Show as media, presented by Publishers Weekly and the Association of American Literary Agents. The much-anticipated annual event, hosted by NYU's SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts at NYU's Kimmel Center in New York City, brought the industry together for continuing education, discussion of emerging trends, and networking to foster relationships within the publishing community. This conversation covers the rise (and increasing dominance) of audiobooks, the importance of libraries and librarians, the significance of personal connections in publishing, and Estelle's thoughts on using AI as an author. Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do Pre-Launch to Get Your Book Noticed Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/

Amanda Churchill is a writer living in Texas. Her work has been featured in Hobart Pulp, Witness, River Styx, and other outlets. She was a Writer's League of Texas 2021 Fellow and holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of North Texas. The Turtle House is her first novel. In this episode: The challenges of writing a novel about family [3:24] Creating an ending in fiction you couldn't provide in real life [5:21] Interviewing subjects and researching a novel based on family history [9:50] Developing through lines and replicating motifs [18:07] How being a graphic designer and focusing on visual as much as the words helped Amanda write the book [25:01] Finding the confidence to move forward creatively without fear [20:05] Dealing with the intensity of writing about strong emotions [34:29] How Amanda structured her writing process and found her agent [36:45] Connect with Amanda: Twitter: https://x.com/agchurchill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandagchurchill/ Website: https://amandagannchurchill.com Get her book on Estelle's Bookshop https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-turtle-house-amanda-churchill/20297348?aid=98827&ean=9780063290518&listref=authors-who-have-appeared-on-freelance-writing-direct& Other Episodes Featuring Novelists Episode #70 Writing A YA Romance Novel https://estelleserasmus.com/70-writing-a-ya-romance-novel-with-jennifer-chen/ Episode #63 Witchy Writing With the Shit No One Tells You About Writing Host Bianca Marais https://estelleserasmus.com/63-witchy-writing-with-bianca-marais/ Episode #58 Writing About Historical Subjects https://estelleserasmus.com/58-writing-about-historical-subjects-with-audrey-clare-farley/ Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Get on the Waiting List for Estelle's online Editor-on-Call Event in Partnership with NYU on June 13 "Making the Cut" with editor for The Cut, Jen Ortiz https://events.nyu.edu/event/327843-editor-on-call-making-the-cut-with-your-writing Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/

Peter Shankman is a top keynote speaker in marketing, social media, customer service, and neurodiversity in the workplace. The New York Times has called Peter Shankman "a rock star who knows everything about social media and then some." He is a 6x best selling author, entrepreneur and corporate in-person and virtual keynote speaker, focusing on neurodiversity in the workplace and customer experience. With four startup launches and three exits under his belt, Peter is recognized worldwide for radically new ways of thinking about the customer experience, social media, PR, marketing, advertising, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and the new Neurodiverse Economy. Peter's sixth book, (and his first children's book,) came out in mid-March of 2023. "The Boy With the Faster Brain" is a heartwarming story about a young boy named Peter, who discovers that his ADHD brain, which was always getting him into trouble in school, is actually a super-powerful tool that he can use to achieve anything he wants - as long as he learns how to use it the right way. (And yes, it's obviously very much autobiographical.) It's the children's version of Peter's previous bestseller on ADHD, "Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge your Focus, Productivity and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain" (Random House, 2017.) In this episode: Why Peter created HERO (now called Source of Sources) after selling HARO [4:14] How journalists can use Muck Rack to build trust [6:07] Tips for journalists on presenting themselves so they get the right sources for their articles [6:25] Peter's reason for writing a childrens book on ADHD/neurodiversity [9:22] Advice for writers and reporters on effectively using AI [15:02] Peter's premise on what all journalists need to know to become successful in their craft [19:16] Connect with Peter: Website: https://www.shankman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petershankman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petershankman Help Every Reporter Out (Renamed Source of Sources SOS: By Peter Shankman): https://sourceofsources.com/ Get Peter's latest book on Estelle's Bookshop https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-boy-with-the-faster-brain-peter-shankman/19865623?ean=9798987703601 Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Get on the Waiting List for Estelle's online Editor-on-Call Event in Partnership with NYU on June 13 "Making the Cut" with editor for The Cut, Jen Ortiz https://events.nyu.edu/event/327843-editor-on-call-making-the-cut-with-your-writing Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/

Joanna Rakoff is the author of the international bestselling memoir My Salinger Year and the bestselling novel A Fortunate Age, winner of the Goldberg Prize for Fiction and the Elle Readers' Prize. Rakoff's books have been translated into twenty languages, and the film adaptation of My Salinger Year opened in theaters worldwide in 2021 and is now streaming. She has been the recipient of fellowships and residencies from MacDowell, Sewanee, Bread Loaf, Jerome Foundation, Authors' Guild, PEN, Ragdale Foundation, Art OMI/Ledig House, and Saltonstall; and has taught at Columbia University, Brooklyn College, and Aspen Words. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, O: The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, Elle, Porter, and elsewhere, and her new memoir, The Fifth Passenger, is forthcoming from Little, Brown in 2024. The film adaptation of My Salinger Year stars Margaret Qualley as Joanna and Sigourney Weaver as her boss. Directed by Oscar-nominee Philippe Falardeau, the film opened in sixty-five countries in 2021, and is available for streaming wherever you rent movies. In this episode: Discovering the real theme of your memoir The game Joanna plays with herself to make her stories come alive How to build out every character in your memoir so they are not one dimensional The experience of having your writing adapted into a movie Why it's essential to add research into your memoir The fine art of excavating memories The power of fear to bring out creativity when writing Tips for writers on how to write without distraction Connect with Joanna: Instagram: @Joanna Rakoff https://www.instagram.com/JoannaRakoff Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoannaRakoffAuthor/ Order My Salinger Year on Estelle's Bookshop https://bookshop.org/p/books/my-salinger-year-joanna-rakoff/9799872?ean=9780307947987 Other Episodes Mentioned Episode #39 Kelly McMasters: The Literary Gifts of the Leaving Season https://estelleserasmus.com/39-the-literary-gifts-of-the-leaving-season/ Episode #81 The Art of Shaping a Compelling Story Featuring Maggie Smith https://estelleserasmus.com/81-the-art-of-shaping-a-compelling-story-featuring-maggie-smith/ Connect with Estelle: ​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter. Get on the Waiting List for Estelle's online Editor-on-Call Event in Partnership with NYU on June 13 "Making the Cut" with editor for The Cut, Jen Ortiz https://events.nyu.edu/event/327843-editor-on-call-making-the-cut-with-your-writing Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals See Estelle's latest blog post with news https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/ Get Her Book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0 Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Estelle's Latest Articles I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland) https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/ What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer's Digest) https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired) https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/