Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts. #85 Jumping Genres in Writing, and Advice on Successfully Submitting to AWP Featuring Melissa Hart
Oregon-based journalist Melissa Hart is the author of seven books, including the award-winning middle-grade novels Avenging the Owl and Daisy Woodworm Changes the World, and the memoirs Gringa: A Contradictory Girlhood and Wild Within: How Rescuing Owls Inspired a Family. Her articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian, CNN, Slate, The Washington Post, and numerous other publications. She teaches for the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Southern New Hampshire University In 2025, Sourcebooks will publish her nonfiction book Down Syndrome Out Loud: 20+ Stories to Change Your Mind about Disability.
In this episode:
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When it's ok to switch genres in writing [6:00]
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Melissa's framework for writing and researching her new book [9:27]
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The positive and negative aspects of writing a historical piece [15:47]
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Melissa's advice on how to write old topics from new perspectives [16:51]
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Tips for submitting, moderating and titling panels [28:06]
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Encouraging advice for writers at all levels [32:38]
Connect with Melissa:
Website: https://melissahart.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildmelissahart
Instagram: https://instagram.com/WildMelissaHart
Melissa's story for the LA Times
What a Quail Taught Me About Grief By Joining a Flock of Turkeys
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-05-03/quail-turkey-birds-grief
Melissa's article for Hidden Compass
The Vaudevillian Ghosts of Liberty
https://hiddencompass.net/story/the-vaudevillian-ghosts-of-liberty/
Estelle's article that Melissa teaches
Singing My Dad Back to Me
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/well/family/singing-my-dad-back-to-me.html
Sign up for Estelle's Micro Memoir Workshop with Writer's Digest on May 23
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/making-your-mark-with-micro-memoir
FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at
https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter.
Sign up for Estelle's Writing Parenthood Class for NYU
https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/courses/WRIT1-CE9225-writing-parenthood.html
Sign up for Estelle's Personal Essay Class for Writer's Digest
https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals
Connect with Estelle:
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://estelleserasmus.com/books/writing-that-gets-noticed/
Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus
For another episode focused on historical writing, check out episode #58, Writing About Historical Subjects
Estelle's Latest Articles
I'm Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland)
https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a46102451/im-learning-to-listen-in-new-ways/
What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer's Digest)
https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-to-do-pre-launch-to-get-your-book-noticed
How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired)
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-resist-ai-temptation-writing/