Avsnitt
-
Jane Friedman has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.
In this episode:
The ever changing publishing climate [3:52]
How not to be a supplicant with agents or gatekeepers [5:14]
Deciding on University or small presses and what they offer [13:33]
What does hybrid publishing really mean and how to vet a company [14:27]
The truth behind the costs of publishing [17:46]
The rapid ascendance of audiobooks and what it means for authors [27:35]
How AI is transforming the industry of audiobook production [30:39]
The dark side of AI generated materials on Amazon and Jane’s role in the fight against it [33:47]
The potential struggles of selling a memoir and how to navigate them [20:02]
What platform means for a writer and how to creatively work it [44:42]
How to thrive as an entrepreneur in the new creator economy [44:03]
Connect with Jane
Website: http://janefriedman.com
Pieces from Jane’s Site Mentioned in the Episode
Writing Lessons from Jane Austen
https://janefriedman.com/writing-lessons-from-austen-story-questions-and-northanger-abbey/
How to Write a Hybrid Memoir
https://janefriedman.com/how-to-write-a-hybrid-memoir/
Crafting Memoir with a Message
https://janefriedman.com/crafting-memoir-with-a-message-blending-story-with-self-help/
Connect with Estelle:
Watch Estelle’s solo episode #90 on the U.S. Book Show (mentioned in this episode).
https://estelleserasmus.com/90-bonus-episode-estelles-edge-on-the-u-s-book-show-2024/
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
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
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
Sign up for Her Class at NYU
Writing About Your Life Through Memoir, Essays and Articles
https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html
Sign up for Estelle’s Tantalizing Titles Craft Talk Webinar October 2 https://craft-talks.com/event/tantalizing-titles/
Estelle will be doing the closing session of the ASJA virtual conference on September 26th with renowned memoirist Abigail Thomas. Read 8 Things You Didn’t Know about Abigail Thomas and Estelle Erasmus https://www.asja.org/abigail-thomas-and-estelle-erasmus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
-
Wade Rouse is the USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and #1 internationally bestselling author of 17 books, including five memoirs and 12 novels. His new novel, The Page Turner, will publish next spring from HarperCollins.
Wade’s books have been translated into nearly 25 languages and have been bestsellers across the world. His novel, The Secret of Snow, was recently optioned for a TV movie by the producers of the popular Netflix series, Ginny & Georgia.
He chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, as a pen name to honor the working poor Ozarks seamstress whose sacrifices changed his family’s life and whose memory inspires his fiction.
Wade’s books have been selected multiple times as Must-Reads by NBC’s Today Show as well as Michigan Notable Books of the Year. His memoirs and novels have been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today and on Chelsea Lately and chosen three times as Indie Next Picks by the nation’s independent booksellers. Wade was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards in Humor (he lost to Tina Fey) and was named by Writer’s Digest as “The #2 Writer, Dead or Alive, We’d Like to Have Drinks With” (Wade was sandwiched between Ernest Hemingway and Hunter Thompson).
Wade’s most recent novels were The Wishing Bridge and Famous in A Small Town, both instant national bestsellers as well as summer and winter book picks by Good Morning America, Reader’s Digest and Katie Couric. His most recent memoir, Magic Season, which detailed how the love of baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals was the only thing to bond him and his Ozarks father, was a Michigan Notable Book of the Year, a Barnes & Noble Father’s Day selection, a USA Today summer reading selection, and a Best Book of Summer by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Wade is a noted humorist, whose nonfiction has been selected as part of the American Library Association’s inaugural “Rainbow List” recognizing outstanding books with significant and authentic LGBTQIA+ content for readers.
A former journalist, magazine writer and People reporter, his writing has appeared in a diverse range of publications and media, including Coastal Living, Time, All Things Considered, Good Housekeeping, Parade, Salon, Forbes, Writer’s Digest and Publisher’s Weekly.
Wade earned his B.A. from Drury University and his master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. He divides his time between Saugatuck, Michigan, and Palm Springs, California, and is also an acclaimed writing teacher who has mentored numerous students to become published authors.
Wade hosts the popular Facebook Live literary happy hour, “Wine & Words with Wade,” every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. EST on the Viola Shipman author page where he talks writing, inspiration and hope, takes readers on tours of the places that inspire his novels, throws costumed monthly office parties, and welcomes bestselling authors and publishing insiders.
In this episode:
Why he decided to use his grandmother’s name as his pen name [2:01]
The key differences between writing memoir and fiction [5:46]
Honing the art of structuring memoir and fiction [12:23]
Writing with different POV’s and how it changes with his books [10:23]
How his friendships and relationships with women impact his writing as a gay man [10:35]
The way Wade made writing memoir less of an overwhelming process [15:45]
How Wade’s background as a journalist informs his writing [16:17]
Creating throughlines for his books [21:07]
The #1 question that he asks himself when it comes to writing [25:38]
Wade’s personal creative process for memoir and fiction [30:35]
Dealing with imposter syndrome early in the process [31:57]
The deeper reason behind why he writes books with positivity in a dystopian-focused publishing world [38:28]
Advice for writers at any stage of their career [42:22]
Connect with Wade:
Website: Wade Rouse https://waderouse.com:
Website: ViolaShipman.com (https://violashipman.com)
FB: Viola Shipman (https://www.facebook.com/authorviolashipman/)
FB: Author Wade Rouse (https://www.facebook.com/authorwaderouse/)
Instagram: Viola_Shipman (https://www.instagram.com/viola_shipman/)
IG: AuthorWadeRouse (https://www.instagram.com/authorwaderouse/)
Bookbub: @violashipman (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/viola-shipman)
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
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
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
Sign up for Her Class at NYU
Writing About Your Life Through Memoir, Essays and Articles
https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html
Join her event at NYU on September 16th with Liz Elting, philanthropist and author of Dream Big and Win: Imbuing Memoir into Your Non-Fiction Book: When How-To Advice Just Isn’t Enough for An Author
https://events.nyu.edu/event/327539-imbuing-memoir-into-your-non-fiction-book-when
Take her Tantalizing Titles Craft Talk Webinar on October 2nd
https://craft-talks.com/event/tantalizing-titles/
Estelle will be doing the closing session of the ASJA virtual conference on September 26th with renowned memoirist Abigail Thomas. Read 8 Things You Didn’t Know about Abigail Thomas and Estelle Erasmus
https://www.asja.org/abigail-thomas-and-estelle-erasmus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
-
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Jeannine Ouellette’s lyric memoir, The Part That Burns, was a 2021 Kirkus Best Indie Book and a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Award in Women’s Literature. She is also the author of the picture book, Mama Moon. Her literary essays and short fiction have appeared widely in anthologies and journals, including Narrative, North American Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, Masters Review, Calyx, and many others. She holds an MFA in fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a Millay Colony for the Arts fellow and past juror. Her bestselling Substack, Writing in the Dark, is a passionate creative community for people who “do language,” where writing is part of a deeper, vaster conversation about how attention, curiosity, playfulness, and surprise provide a portal to the profound on the path to becoming, because talking about “how to write better” without that larger context is kind of boring. Ouellette teaches writing at the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and the University of Minnesota, where she also facilitates narrative health writing workshops for healthcare professionals and the public. She is working on a novel.
In this episode:
Finding her way into literary writing later in life [4:15]
Creating art that blurs boundaries [7:20]
Making magic with metaphor and the language of nature [9:34]
Dealing with difficult childhood experiences through writing [9:51]
Traversing the intersection of fiction and memoir [8:18]
Using writing rules and constraints to build a world on the page [12:15]
The workshop that broke Jeannine wide open [15:50]
The risk of writing from the perspective of a child narrator [22:52]
Writing about motherhood and being in one’s body [27:22]
Jeannine’s story of the growth of her substack and advice for building a profitable digital newsletter [41:13]
Connect with Jeannine:
Substack
Facebook
Instagram
X/Twitter
Connect with Estelle:
Watch Estelle’s episode #81 with Maggie Smith (mentioned in this episode). The Art of Shaping a Compelling Story
https://estelleserasmus.com/81-the-art-of-shaping-a-compelling-story-featuring-maggie-smith/
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
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
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
Sign up for Her Class at NYU
Writing About Your Life Through Memoir, Essays and Articles
https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/1068-estelle-erasmus.html
Join her event at NYU on September 16th with Liz Elting, philanthropist and author of Dream Big and Win: Imbuing Memoir into Your Non-Fiction Book: When How-To Advice Just Isn’t Enough for An Author
https://events.nyu.edu/event/327539-imbuing-memoir-into-your-non-fiction-book-when?fbclid=IwY2xjawFEnWNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHayZ7DcHV5hE1dWDKx_7mxrzKunkeCmOLP5ncv5leyBYaYgN9nVARmaKGQ_aem_rc1K8aXMTNaDPdJ8t-QjCA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
-
Rona Maynard found happiness at 65—a story she tells in her new memoir Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World. She first broke into print at 14 with a short story about bullying and still receives fan mail from teens who are reading it in class. Rona capped a stellar career in magazines with a decade at the helm of Chatelaine, Canada’s leading magazine for women. Her editor’s column won a loyal following. When she disclosed a struggle with depression, she helped kickstart a national conversation about mental health. After Chatelaine, Rona had to learn to unwind—and found that her best teacher was a rescue mutt who had received his basic training in a prison. She has been married more than 50 years and is a firm believer that road trips go better with a dog in the back seat.
In This Episode:
The important step Rona took while looking for her next chapter [3:19]
How she tests the waters by sharing mini stories on Facebook [5:36]
Giving your reader a reason to turn the page [7:48]
Why beautiful writing isn’t enough [8:07]
Living in the moment with a dog and how Rona applied that to her life [9:02]
Inviting readers into the book with your sense of mission [10:12]
Working as an editor-in-chief at Chatelaine and what that showed her about herself [11:20]
Discovering what makes her day glow and finding purpose [13:01]
Mining the conflict in your story [15:00]
Rona’s advice for organizing your writing and effectively using tools like Scrivener [16:15]
Writing your stories, even when the memories are hard [29:04]
Why she doesn’t do the “vomit” draft [31:49]
Connect with Rona
Substack: https://ronamaynard.substack.com/
Website:http://www.ronamaynard.com
Connect with Estelle:
Sign up for Estelle’s September 5th free Zoom AMA with journalist Aly Walansky from 4:30-5:30 PM ET, where they will discuss pitching, publishing, grabbing an editor’s attention, working with editors, and getting noticed by pr people, and so much more. Email Estelle at [email protected] with your question for the AMA and to secure your spot.
Watch Estelle’s episode #99 with Aly Walansky
https://estelleserasmus.com/99-notes-from-a-lifestyle-journalist-with-10k-substack-subscribers/
Watch Estelle’s episode #38 with Cheryl Strayed
https://estelleserasmus.com/38-cheryl-strayed-on-writing-and-tiny-beautiful-things/
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
Pre-Order Her Audiobook:
https://shorturl.at/4uG2P
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
Estelle’s latest substack post on Micro Memoir
https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
-
Elissa Bassist is the editor of the “Funny Women” column on The Rumpus and the author of the award-deserving memoir Hysterical. As a founding contributor to The Rumpus, she’s written cultural and personal criticism since the website launched in 2009. Most recently her writing appears in her newsletter, Tragedy Plus Time. Elissa teaches humor writing at The New School, 92NY, Lighthouse Writers Workshop, and elsewhere, and she is probably her therapist’s favorite. Her next book is INSIDE JOKES: A Comedy and Creativity Guide for All People, coming in 2026.
In This Episode:
Writing with humor on heavy topics aka “traumedy” [3:08]
Why Elissa wrote Hysterical [4:11]
The Importance of external validation [4:41]
The value of researching her book and how Elissa did it [6:28]
Cultivating an external world for your book in the midst of great interiority [8:30]
Why its essential to work with an agent and editor who understands you [12:01]
Standing up to your editor and agents and why you might need to break up with them [12:57]
The benefits of stalking (and writing about) your obsessions [18:16]
An unusual horror film that put her life in perspective [21:39]
Explaining why the footnote was the essay [23:24]
The life affirming advice she received from Cheryl Strayed [25:26]
Elissa’s role at The Rumpus [26:14]
Her next big project [31:45]
Connect with Elissa
Website | Classes | Newsletters
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Elissa’s viral piece on the Human Centipede for The Paris Review
https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2012/11/01/the-human-centipede-or-how-to-move-to-new-york/
Connect with Estelle:
Watch Estelle’s episode #38 with Cheryl Strayed (who gave the advice to Elissa she mentions in Episode #101)
https://estelleserasmus.com/38-cheryl-strayed-on-writing-and-tiny-beautiful-things/
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
Order Her Audiobook:
https://shorturl.at/4uG2P
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
Estelle’s latest substack post on Micro Memoir
https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
-
Beth Ann Fennelly, Poet Laureate of Mississippi from 2016-2021, teaches in the MFA Program at the University of Mississippi where she is a four-time teaching award winner. She’s received grants from the N.E.A., the United States Artists, the Academy of American Poets, and a Fulbright to Brazil. Her work has won a Pushcart Prize and three times been included in The Best American Poetry Series. Fennelly has published three poetry books: Open House, Tender Hooks, and Unmentionables, and a book of nonfiction, Great with Child, all published with W. W. Norton. A novel she co-authored with her husband, Tom Franklin, called The Tilted World, was published by HarperCollins. Her sixth book, Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs (W. W. Norton), was named an Atlanta Journal Constitution Best Book, a Goodreaders Favorite for 2017, and the winner of the Housatonic Book Prize. Fennelly and Franklin live in Oxford with their three children.
In this episode:
Beth Ann's writing journey [5:29]
Coining the concept of micro memoir [8:00]
Taking personal anecdotes and making them resonate [8:37]
The evolution of how Beth Ann structured her book [9:00]
Crafting through lines with purpose [15:28]
The art of collaborating with a partner on a novel and how Beth Ann made it work [15:28]
Why you can’t ignore the concept of fun when it comes to writing [19:43]
Why transitions need to be addressed carefully [24:42]
Establishing an effective writing practice [28:00]
Connect with Beth Ann Fennelly
Website: https://www.bethannfennelly.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/bethann.fennelly.9
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bethannfennelly
Listen to her TedX Talk
How Literature Can Help Us Develop Empathy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nJv8sxpUKU&t=334s
See Her Talk for The Moth
The Proper Time to Eat
https://themoth.org/stories/the-proper-time-to-eat
Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs and The Tilted World on Estelle’s Bookshop
https://bookshop.org/shop/EstelleSErasmus
Connect with Estelle:
Estelle’s New York Times Essay Singing My Dad Back to Me
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/well/family/singing-my-dad-back-to-me.html
Episodes Referenced Here
Joanna Rakoff
Episode #87 Writing Memoir That Reads Like a Novel and Captivates on Every Page
https://estelleserasmus.com/87-writing-memoir-that-reads-like-a-novel-and-captivates-on-every-page-featuring-joanna-rakoff/
Maggie Smith
Episode #81 The Art of Shaping a Compelling Story
https://estelleserasmus.com/81-the-art-of-shaping-a-compelling-story-featuring-maggie-smith/
Ann Hood
Episode #95 The Catalysts and Craft for Charting and Plotting Novels https://estelleserasmus.com/95-the-catalysts-and-craft-for-charting-and-plotting-novels-featuring-ann-hood/
Episode #35 Flying High with Storyteller Ann Hood
https://estelleserasmus.com/35-flying-high-with-storyteller-ann-hood/
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
Pre-Order Her Audiobook:
https://shorturl.at/4uG2P
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
Estelle’s latest substack post on Micro Memoir
https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
-
Aly Walansky has been covering lifestyle topics, with a focus on food, travel, and cocktails, for two decades. She's done all of this living and working (and eating!) from a tiny New York City studio apartment — so she knows a thing or two about cooking and eating well on a budget, in small spaces -- and sharing it with her audience. Her daily Substack newsletter goes out to close to 10,000 people each day.
In this episode:
How Aly Walansky found her niche.[3:26]
Secrets of building sustainable relationships with editors [4:43]
The gift of Substack when it comes to time management [6:10]
How Aly created content during the pandemic [10:17]
Her experience writing for 10,000 substack subscribers and what she offers paid subscribers. [12:59]
How she structures her AMAs [14:26]
The new wave of AI in Journalism [15:55]
Adding yourself into the story [17:30]
The importance of a social media footprint for writers, even if you’re an introvert [20:52]
Connect with Aly
alywalansky.substack.com
Connect with Estelle:
Watch Estelle’s episode #88 with Former HARO Founder, Peter Shankman
https://estelleserasmus.com/88-the-founder-of-haro-peter-shankman-a-hero-to-journalists-on-deadline-launches-source-of-sources/
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
Pre-Order Her Audiobook:
https://shorturl.at/4uG2P
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
Estelle’s latest substack post on Micro Memoir
https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
-
Emily Paulsen has built a successful career as a freelance writer and editor. She has contributed to more than a dozen books, including three as co-author. She has covered a variety of subjects over the years, but specializes in health and healthcare, with an emphasis on health equity and improving the healthcare experience for patients and providers. She is currently president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the leading professional organization for independent journalists, authors, and content writers.
In this episode:
What is ASJA and Emily and Estelle’s’ experience with this professional organization [2:07]
The upcoming ASJA virtual conference (September 24-26) and the breakdown of sessions in each track [6:07]
The Importance of storytelling in journalism [11:20]
Estelle’s fireside chat at ASJA with Abigail Thomas [13:28]
ASJA diversity efforts for the freelance writing community [22:51]
The benefits of ASJA membership and the associate and professional tier [26:38]
The in-person ASJA conference in February 2025 [29:47]
Connect with Emily
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eapaulsen/
Website: emilypaulsen.com
Connect with ASJA
asja.org
https://www.facebook.com/ASJAinc/
https://x.com/ASJAhq
https://www.linkedin.com/company/asja/
https://www.instagram.com/asjahq
https://www.tiktok.com/@asjafreelancewriters
More on ASJA
Register for the 2024 Virtual Conference: https://www.asja.org/2024-asja-conference/
Info on the Conference Keynoters: https://www.asja.org/asja-2024-conference-keynoters-are-krishan-trotman-peter-shankman-david-brown/
The benefits of ASJA membership and eligibility requirements: https://www.asja.org/join-asja/benefits/
https://www.asja.org/join-asja/eligibility/
Info on Client Connections 2024 (you have to be a professional member to participate): https://www.asja.org/what-we-do/client-networking/client-connections/cc24/
The deadline for applying for the scholarship has been extended to 9/1. The deadline is 8/23 for non-members who apply for membership at the same time as applying for the scholarship. https://www.asja.org/asja-offers-members-scholarships-to-ghostmasters-business-of-ghostwriting-course/)
ASJA will also be offering scholarships to the virtual conference, but that application has not been set up yet.
Info on ASJA’s diversity initiative plus resources on how to be a more inclusive writer: https://www.asja.org/who-we-are/diversity-and-inclusion/
Connect with Estelle:
Watch Estelle’s episode #83 with Abigail Thomas
https://estelleserasmus.com/83-writing-your-way-into-an-engaging-and-enthralling-story-featuring-abigail-thomas/
Watch Estelle’s episode #88 with Peter Shankman
https://estelleserasmus.com/88-the-founder-of-haro-peter-shankman-a-hero-to-journalists-on-deadline-launches-source-of-sources/
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
Pre-Order Her Audiobook: https://shorturl.at/4uG2P
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
Estelle’s latest substack post on Micro Memoir
https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir
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/
-
Sally Wiener Grotta is an award-winning writer, photographer and speaker. Her two most recent books are Of Being Woman, a collection of feminist science fiction (NobleFusion Press) and Daughters of Eve, an essay-based discussion & journaling workbook which mines the tales of biblical matriarchs to explore modern lives, concerns and crises (Bayit Publishing). As a journalist, Sally has traveled on assignment throughout the world, to all the continents, plus many remote islands, covering a wide diversity of cultures and traditions. Sally’s far-ranging experiences flavor her stories and presentations with a sense of wonder, appreciation for human potential and a healthy dose of common sense. Her American Hands narrative photographic project featuring traditional tradespeople (blacksmiths, weavers, spinners, glassblowers, bookbinders, etc.) has received dozens of grants, and the exhibition has been seen in person by over 300,000 people. Sally is co-curator of Galactic Philadelphia Salon reading series, and a member of The Authors Guild and SFWA.
How Sally became an accidental biblical student
Fighting against the patriarchy with writing
The deep roots in female friendships
Structuring a discussion workbook designed for self reflection and book clubs
Helping people put themselves into the story and making readers your collaborators
Writing essays for the book with a personal touch
How she decided to pick her characters and aligned them with the modules in her book
The must-have writing pledge (and process) for workshops
Connect with Sally:
Website: https://sallywienergrotta.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SallyWienerGrotta/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SallyWGrotta
YouTube: https://YouTube.com/SallyWienerGrotta
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sallywienergrotta.bsky.social
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
Pre-Order Her Audiobook:
https://shorturl.at/4uG2P
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/
-
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
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/
-
Bob Eckstein (he/him) is an award-winning illustrator, writer, and cartoonist for the New Yorker, New York Times, Reader's Digest, Smithsonian Magazine, Atlas Obscura, and many others. His Footnotes from the World's Greatest Bookstores was a New York Times bestseller and made many ‘Best Of’ 2016 lists and continues to be an ‘Amazon Most Wished for Title’ years later. He is also the author of The History of the Snowman, The Illustrated History of the Snowman, and The Complete Book of Cat Names (That Your Cat Won't Answer to Anyway).
His work has been exhibited in the Cartoon Art Museum of San Francisco, Smithsonian Institute, The Cartoon Museum of London, and many others. Eckstein has spoke in over a 200 TV and radio shows like Good Morning America and places like NYPL, Miami Book Fair, The Norman Rockwell Museum, and The Grolier Club. He teaches writing and cartooning around the world including School of Visual Arts, New York University, Pratt Institute and Yonsei University in South Korea. His new book is Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums: Stories and Memorable Moments from People Who Love Museums.
In this episode:
How Bob started his unlikely career in writing
Advice for writing stories from a different lens
Pivoting in your career to discover new forums for your work
Bob’s live drawing process and how to learn, and grow, while remaining authentic
Emerging into a state of playfulness with your work
Bob and Estelle’s actionable tips for writers
Connect with Bob:
Website: https://eckstein2.wixsite.com/mysite-1
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Footnotes-Most-Fascinating-Museums-Memorable/dp/1797224395/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bob_eckstein/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobEckstein?lang=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bobeckstein1?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.eckstein
Substack: https://thebob.substack.com
Podcast: The Cartoon Pad: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cartoon-pad/id1561378159
If you purchase Bob’s new book, Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums this month (May 2024), as a thanks, you will receive a free lifetime subscription to his popular humor newsletter The Bob. You need to notify him by email you bought a copy at [email protected]—he is using the honor system.
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 Micro Memoir Workshop with Writer’s Digest on May 23
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/making-your-mark-with-micro-memoir
Sign up 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://www.eventbrite.com/e/editor-on-call-making-the-cut-with-estelle-erasmus-and-jen-ortiz-tickets-860897576827
Sign up for Estelle’s Writing Parenthood Class for NYU
https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/courses/WRIT1-CE9225-writing-parenthood.html
Sign up for Estelle’s Personal Essay Class for Writer’s Digest
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals
Connect with Estelle:
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/
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
Episodes mentioned on the program:
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 #77: Writing Personal Stories with HuffPost’s Noah Michelson
https://estelleserasmus.com/77-writing-personal-stories-with-huffpost-personals-noah-michelson/
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/
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/
- Visa fler
