Shows
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#30 Travel Writing and Society of American Travel Writers with Kim Foley MacKinnonKim Foley MacKinnon is a Boston-based editor, journalist, and travel writer. She is the executive editor of Girl Camper Magazine, and is currently serving as the president of the Society of American Travel Writers, the country's most esteemed travel writing organization. Over the past 15 years, her work has appeared in the Boston Globe, AAA Horizons, Daily Candy, Global Traveler, Business Traveller, Lola, Boston Herald, Parents magazine, Bay State Parent, and many other publications. She has also written four guidebooks and contributed to several others. Her latest book is 100 Things to Do on Cape Cod & the Islands. 2023-04-2029 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#29 Getting the Sound Bite: A Media Expert Speaks About Interviews with Sheryl ZieglerSheryl Ziegler, Psy.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Play Therapist in private practice. She is the author of Mommy Burnout: how to reclaim your life and raise healthier children in the process. She is a regular national and local news contributor on topics related to parenting and mental health and did a Tedx talk on "Why Moms are Miserable" which is all about the power of connection. She is the host of Dr. Sheryl's PodCouch and the founder of the parent-child puberty course, Start with the Talk. She is a frequent speaker on chronic stress, parenting...2023-04-1329 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#28 How a Poet Gathered a Half Million TikTok & Instagram Followers with Shelby LeighShelby Leigh is a bestselling poet who writes about mental health, self love, healing, and more. She is a mental health advocate and a book marketing strategist. She has been writing on internet for more than 7 years, amassing a following of more than 500,000 readers. She is the author of the #1 best selling book Changing with the Tides, and just released the book Girl Made of Glass. Shelby empowers writers to show up on social media and promote their books through courses and guides. In this episode: How Shelby started sharing her poe...2023-04-0622 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#27 Working Remote: The Freelance Lifestyle with Stacey FreedStacey is a former senior editor at Remodeling Magazine, and today she writes mostly about the Build World from her home in Pittsford, New York. You can find her by-lines in publications like Better Homes and Gardens and USA Today Special Interest Publications, AARP online; Forbes.com; REALTOR magazine; Professional Builder; Products; Professional Remodeler; Custom Builder; Timber Home Living, Country's Best Cabins, Remodeling, Window & Door Magazine, Rochester Magazine, Canandaigua Magazine, Net Assets; AKC's Family Dog; Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Washington Post, Baltimore Jewish Times. She is also the co-author of Hiking the Catskills: A Guide to t...2023-03-3026 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#26 Getting Edited with Brevity's Allison K. WilliamsIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Allison K. Williams. Allison has edited and coached writers to deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, Spencer Hill, St. Martin’s, and independent presses. She has guided essayists to publication in the New Yorker, Time, the Guardian, the New York Times, McSweeney’s, and TED Talks. As Social Media Editor for Brevity, she inspires thousands of writers with blogs on craft and the writing life. She’s also the author of Get Published in Literary Magazines. A former circus performer, Allison has written for NPR, C...2023-03-2333 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#25 Getting Personal with HuffPost Personal’s Noah MichelsonIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Noah Michelson. Noah is the Editorial Director of HuffPost Personal and the host of "D Is For Desire," HuffPost's love and sex podcast. He joined HuffPost in 2011 to launch and oversee the site's first vertical dedicated to queer issues, Queer Voices, and went on to oversee all of HuffPost's community sections before pivoting to create and run HuffPost Personal in 2018. He received his MFA in Poetry from New York University and has served as a commentator for the BBC, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, Current TV, Fuse, Sirius XM a...2023-03-1631 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#24 Getting WIRED, Seen Heard and Paid with Editor, Alan HenryIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki spoke with editor/author, Alan Henry. Alan Henry is the author of Seen, Heard, and Paid: The New Work Rules for the Marginalized. He is a service journalist and editor who writes and commissions stories that help readers make better use of technology and embrace a healthier relationship with it in their lives. He is currently the special projects editor at WIRED. He was previously the Smarter Living editor at the New York Times, and before that the editor in chief of the productivity and lifestyle blog Lifehacker. 2023-03-0934 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#22 Freelance Tech Writing with Michelle RafterIn this episode, Sherry Paprocki speaks with Michelle Rafter. Michelle has spent her career writing about business and technology, first as a newspaper reporter, then as a freelance reporter, columnist, and editor for national and local publications. Today, she ghostwrites books, research reports, and thought leadership articles on business, enterprise technology, and the future of work for CEOs and global consulting firms. Michelle is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). She lives in Portland, OR with her family and wire fox terrier, Juniper. Off the clock, she loves strength training, the New Y...2023-02-2332 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#21 Legal Writing with Tami Kamin MeyerIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speaks with Tami Kamin Meyer. Tami is an attorney and freelance writer based in Columbus Ohio. She writes primarily about law, business, cannabis, health, and travel for Forbes, MarketWatch, Better Homes and Gardens, Next Avenue, Your Teen, National Trial Lawyer, and Ohio Magazine, to name a few. She is an active member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, where she is Chair of the Marketing/Communications Committee. As Editor of Write Now Columbus, Kamin Meyer oversees a monthly e-newsletter about the burgeoning literary scene in central Ohio. I...2023-02-1632 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#20 Growing a Garden Specialty with Teresa WoodardIn this episode, Sherry Paprocki speaks with Teresa Woodard. Teresa Woodard is a writer and field editor for regional and national consumer magazines and their digital outlets. She is contributing garden editor at Midwest Living magazine, content creator for an online plant store, co-author of American Roots: Reimagining Our Home Gardens (Timber Press; Fall 2022) and a another garden book (Timber Press, 2024). She designs perennial borders and native landscapes for central Ohio clients and reviews landscape designs for the ARC of a residential conservation development. Over the past 15 years, she's contributed to Midw...2023-02-0932 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#19 Don’t Sleep on Your Writing with Lisa L. LewisIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Lisa L. Lewis. Lisa L. Lewis is the author of The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, And How Parents And Schools Can Help Them Thrive, described as “a call to action” by Arianna Huffington and “an urgent and timely read” by Daniel H. Pink. The book is an outgrowth of her previous work on the topic, including her role helping get California’s landmark law on healthy school start times passed. Lewis has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and others...2023-02-0229 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#17 Cults, Memoir, and Motivation with author Ronit PlankIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Ronit Plank, a writer, editor, and teacher. Ronit has been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Rumpus, Hippocampus, Writer’s Digest, The Iowa Review, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. She is the host/producer of the podcast Let's Talk Memoir and a nonfiction editor at The Citron Review. Her first book is the memoir When She Comes Back and her short story collection Home is A Made-Up Place, winner of the 2020 Eludia Award, will be out in 2023. In this episode: The pr...2023-01-1933 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#16 The Year of the Horses and Books with Courtney MaumIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Courtney Maum. Courtney is the author of five books, including the groundbreaking publishing guide that Vanity Fair recently named one of the ten best books for writers, BEFORE AND AFTER THE BOOK DEAL and the memoir THE YEAR OF THE HORSES, chosen by The Today Show as the best read for mental health awareness. A writing coach, executive director of the nonprofit learning collaborative “The Cabins,” and educator, Courtney's mission is to help people hold on to the joy of art-making in a culture obsessed with turning artis...2023-01-1236 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#15 Analyzing Pitches and Attracting an Editor’s AttentionIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki talk about what to do to make pitches resonate with an editor, and review pitches submitted by Estelle’s students, sharing what works, what doesn’t, and how to revise to get accepted. In this episode: The difference between a pitch and a more formal query letter. Tips for sending a pitch to an editor in today’s world. Real-time review of anonymous pitches If you want your pitch to be reviewed in a future episode of the Freelance Writing Direct podcast, send us an email...2023-01-0530 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#14 Humor Writing and Wearing Tunics with Wendi AaronsIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Wendi Aarons, an award-winning humor writer. Wendi’s work has appeared in The New Yorker Daily Shouts, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, US Weekly Fashion Police, Scary Mommy, BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal, and various other outlets. She is the author of the middle-grade book Ginger Mancino, Kid Comedian” and the humorous memoir, I’m Wearing Tunics Now, and a contributor to many anthologies. Her humor pieces have been performed by award-winning actresses including Uzo Aduba, Sharon Horgan, and Alison Brie of “Glow.” Wendi’s eponymous blog w...2022-12-2929 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#13 Getting the Gigs and the Glory: Maximizing Your Freelance ProfitsIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus interviews Sherry Paprocki about how to maximize your freelance profits. Whether you are a beginner writer, or already have freelance clients, this episode will be really helpful for you. Sherry is a top professional in publishing, and a branding and publishing strategist. She is the president of R.S. Rock Media Inc. In 2018, Sherry was honored twice by Folio as one of the top women in media and was placed on the Folio top 100 list for creative thought leaders in media. Sherry is also the past president of ASJA (American Society of J...2022-12-2227 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#12 From Columnist to Author: Career Self Care with Minda ZetlinIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Minda Zetlin. Minda is the author of her new book Career Self-Care and writes the highly popular “Laid-Back Leader” column for Inc. Her articles and workshops offer research-backed advice to help ambitious people get the most out of their careers and their lives. She is the author or coauthor of several books, most recently The Geek Gap. A former president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), she lives in Snohomish, Washington. In this episode: How Minda found her path from fr...2022-12-1527 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#11 A Nurse Finds Her Writing NicheIn today’s episode, Sherry Paprocki and Estelle Erasmus speak with Jennifer L.W. Fink. Jennifer is a registered nurse turned writer, podcaster, and “boy expert” - yes, you read that right! Jennifer is the founder of Building Boys and the author of “Building Boys: raising great guys in a world that misunderstands males” which will be released in spring. She also co-hosts the Building Boys podcast and publishes Building Boys Bulletin, a weekly newsletter on parenting and educating boys. Her byline can be found in Parents, American Baby, Pregnancy, Boys’ Life, Ladies’ Home Journal, MyMidwest, Scho...2022-12-0827 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#10 A Writing Evolution with Polly CampbellIn this episode, Sherry Paprocki and Estelle Erasmus speak with Polly Campbell. Polly started out as a freelance writer, and evolved her career into one that involves podcasting, writing books, and a lot of other things. Polly is the author of You, Recharged: How to Beat Fatigue (Mostly), Amp Up Your Energy (Usually), and Enjoy Life Again, (Always) and other books. She has written hundreds of articles for online and print publications and is the host of the podcast Polly Campbell, Simply Said: How to Live Well, Do Good, Be Happy. In this episod...2022-12-0129 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#9 Crafting Powerful Personal EssaysIn today’s episode, Sherry Paprocki interviews Estelle Erasmus on crafting powerful personal essays. Estelle teaches writing at NYU, Writer’s Digest, in one on one coaching, and in writers’ conferences nationwide, including at the ASJA Conference, Writer’s Digest Conference, Hippocamp, and more. She is the special judge for the Writer’s Digest personal essay contest for 2022. Her writing and coaching students publish well and widely, including in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Your Teen, LA Times, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, and many more. Estelle not only coa...2022-11-2429 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#8 Dying to Write: Tales & Tips from a Death DoulaIn this episode Estelle Erasmas and Sherry Paprocki speak with Tess Clarkson, a death doula. Tess practiced financial regulation law in New York, danced in Riverdance on Broadway, and performed in Michael Flatley’s productions across North America and in London. She holds a B.A. from Loyola University Chicago, earned a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, and attended the City University of New York Writers’ Institute for creative nonfiction. Her essays have appeared in The Washington Post, HuffPost, The Independent, Next Avenue, Insider, Motherwell, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and AARP’s The Ethel a...2022-11-1722 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#7 When Writing: What to Reveal & How to ConcealIn today’s episode Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki discuss the topic of writing about people. This is a topic that Estelle and Sherry really know a lot about since both of them have written stories about people in their life. They discuss their best tips for do and don'ts when it comes to writing about others. A famous writer once said “If people wanted you to write well about them they should have treated you better.” In this episode: Tips for writers about being authentic but still concealing privacy. Writing personal stories i...2022-11-1026 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#6 Nurturing Your Writer’s Soul with Andrea King CollierIn this episode Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Andrea King Collier. Andrea is an award-winning author, journalist and photographer based in Lansing, Michigan. Much of Andrea’s work focuses on health equity and health policy. She is an award-winning essayist and memorist. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Essence, O the Opera Magazine, AARP magazine, Next Avenue and many others. She is the mother of two adult children and her favorite title is “GoGo” to two sweet grandsons. In this episode: How Andrea arranges her writing schedule...2022-11-0333 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#5 “Unretirement” with Richard EisenbergIn this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Richard Eisenberg. In January of 2022, Rich “Unretired”. Rich is a freelance personal finance writer and editor and co-host of the “Friends Talk Money” podcast. Most recently, he was managing editor of Next Avenue site, and editor of its Money & Policy and Work and Purpose channels. He is author of How to Avoid a Mid-Life Financial Crisis and The Money Book of Personal Finance and lives in New Jersey. Before working at Next Avenue, Rich was Front-Page Finance Editor at Yahoo!, Special Projects Director/Money Edito...2022-10-2727 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#4 From Books to TED Talk: Pivoting Through Topics and Finding Your Focus with Jeanette HurtIn this episode Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Jeanette Hurt, an award-winning author, culinary historian and TEDx speaker. She has written 15 books, including The Unofficial Aldi Cookbook, Drink Like A Woman, Cauliflower Comfort, and Wisconsin Cocktails. Jeanette also regularly contributes stories and recipes to dozens of magazines, websites and content companies. When she's not writing her own books, she works as a skilled ghostwriter, who helps coax stories, garner inspiration and hone the words of would-be authors and experts. As a recipe developer, Jeanette loves delighting family and friends with her latest experiments in...2022-10-2028 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#3 From Book to Screen: Optioning your Writing with Jack El-HaiIn this episode, Sherry Paprocki and Estelle Erasmus speak with Jack El-Hai, the author of 14 books. Jack writes nonfiction books, longform narratives, podcasts, and the free monthly Damn History newsletter for writers and readers of popular history. He covers history, medicine, science, crime, and anything else that hooks him and he thinks will also hook his audience. Jack also helps physicians learn how to use creative writing to avoid stress and burnout, connect with their patients, enjoy the pleasure of creation, and enjoy the satisfaction of publishing their work. In addition to his newest book T...2022-10-1323 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#2 Writing About Mental Health and Wellness, While Taking Care of Yourself as a Writer featuring Psychologist and Freelance Writer, Dr. Juli FragaIn today’s episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Dr. Juli Fraga, a psychologist and freelance writer in San Francisco. They talk about how Dr. Fraga’s psychology background informs her writing. As a psychology major, Dr. Fraga was fascinated by the complexities of human behavior, especially how our life experiences influence how we relate to ourselves, as well as to others. While completing her Master's degree in psychology, she became interested in women's health concerns and worked as a graduate assistant at the Women's Resource Center where she organized outreach services focused on ea...2022-10-0627 minFreelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.#1 Start Your Freelance Writing Career! About Your Hosts, Sherry Paprocki and Estelle ErasmusIn this episode, Sherry Paprocki and Estelle Erasmus share their stories of how they got started as freelance writers. Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, writing coach, and longtime ASJA member. She is an adjunct writing professor at New York University and writes the “All About the Pitch” column for Writer’s Digest. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Independent, WIRED, Huffington Post Personal, AARP the Magazine, Vox, Insider, Next Avenue, GH, Marie Claire and more. She is the Special Guest Judge for Writer's Digest's 2022 Personal Essay contest. Estelle...2022-10-0625 min
Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.Welcome to the Freelance Writing Direct podcastWelcome to the Freelance Writing Direct podcast. Join Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki every week as they share 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 and Sherry 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. The pair will also share advice from their combined 45+ years of ex...2022-09-2301 min