Rephonic
Artwork for Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers,

Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers,

Estelle Erasmus
Grief
Food Writing
Writing
Memoir Writing
Motherhood
Friendship
Womenhood
Cellar Rat
Feminism
Family Dynamics
Literary Analysis
Beauty Standards
Toicn Restaurant Culture
Belonging
Solitude
Mental Load In Motherhood
Mothers and Other Fictional Characters
David Chang
Me Too Movement
Loss

Want to get published or land a book deal? Join TEDx speaker and author Estelle Erasmus for smart writing tips, publishing insights, and behind-the-scenes advice for fiction writers, memoirists, and authors at every stage. Winner of the 2025 Podcast of the Year (Education) from the American Writing Awards, Freelance Writing Direct is your go-to podcast for writing tips, publishing advice, and insi... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes171Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipEducationBusinessSelf-Improvement

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers,

Latest Episodes

Estelle Erasmus sits down with award-winning author Melissa Fraterrigo, whose latest book, The Perils of Girlhood, is a memoir in essays that examines identity, fear, body image, motherhood, memory, and the cultural touchstones that shaped so many gi... more

YouTube

Some lives resist easy summary, and Heather Sweeney's was one of them. After two decades inside a military marriage, marked by relocations, solo parenting, and a gradual loss of personal direction, she knew she had a story, but not yet a shape.

Est... more

YouTube

Leslie B. Blanchard joins Freelance Writing Direct for a conversation about developing her Modern Love essay, finding the line that anchored the piece, writing honestly about anticipatory grief, discovering structure through revision, clarifying meta... more

YouTube

Queer history is family history, and Alysia Abbott's Fairyland proves how one father-daughter story can illuminate an entire era. In this conversation, Estelle Erasmus talks with Alysia about her acclaimed memoir of growing up with her single gay fat... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
The Shit No One Tells You About WritingBianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra
Writing Excuses
Writing ExcusesMary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Happier with Gretchen RubinGretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

Recent Guests

Dinty W. Moore
Author of memoirs and writing guides, founding editor of Brevity.
Brevity, author
Episode: #138 Making Memoir Peculiar—and Propulsive Featuring Dinty W. Moore
Casey Mulligan Walsh
Author of the memoir, The Full Catastrophe, All I Ever Wanted, Everything I Feared
Episode: #137 Writing Through Rupture: Finding Belonging After Loss Featuring Casey Mulligan Walsh
Jackie Goldschneider
Author, activist speaker, and long-time cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Simon and Schuster
Episode: #136 Writing Towards Recovery: Jackie Goldschneider on The Weight of Beautiful
Joëlle Delbourgo
President of Joëlle Delbourgo Associates, a boutique literary agency
Episode: #135 Query Letters, Persuasive Proposals, and Publishing Secrets Featuring Literary Agent Joëlle Delbourgo
Hannah Selinger
James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and author of 'Cellar Rat'
Little Brown
Episode: #134 Writing a Memoir That's Also an Industry Exposé Featuring Hannah Selinger
Amy Wilson
Author of the memoir 'When Did I Get Like This?' and co-host of 'What Fresh Hell?', a Webby-honored podcast.
Episode: #133 Writing the Book You Need to Read When You're Always Happy to Help Featuring Amy Wilson
Nicole Graev Lipson
Author of the memoir and essays, Mothers and Other Fictional Characters
Episode: #132 The Blurry Boundary Between Truth and Fiction in Women's Lives Featuring Nicole Graev Lipson
Bonny Reichert
Author of How to Share An Egg, a National Magazine Award-winning journalist
Episode: #131 The Flavor of Trauma: A Food Memoir Wrapped Around a Family Story Featuring Bonny Reichert
Nina Badzin
Host of the top 1% charted podcast, Dear Nina, Conversations About Friendship. An essayist and freelance writer focused on friendship.
Episode: #130 Focus on Friendship Featuring Nina Badzin

Host

Estelle Erasmus
Award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of 'Writing That Gets Noticed,' Estelle Erasmus has a wealth of experience in writing and the publishing industry, which she shares through candid interviews and practical advice tailored for writers.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 70 ratings
  • Passionate reader and writer

    Estelle loves stories. She works to unpack what makes good writing work, and does so in an inspiring way. Her podcast is a must for writers and readers alike!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mfraterr
    United Statesa month ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts!

    Estelle does such a good job bringing on guests who have meaningful insights to share. As an author and journalism professor, I’ve learned so much from listening to this podcast, and I’ve especially appreciated Estelle’s thoughtful questions for guests. She tackles topics that you don’t hear as much about in other writing-related podcasts. Definitely worth listening to every week!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KCmjt
    United States2 months ago
  • Inspirational and informative

    There’s nothing g better than a generous podcast host that consistently offers advice, inspiration and actionable craft pointers and know-how to writers of all levels, and who also supports writers by having them on as guests, discussing their books. Hats off!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ninalich
    United States3 months ago
  • A must-listen for all writers!

    This podcast is jam packed with tips, advice and great conversations about writing and the publishing industry. Estelle hosts stellar guests and shares her wisdom and experience that will help any writer at any stage of their careers. I never miss an episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Heather L Sweeney
    United States3 months ago
  • Freelance Writing Direct

    This podcast is one of the most useful writing podcasts out there. Estelle’s very practical advice offers actions you can take right now. The conversations are engaging, almost like you’re sitting in the room with her and her guests. She is a huge resource to seasoned writers and to emerging writers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PMMcB
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The quality of the guest speakers is consistently praised, with many listeners noting that the conversations are not just interviews but deep dives into writing craft and personal experiences.
Listeners express gratitude for the supportive community and the way the podcast demystifies the writing and publishing processes, making them feel more accessible.
The podcast is often described as informative and enlightening for writers at all levels, providing concrete strategies and industry insights that are both practical and relatable.
Listeners appreciate the actionable advice that inspires them to improve their writing and navigate the publishing industry. The warmth of the host and her ability to engage with guests contribute positively to the atmosphere.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#132 The Blurry Boundary Between Truth and Fiction in Women's Lives Featuring Nicole Graev Lipson
Q: Where's the line between a healthy rejection of female stereotypes and misogyny absorbed and turned inward?
I started thinking about this a number of years ago when my oldest was nine and she longed for a girl power t-shirt, just the slogan, girl power. I started to wonder, is there some unconscious way in which I've sent my daughter the message that it's not okay to embrace things like pink?
#132 The Blurry Boundary Between Truth and Fiction in Women's Lives Featuring Nicole Graev Lipson
Q: Can you talk a little bit about your choices of layering the literary piece with the piece of the real life stuff that was going on?
I wanted to give myself a challenge of, could I dramatize my encounters with literature in the way that they feel sometimes in real life, in terms of how they profoundly change the way I look at a particular aspect of my life?
#132 The Blurry Boundary Between Truth and Fiction in Women's Lives Featuring Nicole Graev Lipson
Q: Can you talk to me about how you decided to start the memoir and essays with this particular choice of writing about your mother and segueing to writing about you as a mother?
I felt like it served as a really good overture to a theme that carries through the book, which is the blurry boundary between truth and fiction when one is a woman, and how the stories that we inherit from our culture can become entangled with our own until we no longer really know what parts of us are true.
#129 Intentional About Structure: Dual Timelines and POVs As a Bridge Featuring Jessica Strawser
Q: How did you make sure that the middle of the novel resonated?
I am not an outliner, but I make sure to refer back to my synopsis to stay on track and the back-and-forth between the timelines helps maintain suspense during the middle section.
#129 Intentional About Structure: Dual Timelines and POVs As a Bridge Featuring Jessica Strawser
Q: Can you tell us how the idea for dual timelines and two POVs came about?
The idea was to alternate back and forth between the two timelines, with one character knowing more than the other. This structure creates suspense as the reader knows what happens to Mickey while Lark does not.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides a wealth of knowledge and practical advice tailored specifically for writers seeking to navigate the complex world of publishing. Through insightful conversations with established authors, agents, and industry insiders, topics frequently explored include memoir writing, personal essays, pitching strategies, and how to secure publication opportunities in prominent outlets. The host's extensive background in journalism and teaching further enriches the content, making it a valuable resource regardless of a writer's career stage. Unique to this podcast is its focus on actionable tips for personal storytelling, making it especially appealing for those interested in creative, freelance, and narrative writing.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 171 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Dinty W. Moore
2. Casey Mulligan Walsh
3. Jackie Goldschneider
4. Joëlle Delbourgo
5. Hannah Selinger
6. Amy Wilson
7. Nicole Graev Lipson
8. Bonny Reichert

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days