Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts. #151 Estelle's Edge on the 2025 U.S. Book Show: AI, Publishing, and the Future of Writing
In this solo episode, Estelle Erasmus recaps her experience at the 2025 U.S. Book Show, where over 800 publishing professionals gathered at the New York Academy of Medicine. Drawing on her 30+ years in the industry, Estelle brings her insider lens to the conversations shaping the future of writing.
She shares intel from panels with top executives like Jonathan Karp (CEO of Simon & Schuster) and David Shelley (CEO of Hachette Book Group), along with her own sharp insights about what's shifting in the publishing landscape—from AI disruption to author platform evolution.
In this episode:
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Why publishing with the Big Five isn't as easy as it used to be—and how they are supporting indie presses in an unlikely area [1:54]
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Why human instinct and editorial intuition still matter— even in an algorithm-driven industry [9:07]
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Why mentorship, networking, and in-person collaboration matter more than ever for young professionals [10:27]
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Smart ways authors can grow their platform beyond social media: (think: newsletters, blogs, and thought leadership) [14:32]
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Related Episodes
#141 Estelle's Edge On How AI is Disrupting Content Marketing
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#90 Estelle's Edge on the U.S. Book Show 2024
https://estelleserasmus.com/90-bonus-episode-estelles-edge-on-the-u-s-book-show-2024/
Get More from Estelle:📬 Newsletter + FREE Pitching Guide Find out more about this episode and get Estelle's free pitching guide when you sign up for her newsletter: https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast
🎤 TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Estelle blends personal storytelling with actionable strategies for standing out—starting with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine. 📺 Watch, comment, and share
And check out episode #145 Where I talk about how to shape a TEDx Talk, in the first of several episodes related to my Talk
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 professor at NYU, her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine. She's served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.
Explore More:-
📘 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the book | Audiobook
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📰 Subscribe on Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Latest posts: "Stop Counting Your Words. Start Shaping Your Story" and "How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen"
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🎧 More episodes: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast
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Read Estelle's latest article How to Use the Internet to Become Your Own Private Investigator (Next Avenue/PBS)
📝 Two spots left in Estelle's September/October 6-week Zoom fiction class. Email: freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for info.
Follow Estelle:
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Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus
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TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus
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Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus
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