#145 Solo Episode: Estelle's Edge on Essays—Mining Your Life For Stories That Get Noticed

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 [7:48]

• How to pitch a coaching episode or get more from her Substack [8:37]

If you haven't yet—watch my TEDx Talk:

How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

In this bold, funny, and widely shared talk, I blend personal storytelling with the real-world writing strategies I've developed as a longtime magazine editor, NYU professor, and writing coach. It all starts with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine—and builds into a powerful message about how to stand out in a crowded, noisy world, no matter the medium.

📺 Watch, comment, and share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ

About Estelle: Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest and adjunct instructor at NYU, she's written for over 150 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine, and has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

Explore More:

Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the book: https://rb.gy/0dpdcs

Audiobook version: https://tinyurl.com/yskfj2zv

Subscribe on Substack for craft tips, pitch advice, and podcast extras: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com

Latest posts: "Stop Counting Your Words. Start Shaping Your Story—And a Bonus for Paid Subscribers." and "How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen"

Listen to more episodes of Freelance Writing Direct: https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast

Follow Estelle:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social

Student Spotlight

Barbra Cosentino, one of Estelle's students, began working on this personal essay in Estelle's class. It later evolved into this beautiful, published piece that reflects the kind of storytelling we explore in this episode.

Read it here: "My Mother, Floating in the Atlantic Ocean"—Next Avenue

https://www.nextavenue.org/my-mother-floating-in-the-atlantic-ocean/