Episodes

  • #198 Micro Memoirs with Maximum Impact: Distilling a Life into Seventy 70-Word Stories with Deborah Sosin

    #198 Micro Memoirs with Maximum Impact: Distilling a Life into Seventy 70-Word Stories with Deborah Sosin
    Jul 2 2026
    Welcome to new subscribers. First, an announcement: My first Substack Live in my new series Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story was with former Chatelaine Editor-in-Chief Rona Maynard. Here is the link to the video of our fun and fearless discussion:of our lives in magazines in the 90s and early aughts. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/live-with-estelle-erasmus-and-rona Sign up for my substack to get notified of my upcoming guests and dive with us into the magazine archives to hear behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else. Now for today's episode: How do you distill an entire life into just seventy 70-word stories? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with writer, editor, psychotherapist, and GrubStreet instructor Deborah Sosin about her innovative memoir, Escape Velocity. Inspired by her 70th birthday, Deborah challenged herself to write seventy stories of exactly 70 words each, transforming a creative constraint into a deeply moving exploration of family, identity, generational trauma, aging, and self-discovery. Together, they discuss how tiny stories can carry enormous emotional weight, creating a narrative arc through recurring themes, deciding what to leave on the page and what to leave out, and why limitations can spark creativity. Deborah also shares her path to self-publishing, collaborating with illustrator Anna Hall, and finding the freedom to tell her story on her own terms. Whether you write memoir, personal essays, or flash nonfiction, this conversation offers inspiration and practical insights into making every word count. In this episode: Why Deborah wrote seventy stories of exactly 70 words eachHow constraints can strengthen your writing Techniques for building a larger narrative from small momentsThe role of recurring themes and emotional throughlines in memoir Deborah's journey from concept to self-published book Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrYMaSJvVGY About Deborah Sosin Deborah Sosin, LICSW, is a writer, editor, psychotherapist, and GrubStreet instructor. Her essays have appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, Salon, Cognoscenti, Brevity Blog, Oldster Magazine, Short Reads, The Manifest-Station, two anthologies, and numerous other publications. She is a volunteer reader for In Short: A Journal of Flash Nonfiction. Debbie also authored the award-winning picture book Charlotte and the Quiet Place (Gold INDIEFAB and Silver IPPY); and a clinical workbook, Sober Starting Today. Debbie has an MFA from Lesley University and an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work. Her new memoir, Escape Velocity: How One 70-Year-Old Push-Pulled Her Way Out of Her Too-Much-Not-Enough Family (70 Micro-Memoirs, 70 Words Each), with illustrations by Anna Hall, released in February 2026. Deborah lives outside of Boston. Links Website Substack: Write it Like It Is Get More From Estelle Erasmus My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.
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    32 mins
  • #197 How Dual Timelines Brought a Family Story to Life with Tiffany Graham Charkosky

    #197 How Dual Timelines Brought a Family Story to Life with Tiffany Graham Charkosky
    Jun 25 2026
    Welcome to new subscribers. First, an announcement: My first Substack Live will be with former Chatelaine Editor-in-Chief Rona Maynard on June 25 at 4 p.m. ET. Here is the link to the post: Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/musings-on-magazines-the-story-behind Sign up and dive into the magazine archives with us to hear behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else. I hope to see you there. Now for today's episode: Tiffany Graham Charkosky joins Estelle Erasmus to discuss her debut memoir, Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy. Tiffany shares how she transformed a deeply personal story about genetic testing, inherited cancer risk, and the loss of her mother into a compelling narrative that balances medical realities with emotional resonance. They discuss dual timelines, scene building, revision, metaphor, dialogue, and the challenges of writing about illness without overwhelming readers. Tiffany also reflects on legacy, family history, motherhood, and what it means to tell the story she needed to read herself. They discuss: • Writing a memoir about genetic testing and inherited cancer risk • Using dual timelines to create narrative momentum • Balancing medical information with storytelling • The role of metaphor, dialogue, and scene in memoir • Revision strategies and cutting material that doesn't serve the story • Family legacy, motherhood, grief, and healing • The relationship between advocacy and creative work • Craft lessons for memoir writers Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEp_G4vC25M About Tiffany Tiffany Graham Charkosky's work explores human relationships, medicine, and women's health. Her debut memoir, Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy, was published in 2025. Her writing has appeared in outlets including Oprah Daily, Lit Hub, Electric Literature, Gordon Square Review, and MUTHA Magazine. Tiffany studied English and creative writing at Kenyon College and holds a master's degree in urban planning, design, and development from Cleveland State University. She serves as Director of Arts & Culture at Cleveland Public Library and lives with her family in Northeast Ohio. LinksWebsite: https://tiffanygrahamcharkosky.comInstagram: @tiffanygrahamcharkosky Get More From Estelle Erasmus My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond BookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers." Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About EstelleEstelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.
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    36 mins
  • #196 Going Back Through Time to Get the Story: Dionne Ford on Family History, Reporting, and Memoir

    #196 Going Back Through Time to Get the Story: Dionne Ford on Family History, Reporting, and Memoir
    Jun 18 2026
    In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with acclaimed author Dionne Ford about her memoir Go Back and Get It, a powerful exploration of family history, ancestry, and identity. Dionne shares how journalistic research, personal reflection, and historical investigation came together to help her uncover the stories of her enslaved ancestors while examining themes that continue to resonate in her own life. She also discusses the craft of blending memoir with history, navigating difficult family truths, and the importance of preserving stories for future generations. They discuss The inspiration behind Go Back and Get It Researching family history and ancestral stories Blending memoir, journalism, and historical narrative Writing about difficult personal experiencesThe concept of Sankofa and "going back to get it" Craft techniques for weaving multiple narrative threads Resources for historical and genealogical research Advice for writers exploring family stories Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/JhmE6CD5D8Y About Dionne Ford Dionne Ford is author of Go Back and Get It, a 2024 finalist for the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Award and co-editor of the anthology Slavery's Descendants. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Virginia Quarterly Review, LitHub, The Boston Globe, and Ebony among other publications and won awards from the the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Newswomen's Club of New York. She teaches creative writing as an adjunct at Fordham University and is editor of Lynchings in the North, an initiative of NYU's journalism program. Website: https://www.dionneford.com Instagram X Get More From Estelle Erasmus My first Substack Live will be with the former Editor-in-Chief of Chatelaine, Rona Maynard on June 25 at 4 pm ET. Here is the link to the post: Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story. Sign up here https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/musings-on-magazines-the-story-behind. I hope to see you there.My next editor-on-call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16 with the executive editor and publisher of Electric Literature, Denne Michele Norris. Here is the link to that event. https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literaturesPrivate Small-Group Memoir/Essay ClassMy Next 6-week session that begins September 2026 has one more spot left. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details.WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and BeyondBookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers."Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct and an adjunct professor at NYU. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. She has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.
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    31 mins
  • #195 Writing Through Brain Fog, Chronic Illness, and Uncertainty with Rachel Weaver

    #195 Writing Through Brain Fog, Chronic Illness, and Uncertainty with Rachel Weaver
    Jun 11 2026
    What happens when you wake up one day dizzy and it never stops? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with acclaimed author Rachel Weaver about her powerful new memoir, Dizzy. Rachel shares how she navigated nearly two decades of chronic illness before finding relief, and how she transformed that experience into a compelling braided memoir that weaves together her years working in the Alaskan wilderness, her medical journey, motherhood, marriage, and questions of power, resilience, and identity. Rachel discusses: • Why she chose to open Dizzy with the dramatic scene of falling through the ice in Alaska • How nature became a source of metaphor throughout the memoir • The surprising parallels between encounters with bears and encounters with doctors • Writing through brain fog, screen sensitivity, and chronic illness • How she developed the book's braided structure • Avoiding repetition in an illness narrative • Finding an ending for a memoir when the story is still unfolding • The five-year process of writing and revising Dizzy • Why writers should focus on process before product • The path to publication for both Dizzy and her forthcoming novel, The Last Run Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU7-lLHkHEM About Rachel Weaver Rachel Weaver is the author of the memoir Dizzy and the novel Point of Direction, which was named a Top 10 Book to Pick Up Now by O, The Oprah Magazine and won the Willa Cather Award for Fiction. Her forthcoming novel, The Last Run, publishes in June 2026. Before earning her MFA in Writing and Poetics from Naropa University, Rachel worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Alaska studying bears, raptors, and songbirds. She teaches at Wilkes University and Lighthouse Writers Workshop and holds a Certification of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University. Learn more at: Rachel Weaver's website Get More From Estelle Erasmus Check out My Latest Substack Post: Step Into My Time Capsule: Back When Print Magazines Ruled https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/step-into-my-time-capsule-back-whenEstelle on My First Byline (a walk down memory lane as a former beauty editor at Woman's World) https://yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/my-first-byline-estelle-erasmusPrivate Small-Group Memoir/Essay ClassMy Next 6-week session that begins September 2026 has one more spot left. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details.Read & SubscribeSubstack: NEW post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. My next Editor-on-Call event is September 16. Sign up for my substack to get notified early.WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and BeyondBookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers."Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct and an adjunct professor at NYU. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. She has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.
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    31 mins
  • #194 Why Wade Rouse Finally Wrote the Book He Was Meant to Write

    #194 Why Wade Rouse Finally Wrote the Book He Was Meant to Write
    Jun 4 2026
    Just in time for Pride month, in this heartfelt and often hilarious conversation, Estelle Erasmus talks with USA Today bestselling author Wade Rouse and his husband, Gary Edwards, about Wade's deeply personal new novel, That's What Friends Are For. After publishing bestselling novels under the pen name Viola Shipman, Wade shares why he felt compelled to write this story under his own name and how The Golden Girls, grief, aging, friendship, and his experience growing up gay in the Missouri Ozarks inspired the book. Wade and Gary discuss: • Why Wade chose to step away from an established brand and publish under his own name • How The Golden Girls helped him connect with his mother and grandmother after a family tragedy • Creating four unforgettable characters inspired by the spirit, not the stereotypes, of television's most beloved sitcom • The importance of found family and community • Writing about aging, mortality, second chances, and late-life love • The role Gary plays as Wade's husband, business partner, and self-described "Kim Kardashian stage mom" • Building a sustainable writing career and the realities of the publishing business • Why readers connect so deeply with authenticity • The value of humor, pop culture references, and trusting your creative instincts This conversation is filled with wisdom about storytelling, reinvention, resilience, and what it means to finally become comfortable in your own skin. Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUzg0GrzXLQ About My Guests Wade Rouse is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of five memoirs and twelve novels. His novels, written under the pen name Viola Shipman in honor of his grandmother, have been selected as must-reads by NBC's Today Show and named Michigan Notable Books. His latest novel, That's What Friends Are For, is published under his own name. It was a national bestseller, a BookBub Best New Fiction and Most Uplifting Book of the Year, a Zibby Media Most Anticipated Book of 2026, and featured on CBS-NY/Club Calvi Book Club. Wade's next book, The Bluff, will publish October 13. It is a Christmas novel and family drama inspired by the holiday classic, The Family Stone, and romance classic, Somewhere in Time, and set on Mackinac Island. Gary Edwards left a successful sales career to help Wade build and sustain his writing career. He manages social media, events, book tours, reader engagement, and the thriving Wine, Words & Wade community, while serving as Wade's biggest champion and creative partner. Connect with Wade Rouse Website: ViolaShipman.com (https://violashipman.com) Website: WadeRouse.com (https://waderouse.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) Get More From Estelle Erasmus Estelle on My First Byline (a walk down memory lane as a former beauty editor at Woman's World) https://yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/my-first-byline-estelle-erasmusPrivate Small-Group Memoir/Essay ClassMy Next 6-week session that begins September 2026 has two more spots left. Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details.Read & SubscribeSubstack: NEW post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. My next Editor-on-Call event is September 16. Sign up for my substack to get notified early.WatchEstelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and BeyondBookWriting That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers."Listen/WatchFreelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast About Estelle Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct and an adjunct professor at NYU. Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. She has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines. Follow Estelle Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.
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    37 mins
  • #193 Restorative Writing with Carolyn Roy-Bornstein

    #193 Restorative Writing with Carolyn Roy-Bornstein
    May 28 2026

    In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus speaks with Carolyn Roy-Bornstein about restorative writing, burnout, and healing through storytelling.

    Carolyn shares how writing became a lifeline after her son survived a devastating car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. She explains how journaling and narrative writing helped her process ambiguous grief, anger, and emotional isolation, ultimately inspiring her new book, A Prescription for Burnout: Restorative Writing for Healthcare Professionals. The book offers practical advice for anyone struggling with burnout or emotional exhaustion, whether they work in medicine or simply feel overwhelmed by modern life.

    Together, Estelle and Carolyn discuss:
    • Why expressive writing has been linked to improved emotional and physical health
    • How writing can help healthcare professionals manage burnout and secondary trauma
    • The science behind writing and stress reduction
    • Narrative medicine and the importance of bearing witness
    • Using prompts to unlock scene, dialogue, and emotional truth
    • The role of writing in building resilience, self-awareness, and professional identity
    • Why even 15 minutes of writing can make a difference
    • How to structure a prescriptive nonfiction book around reader transformation
    • Carolyn's experience publishing with Johns Hopkins University Press and navigating peer review

    Watch on YouTube

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I360StNGvQ

    About Carolyn Roy-Bornstein
    Carolyn Roy-Bornstein is a board-certified pediatrician, former registered nurse, and writer-in-residence at the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, where she teaches narrative medicine. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, JAMA, Poets & Writers, and many other publications. She lives and writes in Maine and Massachusetts.

    Links
    Carolyn's website: www.carolynroybornstein.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.roybornstein
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-roy-bornstein-8a329636/

    Follow Estelle
    Website: https://estelleserasmus.com
    Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ
    Find her on Instagram/TikTok/X/BlueSky/Threads: @estelleserasmus
    NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-pitch-provokedmagazine-inside
    Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

    About Estelle Erasmus
    Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

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    32 mins
  • #192 How to Get Published inThe Persistent with Features Editor Paula Derrow

    #192 How to Get Published inThe Persistent with Features Editor Paula Derrow
    May 21 2026

    How to Get Published in The Persistent with Features Editor Paula Derrow

    What makes a pitch stand out in today's crowded publishing landscape? And what exactly are editors looking for from writers right now?

    In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus speaks with writer and editor Paula Derrow, Features Editor at The Persistent, the feminist publication known for publishing voice-driven, intellectually sharp stories centered on women's experiences.

    Paula shares how The Persistent was founded by former New York Times editor Francesca Donner to create a space where women's stories could take center stage without compromise. She also opens up about why working there feels like a "dream job" after decades in glossy magazines.

    In this episode:
    • The kinds of pitches that grab Paula's attention
    • Why feminist, funny, counterintuitive, and intellectually ambitious ideas rise to the top
    • The difference between riffs, essays, Q&As, and reported features
    • Why editors are increasingly asking for essay pitches instead of completed drafts
    • What "intellectual heft" means in practice
    • How The Persistent works collaboratively with writers through deep editorial relationships
    • What writers can expect in terms of rates, rights, and editing process
    • How to get in touch with Paula

    Paula also reflects on the evolution of women's media, the realities of publishing after the magazine boom years, and why she believes strong editor-writer relationships still matter deeply.

    Whether you're pitching essays, reported features, or cultural criticism, this conversation offers an inside look at what editors want and how writers can better position their ideas in today's media landscape.

    Watch on YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a1SDzE_lLY

    Read and sign up for The Persistent
    https://www.thepersistent.com

    Follow Paula

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-derrow-52814014/

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

    Follow Estelle
    Website: https://estelleserasmus.com
    Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ
    Instagram/TikTok/X/BlueSky/Threads: @estelleserasmus
    NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. All the intel you need to get published there including a free pitching guide and portal link. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-pitch-provokedmagazine-inside
    Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

    About Estelle Erasmus
    Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct, and share it with the writers in your life.

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    28 mins
  • #191 Writing Characters Who Make Questionable Decisions with Vanessa Hua

    #191 Writing Characters Who Make Questionable Decisions with Vanessa Hua
    May 14 2026

    What makes readers care about flawed characters making questionable decisions? In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with bestselling author Vanessa Hua about her new novel Coyoteland and the craft behind creating emotionally layered fiction filled with tension, community, family dynamics, and difficult choices.

    They discuss:
    • Writing omniscient and multiple point-of-view narration
    • Why flawed characters create compelling stories
    • Building escalating stakes in fiction
    • Using setting as an active force in storytelling
    • How journalism shaped Vanessa's fiction writing
    • Reverse-engineering stories to improve craft
    • The importance of empathy in storytelling
    • Writing family, community, and social tension
    • Balancing multiple writing projects at once
    • Why movement and listening to your manuscript aloud can strengthen revision

    Vanessa also shares insights into writing morally complex characters while exploring the hidden pressures shaping modern communities and relationships.

    Watch on YouTube

    https://youtu.be/KP9W2VZT5Nk

    About Vanessa Hua

    Vanessa Hua is the author of the national bestsellers A River of Stars and Forbidden City, as well as the story collection Deceit and Other Possibilities, a New York Times Editors' Pick. A National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellow, she has also received a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a California Arts Council Fellowship, and a Steinbeck Fellowship in Creative Writing, as well as honors from the de Groot Foundation, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Asian American Journalists Association, among others. Previously, she was an award-winning columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. She teaches at the Warren Wilson MFA Program, Sewanee Writers Conference, and elsewhere. Her book of narrative nonfiction, Uprooted, is forthcoming.

    Links & Resources:
    Vanessa    :
    Website: http://www.vanessahua.com
    Instagram: @mononoke97
    Facebook: @vanessahuawriter
    Bluesky: r@vanessahua.bsky.social

    Estelle
    Website: https://estelleserasmus.com
    Watch Estelle's TEDx Talk How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ
    Instagram/X/TikTok/BlueSky: @EstelleSErasmus
    NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. All the intel you need to get published there including a free pitching guide and portal link. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/how-to-pitch-provokedmagazine-inside
    Subscribe for exclusive info and podcast clips: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

    About Estelle Erasmus
    Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career.

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    25 mins