#124 Essays on Loneliness: Tethering An Isolated Writer To A Disconnected World Featuring Athena Dixon
Release Date: 01/30/2025
#148 How to Hook Readers by Planting Curiosity Seeds in Interactive Novels with Bianca Marais
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
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...
info_outline
#147 What Makes a Literary Agent Say Yes with Inkwell’s Maria Whelan
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
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...
info_outline
#146 Solo Episode: Estelle’s Edge on Shaping a TEDx Talk That Gets Seen
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
In the first of several short, bite-sized solo episodes on TEDx Talks, Estelle Erasmus shares the exact strategy behind her own talk—how she discovered the right idea, built a strong structure, and delivered a message that resonated with thousands. Whether you're applying to give a talk or refining one you’ve already booked, this episode offers practical tools to help your TEDx Talk connect, teach, and stick. In this episode: What TEDx organizers look for (and what to avoid) [2:21] Why your talk needs an idea—not just a personal story [3:58] Tips for blending story, research, and...
info_outline
#145 Solo Episode: Estelle’s Edge on Essays—Mining Your Life For Stories That Get Noticed
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
In this bite-sized solo episode, Estelle Erasmus shares her insider strategies for turning real-life moments into essays that stand out—and sell. From capturing grief or joy to finding the magic in the mundane, Estelle shows you how to shape your story, sharpen your angle, and give your writing the attention it deserves. In this episode: How to combine unexpected ideas to find a fresh angle [2:43] Tips for capturing story-worthy moments without keeping a journal [4:49] The power of sensory language and scene-building [7:28] Why Estelle teaches both craft and publication strategy...
info_outline
#144 Coaching Episode: Elevate Your Voice, Expand Your Reach
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
Estelle Erasmus chats with award-winning journalist Lanier Isom in a powerful coaching session about balancing voice, platform, and purpose across a writing life. They explore how to manage time, stay organized across genres, and breathe new meaning into a stalled book project—all while staying true to your voice. In this episode: The challenges of writing across genres—and how to stay organized [4:13] Time-blocking strategies that actually work [5:18] How to track your writing progress and momentum [7:57] Why voice matters more than ever in building a platform [11:51] Ways to...
info_outline
#143 What We Don’t Talk About: Michele Filgate on Family, Loss, Love, and the Art of Editing Anthologies
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
Editor and author Michele Filgate returns with a powerful follow-up to her bestselling anthology What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About—this time turning the lens on fatherhood. In this episode, Estelle Erasmus chats with Michele about the personal and professional transformations that shaped What My Father and I Don’t Talk About, how TikTok gave her earlier book a second life, and what it really takes to build a lasting literary career. In this episode: What changed between publishing her first and second anthology [2:26] The unexpected TikTok virality that reignited interest...
info_outline
#142 Giving Motherhood a Microphone: How Listen to Your Mother Became a Movement Featuring Ann Imig
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
If you’ve ever felt creatively stuck or invisible after becoming a mom, this conversation will speak to you. Nearly 15 years ago, a single storytelling show about motherhood sparked a nationwide movement—and it’s still going strong. Here, we explore how Listen to Your Mother grew from one stage to 70, how the blogging boom birthed a wave of creative expression, and how vulnerability can turn into community power. We also dive into what happens after the kids grow up—when ambition, burnout, and joy collide in midlife. Ann Imig is an award-winning founder and speaker with numerous...
info_outline
#141 Solo Episode: Estelle’s Edge on How AI Is Disrupting Content Marketing—And What Writers Should Do Next
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
AI is disrupting the writing industry—fast. But what does that mean for you as a freelance writer, content creator, or journalist? In this Summer Shorts with Estelle solo episode, I share my editorial perspective on the recent Chicago Sun-Times controversy involving an AI-generated listicle that included fake book titles attributed to real authors. You'll learn: Why listicles and content marketing assignments are disappearing [3:38] What types of editorial content are most vulnerable to AI outsourcing [6:09] How ghostwriting and white papers are emerging as higher-paying,...
info_outline
#140 Growing Up in a Black-and-White World and the Truth Between the Lines Featuring Shannon Luders-Manuel
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
What does it mean to grow up in a world that doesn’t fully reflect your identity? In this episode, covering memoir, race, religion, the stories we’re told, and the ones we learn to write ourselves, Estelle Erasmus sits down with writer and memoirist Shannon Luders-Manuel, author of The One Who Loves You: A Memoir of Growing Up Biracial in a Black and White World. Shannon shares the deeply personal journey behind her memoir, which explores her childhood growing up mixed-race in a predominantly white family, her complex relationship with her Black father, and how those dynamics shaped her...
info_outline
#139 How to Submit Your Writing to Literary Magazines and Get Published Featuring Dennis James Sweeney
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.
Submitting your work doesn’t have to feel like a mystery. In this episode, Estelle Erasmus is joined by Dennis James Sweeney, author of How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses (New World Library). Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, this conversation offers a grounded and empowering look at how to navigate the literary submission process. In this episode: How to find the right literary magazines and small presses for your work [5:56] How platforms like Substack are changing the publishing landscape [7:21] The...
info_outlineAthena Dixon is the author of essay collections The Incredible Shrinking Woman and The Loneliness Files and her work appears in publications such as Harper's Bazaar, Shenandoah, Grub Street, Narratively, and Lit Hub among others. She is a Consulting Editor for Fourth Genre and the Nonfiction/Hybrid Editor for Split/Lip Press.
In this episode:
-
How the Pandemic pushed Athena into writing essays [3:26]
-
The extreme loneliness epidemic in our country [5:35]
-
How Athena explored loneliness in throughlines of grief, the concept of a “split self”, and journals [7:57]
-
Why she used a multi-tiered braided essay in the collection [10:15]
-
How she used the vessel of the body to play with the fear of the heart [11:09]
-
The influence of her fanfiction fixation on Athena’s writing and ability to daydream a new reality [14:11]
-
Her use of intention and ritual as a roadmap for bringing romance to fruition [16:51]
-
Athena’s editorial work with Fourth Genre and Split Lip Press [24:44]
-
Why Athena now values her loneliness and moments of isolation as a tool in her tool kit [25:47]
-
Advice for identifying a strong throughline in your essay collection [32:45]
-
Keys to figuring out the right format for your stories, when deciding between memoir or a memoir in essays [35:42]
Buy The Loneliness Files on Estelle’s Bookshop
Connect with Athena
Website:
https://www.instagram.com/the_muse_paper/?hl=en
TikTok
https://tiktok.com/@AthenaDIxon
BlueSky
https://bsky.app/profile/athenadixon.bsky.social
Split Lip Press
https://www.splitlippress.com/
Fourth Genre Magazine
Episode mentioned with Jeannine Ouellette
#103 Launching into New Dimensions with Embodied Writing
https://estelleserasmus.com/103-launching-into-new-dimensions-with-embodied-writing/
Connect with Estelle Erasmus
Her latest substack Post: My Predictions for Publishing in 2025
https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/my-predictions-for-publishing-for
Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email [email protected] and state three of the issues you are dealing with that you would like Estelle’s help with.
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
Sign up for Estelle’s NYU Classes
https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/e/1068-estelle-erasmus.html
Get Her Book
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0
Order Her Audiobook:
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
Follow Estelle:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSerasmus
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social