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

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

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

De: Estelle Erasmus
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Want to get published or land a book deal? Join TEDx speaker and author Estelle Erasmus for smart writing tips, publishing insights, and behind-the-scenes advice for fiction writers, memoirists, and authors at every stage. Winner of the 2025 Podcast of the Year (Education) from the American Writing Awards, Freelance Writing Direct is your go-to podcast for writing tips, publishing advice, and insider strategies to help you get published—whether in essays, memoir, fiction, books, or journalism. Hosted by Estelle Erasmus—award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, NYU writing professor, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a “Best Book for Writers” by Poets & Writers)—this show blends writing craft, career strategy, and behind-the-scenes publishing insight. Each week, Estelle shares short, practical episodes full of: Writing tips for essays, memoir, and books Pitch strategies that get editors' attention Publishing advice from agents and bestselling authors Solo episodes, coaching episodes and candid conversations with industry insiders Whether you're just starting your freelance writing journey or aiming for your next book deal, you’ll find actionable tools, story prompts, and the momentum you need to grow your writing career. Listeners often ask: *How do I get published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, or WIRED? *What writing tips will make my voice stand out? *How do I find an agent or land a book deal? *What do editors actually want? *How do I shape my personal story for publication? You're in the right place. It’s time to elevate your writing—with Freelance Writing Direct. 🎙️ About Estelle Erasmus Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She’s a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest, an adjunct writing professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Estelle’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, AARP, Next Avenue, and The Independent, among 150+ other outlets. She is also the host of Freelance Writing Direct, named the 2025 Podcast of the Year in the Education category by the American Writing Awards. Learn more: estelleserasmus.com Newsletter: estelleserasmus.substack.com Social: @EstelleSErasmus on Instagram, X, Threads, and LinkedIn2022 Desarrollo Personal Economía Gestión y Liderazgo Liderazgo Éxito Personal
Episodios
  • #149 SEO & Expert Positioning for Podcasters with Adam Schaeuble of Podcasting Business School

    #149 SEO & Expert Positioning for Podcasters with Adam Schaeuble of Podcasting Business School
    Jul 24 2025
    Estelle Erasmus welcomes podcaster and consultant Adam Schaeuble, host of Podcasting Business School. Adam shares his top strategies for using your podcast as the foundation of a six-figure online business—starting with essentials like your show name, description, and artwork. Together, they break down how to attract the right listeners and convert them into clients. Adam reveals his three-part formula for naming your show, explains why most podcasters miss the mark on SEO, and shares how to boost discoverability—without a full rebrand. In this episode: Why podcast titles and artwork are your most powerful SEO tools [1:47] How to extend your podcast name to improve search rankings [2:21] The importance of using “Google questions” in your description [10:26] Why solo episodes are key to expert positioning and conversions [12:15] How coaching-style episodes build trust and credibility [12:47] Tools to streamline your workflow (like StreamYard and VIDYO.ai) [26:35] The mindset you need for long-term podcast success [27:14] Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_d2Tcj5DGSo Connect with Adam: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingbusinessschool/ Website: https://www.podcastingbusiness.school/ Connect with Estelle: Related Episodes (Solo episode) #141 Estelle’s Edge on How AI is Disrupting Content Marketing https://estelleserasmus.com/141-solo-episode-estelles-edge-on-how-ai-is-disrupting-content-marketing/ (Coaching episode) #144 Elevate Your Voice, Expand Your Reach https://estelleserasmus.com/144-coaching-episode-elevate-your-voice-expand-your-reach/ Also, check out 🎥 Podcasting Made Easy – Estelle’s talk for AWP’s Career Corner YouTube series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq6i5SMqYfo Get More from Estelle: 📬 Newsletter + FREE Pitching Guide Find out more about this episode and get Estelle’s free pitching guide when you sign up for her newsletter: https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast 🎤 TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Estelle blends personal storytelling with actionable strategies for standing out—starting with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine. 📺 Watch, comment, and share 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 professor at NYU, her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine. She’s served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Explore More: 📘 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the book | Audiobook 📰 Subscribe on Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Latest posts: “Stop Counting Your Words. Start Shaping Your Story” and “How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen” 🎧 More episodes: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast Classes: 📝 Two spots left in Estelle’s September/October 6-week Zoom fiction class. Email: freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for info. Follow Estelle: Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social
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    28 m
  • #148 How to Hook Readers by Planting Curiosity Seeds in Interactive Novels with Bianca Marais

    #148 How to Hook Readers by Planting Curiosity Seeds in Interactive Novels with Bianca Marais
    Jul 17 2025
    Estelle Erasmus welcomes back acclaimed author and creator and host of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast, Bianca Marais, to chat about her latest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder—an innovative, genre-blending mystery packed with magic, reader-driven puzzles, royal intrigue, and multiple points of view. Bianca shares how she crafted this original story: a locked-room murder mystery set in a magical royal family, told through over a dozen POVs, choose-your-own-adventure chapters, and interactive puzzles that invite readers to email for clues and bonus content. Estelle and Bianca dive into everything from the writing process to the strategic use of point-of-view shifts, how to keep villains compelling, and what writers can learn from puzzles. Together, Estelle and Bianca explore how to use curiosity to hook readers, build momentum with multiple POVs, and write villains who are flawed yet irresistible. Whether you're a fan of mysteries, a writer fascinated by craft, or just curious about what makes interactive fiction tick, this episode is a masterclass in creativity and reader engagement. In this episode: How Bianca designed an interactive novel that readers can play and puzzle through [3:29] The role of puzzles, alternate endings, and bonus chapters in fiction [5:10] Craft tips on managing multi-POV narratives and character arcs [9:08] Keeping the pacing of a story and how to do it well [15:44] Building a strong foundation for a story [17:18] The five minute rule [18:51] Why flawed, relatable villains make the best antagonists [25:27] How Bianca balances creativity with market trends—and still writes from the heart [33:41] Whether you're a mystery fan, an aspiring novelist, or just curious about how interactive fiction works, this episode is a masterclass in creativity, craft, and reader engagement. Watch on YouTube: Bianca Marais cohosts the popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers get published. She teaches creative writing through the podcast and was named a winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. She lives in Toronto, where she loves playing escape-room games and writing about strong female protagonists. Connect with Bianca Website www.biancamarais.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ Episode #63 Witchy Writing with Author/Podcast Host of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing with Bianca on Freelance Writing Direct https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freelance-writing-direct-with-estelle-conversations/id1647429472?i=1000637769772 On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wTEu0HbXPM Episode Where Bianca and CeCe talk about Bianca writing her book https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shit-no-one-tells-you-about-writing/id1530250126?i=1000711255212 Don’t forget to check out my episode on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Talking All about How to Get Your Writing Noticed, Pitching, Publishing and More. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shit-no-one-tells-you-about-writing/id1530250126?i=1000639885880 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: https://rb.gy/0dpdcs Audiobook version: https://tinyurl.com/yskfj2zv Subscribe on Substack for craft tips, pitch advice, and podcast extras: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Latest posts: “Stop Counting Your Words. Start Shaping Your Story—And a Bonus for Paid Subscribers.” and “How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen” Listen to more episodes of Freelance Writing Direct: https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast Follow Estelle: Instagram: https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/...
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    43 m
  • #147 What Makes a Literary Agent Say Yes with Inkwell’s Maria Whelan

    #147 What Makes a Literary Agent Say Yes with Inkwell’s Maria Whelan
    Jul 10 2025

    Estelle Erasmus sits down with literary agent Maria Whelan of Inkwell Management, recently recognized by Poets & Writers as one of today’s top literary advocates. In this candid conversation, Maria shares what’s capturing her attention in the publishing world right now—from standout nonfiction proposals to magical realism, horror with heart, and even Loch Ness Monster romance.

    She discusses her “career agent” philosophy, how hybrid paths like Substack are reshaping publishing, and the query mistakes she sees over and over. If you’re looking for agent insight—or want to better understand how to pitch a project that stands out—this episode is a must-listen.

    In this episode:

    • What most writers overlook in nonfiction proposals

    • How to query memoir, fiction, and children’s books effectively

    • Why passion and originality matter more than chasing trends

    • How the publishing landscape has shifted post-pandemic

    • The role of writing groups and community in an author’s success

    Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p64Mlq0nQhE

    About Maria

    Maria graduated from University College Dublin then obtained her Masters in Modern Literature from the University of Edinburgh. Before joining InkWell, she worked as a Foreign Rights Assistant at Janklow & Nesbit and worked at Akashic Books. Maria enjoys a blend of literary and commercial fiction, as well as speculative fiction, horror, and magical realism. She is particularly fond of novels that straddle the cultural divide. She is looking for books in the fiction and nonfiction space that speak to the current cultural moment or examine overlooked facets of society. Some of her authors include Luke Dumas, Joselyn Takacs, Katrina Kittle, Audrey Burges, Dima Alzayat, Luna McNamara, and Vinod Busjeet.

    Connect with Maria

    X: @mariarwhelan

    IG: mariawhelann

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-whelan-56733472/

    Submit to Inkwell: https://inkwellmanagement.com/submissions

    If you haven’t yet—watch Estelle’s TEDx Talk:

    How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

    In this bold, funny, and widely shared talk, Estelle blends personal storytelling with the real-world writing strategies she’s 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: https://rb.gy/0dpdcs

    Audiobook version: https://tinyurl.com/yskfj2zv

    Subscribe on Substack for craft tips, pitch advice, and podcast extras: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

    Latest posts: “Stop Counting Your Words. Start Shaping Your Story—And a Bonus for Paid Subscribers.” and “How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen”

    Listen to more episodes of Freelance Writing Direct: https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast

    Follow Estelle:

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

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

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

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

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    37 m
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