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

  • By: Estelle Erasmus
  • Podcast

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

By: Estelle Erasmus
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  • Summary

  • Welcome to the Freelance Writing Direct podcast. Join Estelle Erasmus every week as she shares short, sound bite-filled podcasts, covering everything that the creative writer, freelance writer, and author needs to know to move forward in their creativity and career. Estelle will share how the sauce is made, with tips and tricks to give you a leg up in the marketplace. The podcast will also feature interviews with authors and writers who are generous with their own advice. Throughout the episodes, Estelle will evolve with the audience, as she listens to her guests, share pitches and essays, and offer writing and career prompts. If you want to learn how to get your work published and noticed you are in the right place. This show will provide answers to questions like: *How can I get started writing? *What are assigning editors in top publications looking for? *How can I find an agent? *What do publishers want? *What are writing craft tips I can implement right away to get published? *How can my pitches to editors make an impact? *What do bestselling authors recommend I do to improve my writing practice? *What craft tips do writing teachers recommend? *What are tips, tricks and strategies for getting my writing noticed? It’s time to build your craft with Freelance Writing Direct. Estelle can’t wait to read what you will be writing.
    2022
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Economics Leadership Personal Success
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Episodes
  • #121 A Deep Dive into Hachette’s Legacy Lit Imprint with Publisher, Krishan Trotman

    #121 A Deep Dive into Hachette’s Legacy Lit Imprint with Publisher, Krishan Trotman
    Jan 9 2025
    Krishan Trotman is the co-author of the Queens of the Resistance series and Vice President, Publisher of Legacy Lit, an imprint at Hachette Book Group in New York. She was recently profiled in the New York Times and Essence magazine as one of the few African American publishing executives. She has committed over fifteen years to publishing books by and about multicultural voices and social justice. Throughout her career, she has proudly worked with leaders and trailblazers on this frontier such as John Lewis, Stephanie Land, Malcolm Nance, Zerlina Maxwell, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Al Roker, Ed Gordon, Lindy West, and other dynamic celebrity and bestselling authors. She is the self-described Beyoncé of Books, and mom to her son Bleu. In this episode: The importance of partnership in publishing and how to make it work [2:41] How to navigate your book’s cover design conundrums [3:50] The benefits of acting proactively [9:45] Legacy Lit's mission and the true meaning of diversity in publishing [13:22] How Krishan sources writers for Legacy Lit and what to do to get on her radar [15:55] How publishers support their authors and uplift voices that might not be heard [16:01] How Krishan uses her spidey sense to make deals [17:58] An big announcement about Legacy Lit the types of books they are acquiring [19:53] How Audiobooks can make a difference [26:30] What will make you a writer that will get a publishing contract? [35:08] Connect with Krishan and Legacy Lit Website https://www.krishantrotman.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KrishanTrotmanInks Instagram https://www.instagram.com/krishantrotman LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishan-trotman-14936934/ Threads https://www.threads.net/@krishantrotman Legacy Lit Website https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page/about-legacy-lit/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legacylitbooks/?hl=en Facebook https://www.facebook.com/legacylithbg/ Twitter https://x.com/legacylitbooks/status/1794073420914913357 Connect with Estelle Erasmus Estelle’s episode #119 analyzing the publishing landscape Estelle’s Edge on Steering Through the Publishing Gauntlet https://estelleserasmus.com/119-solo-episode-estelles-edge-on-steering-through-the-publishing-gauntlet/ Estelle’s substack post on getting her audio book dea If You Are Thinking About Doing an Audiobook: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-thinking-of-doing-an-audiobook Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com 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: 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 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
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    39 mins
  • #120 Writing Days of Wonder Featuring Caroline Leavitt

    #120 Writing Days of Wonder Featuring Caroline Leavitt
    Jan 2 2025

    Caroline Leavitt is the New York Times bestselling author of 13 novels, most recently Days of Wonder, which was a CBS/Mary Calvi bookclub pick, the recipient of a MidAtlantic Arts Foundation grant, and which was translated into Russia and has a shopping agreement for film. The co-founder of A Mighty Blaze, the book program begun the day of lockdown, she writes a column blog “Runs in the Family” for Psychology Today, and is a book critic for people and the recipient of a New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship. She teaches story structure for the novel at UCLA Writers Program Extension and works with private clients. Her work has appeared in the New York Times “Modern Love,” New York Magazine, Salon, Lit Hub, The Millions and many anthologies.

    Caroline is longlisted for the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize.

    In this episode:

    • The Inspiration Behind 'Days of Wonder'

    • Caroline’s process for crafting her story with themes and structures

    • Turning trauma into art

    • Navigating dual timelines

    • The art of multiple POVs in her writing

    • Writing with themes of change, redemption, and societal perception

    • The importance of perseverance in the writing industry

    • Caroline’s advice for aspiring writers

    Connect with Caroline

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

    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/carolineleavitt

    TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@carowriter99

    Website: www.carolineleavitt.com

    Connect with Estelle Erasmus

    Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com 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:

    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

    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
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    34 mins
  • #119 Solo Episode: Estelle’s Edge on Steering Through The Publishing Gauntlet

    #119 Solo Episode: Estelle’s Edge on Steering Through The Publishing Gauntlet
    Dec 26 2024

    The publishing industry is going through a groundbreaking sea change, reminiscent of the early days of the Internet. In this episode, Estelle Erasmus speaks about the current state of the publishing landscape, changes she is seeing, how to traverse them, and what to expect going forward.

    Estelle discusses the significant challenges faced by editors and writers due to the rise of AI, ongoing layoffs with media companies, the diminishing presence of print magazines, and the increasing presence of the digital world.

    In this episode:

    • Estelle’s insights on the changes within the publishing industry.

    • The decline of print magazines and the rise of social media, and what that means now

    • The importance of good writing skills - and how to use it to break through the noise

    • Exploring Substack and new publishing models

    • What book publishers find valuable. Hint: it’s not necessarily social media followers

    • The future of legacy media

    • How to keep an audience’s/reader’s attention



    Connect with Estelle Erasmus

    Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com 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:

    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

    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
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins

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