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Page de couverture de 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.

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

Auteur(s): 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 Développement personnel Gestion et leadership Réussite Économie
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  • #166 How to Write for Electric Literature with Editor-in-Chief Denne Michele Norris (Part 2)

    #166 How to Write for Electric Literature with Editor-in-Chief Denne Michele Norris (Part 2)
    Nov 20 2025
    Electric Literature is where emerging writers become working authors—and in this conversation, I'm taking you behind the scenes with Editor-in-Chief Denne Michele Norris (who I spoke with last week about her debut novel) to unpack exactly what they publish, how they edit, the pitches that stand out, the craft mistakes that make editors stop reading, and the kinds of stories they want to run next. Electric Lit's mission is to make literature more exciting, relevant, and inclusive. Denne explains how that plays out across their digital journal, including The Commuter, Recommended Reading, and Personal Narrative. She breaks down word counts, pay rates, rights, and why accessibility and unpretentious prose matter just as much as beautiful sentences. Using a real (anonymized) submission, she illustrates the biggest craft problem she sees in personal essays: writers circling their subject instead of simply saying what they need to say. Denne also shares what kinds of cultural criticism and book lists perform best with Electric Literature's 3-million-strong readership, along with the pop-culture, TV/film, and literary angles that most excite her right now—from prestige TV to Taylor Swift. She also discusses how the magazine sustains itself as a nonprofit. The episode closes with a look at her anthology Both And and a moving reflection on her father's legacy as a reader. In this episode: What Electric Lit publishes across The Commuter, Recommended Reading, Personal Narrative, and cultural criticism [2:07] How rights, word counts, and pay work for contributors at a digital literary journal [4:57] The craft mistake that sinks many personal essays and how to avoid opaque writing [6:13] What kinds of book lists, pop culture essays, and TV/film criticism Electric Lit's readers devour [10:27] How Electric Lit operates as a nonprofit and how Denne is expanding her own work with an anthology and a new novel [19:15] Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cgPJi3r0ERY About Denne Denne Michele Norris is the editor in chief of Electric Literature, winner of the Whiting Literary Magazine Prize. She is the first Black, openly trans woman to helm a major literary publication. She co-hosts the critically acclaimed podcast Food 4 Thot and holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. Episodes Mentioned Episode #165 Giving Every Character Main Character Energy in Your Novel with Denne Michele Norris https://estelleserasmus.com/165-giving-every-character-main-character-energy-in-your-novel-with-denne-michele-norris/ Articles/Essays Mentioned Carmen Maria Machado essays: https://electricliterature.com/el-author/carmen-maria-machado/ I Was My Mother's Daughter, and Then I Was Stuck with My Dad (Shrinking TV show reference) https://electricliterature.com/shrinking-apple-tv-father-daughter-relationship-grief/ Peter Orner Connect with Denne: Electric Lit: to Submit https://electricliterature.com/about/submit/ Website: https://www.dennemichele.com When The Harvest Comes: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735735/when-the-harvest-comes-by-denne-michele-norris/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennemichele/ Get More from Estelle 🎓 Learn with Estelle: • NYU Zoom Course: Writing About Your Life Through Memoir & Essays — Learn more• Private Small-Group Memoir Class — JANUARY AND MARCH SOLD OUT. Next 6-week session begins SEPTEMBER 2026. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. 📰 Read & Subscribe • Substack:— NEW POST: How to Pitch Slate: Advice, Ideas and Examples on How to Write Articles and Essays from NYU My Editor-on-Call Event • Newsletter: Sign up at estelleserasmus.com for show updates + a free Pitching Guide. 🎤 Watch: Estelle's TEDx Talk — How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond 📘 Book: Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Audiobook here 🎧 Listen: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist,TEDx Speaker, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, and host of Freelance Writing Direct. 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 has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Follow Estelle: • Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social
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    24 min
  • #165 Giving Every Character Main Character Energy in Your Novel with Denne Michele Norris Part 1

    #165 Giving Every Character Main Character Energy in Your Novel with Denne Michele Norris Part 1
    Nov 12 2025

    I loved diving into this conversation with Denne Michele Norris, author, and Editor in Chief of Electric Literature. Her insight into writing every character with depth, presence, and main character energy is both generous and deeply human, and this is just Part 1 of our two part discussion.

    In this illuminating episode, Denne shares the craft behind her stunning debut, When the Harvest Comes, a sweeping queer love story that explores grief, faith, identity, and the transformative power of embracing difference.

    Stay tuned. Next week, Denne returns to cover what catches her attention as an editor, how writers can stand out, and what it really takes to build a sustainable literary career.

    In this episode:

    • Raising the stakes; Why Denne chose to open the story with a wedding to root readers in love before loss [2:32]

    • Bringing every character to life: How to ensure no character fades into the background [3:21]

    • Sex as storytelling: writing intimate scenes that move the plot and reveal character [11:22]

    • Dialogue & subtext: what's said, unsaid, and how readers can live between those lines [14:00]

    • Music as metaphor: a violist's instrument as inner mirror [24:17]

    • Finding structure: shaping 14 years of revision into a three-part arc [28:08]

    • Title turnaround: The rediscovered sermon that inspired When the Harvest Comes [31:13]

    • Reader takeaway: crafting stories that offer escape, empathy, and affirmation [33:11]

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

    About Denne

    Denne Michele Norris is the editor in chief of Electric Literature, winner of the Whiting Literary Magazine Prize. She is the first Black, openly trans woman to helm a major literary publication. She co-hosts the critically acclaimed podcast Food 4 Thot and holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College.

    Connect with Denne:

    Website: https://www.dennemichele.com

    When The Harvest Comes: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735735/when-the-harvest-comes-by-denne-michele-norris/

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

    Get More from Estelle

    • 🎓 Learn with Estelle:
      • NYU Zoom Course: Writing About Your Life Through Memoir & Essays — Learn more
      • Private Small-Group Memoir Class — January sold out in 4 days. Next 6-week session begins March 2026. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details.

    • 📰 Read & Subscribe
      • Substack:— new post: Why Every Memoir Needs the "Echo Effect"
      • Newsletter: Sign up at estelleserasmus.com for show updates + a free Pitching Guide.

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

    • 📘 Book: Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Audiobook here

    • 🎧 Listen: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards)

    About Estelle
    Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist,TEDx Speaker, author of Writing That Gets Noticed, and host of Freelance Writing Direct. 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 has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

    Follow Estelle:

    • Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus

    • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus

    • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus

    • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social
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    37 min
  • #164 Writing the Restorative Memoir: Finding Meaning in the Messy Middle of Recovery with Mallary Tenore Tarpley

    #164 Writing the Restorative Memoir: Finding Meaning in the Messy Middle of Recovery with Mallary Tenore Tarpley
    Nov 6 2025

    What if the truest recovery story isn't about redemption—but restoration? What if healing means learning to live inside the messy middle?

    Estelle Erasmus talks with journalist and professor Mallary Tenore Tarpley, author of SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery. Mallary shares how she wrote from the in-between—the liminal space between illness and full recovery—crafting a narrative that honors imperfection and progress.

    Content note: This episode discusses eating disorders, treatment, and grief.

    Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/89CdVDqkx0Q

    In this episode:

    • Restorative vs. redemptive narratives: why "progress, not finish lines" can create a more truthful frame and recovery arc.

    • Structure and symbolism: how Mallary used split chapters, recurring motifs, and dual timelines to mirror healing's nonlinear path.

    • Researching and weaving 175 interviews and scientific studies into scene-driven narrative.

    • Ethical revisitation: returning to treatment centers and old journals without re-engaging harmful behaviors.

    • Craft tools for memory: timelines, sensory anchors, and interviews with loved ones and clinicians as tools for depth and accuracy.

    Mallary Tenore Tarpley is a journalism and writing professor at the University of Texas at Austin's Moody College of Communication and McCombs School of Business. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Time, and Teen Vogue, among other publications. She is the recipient of a prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant, which helped support her research and writing. Mallary graduated from Providence College and has a Master of Fine Arts in nonfiction writing from Goucher College. She lives outside of Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children. Slip is her first book.

    Connect with Mallary

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

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallary-tenore-tarpley-6719484/

    Weekly Substack newsletter: mallary.substack.com

    Get More from Estelle:

    NYU (Zoom), 6-week course: Writing About Your Life Through Memoir & Essays — https://www.sps.nyu.edu/courses/WRIT1-CE9800-writing-about-your-life-through-memoir-essays-and-articles.html

    Private small-group memoir class: January sold out in 4 days. The next 6-week session starts March 2026 and enrollment is open now. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details.

    New Substack post: Why Every Memoir Needs the "Echo Effect". https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/why-every-memoir-needs-the-echo-effect

    📬 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

    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: "Why Every Memoir Needs the "Echo Effect". When Writers Are the Ones Blocking the Page: 6 Ways to Move Forward (and An Offer); "How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen"

    • 🎧 More episodes: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast

    • Read Estelle's latest article How to Use the Internet to Become Your Own Private Investigator (Next Avenue/PBS)

    Follow Estelle:

    • Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus

    • TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus

    • Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus

    • BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social
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    38 min
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