#152 Estelle's Edge on Going Viral: How to Protect Your Energy and Leverage the Moment

Estelle Erasmus walks you through the exhilarating and sometimes overwhelming experience of going viral as a writer. With multiple viral articles under her belt (featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, HuffPost, and more), Estelle shares hard-earned wisdom on how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster, manage the spotlight, and make the most of sudden visibility.

Whether your piece is trending online, being picked up internationally, or even discussed on national TV, this episode gives you the tools to handle the moment with grace, clarity, and strategy.

In this episode:

• What going viral really means in the publishing and media world [1:18]

• Estelle's personal experiences with viral essays and the unexpected outcomes [2:02]

• How to prepare for the emotional and logistical aftermath of virality [3:37]

• Why setting boundaries (auto-responders, media filters, social media limits) is essential [6:09]

• Strategies for turning viral momentum into long-term career opportunities (book deals, speaking gigs, newsletter growth, more) [11:45]

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/NUCd5P-Zdk0

Article Referenced: When to Reply on Social Media...And When To Not (Wired)

https://www.wired.com/story/when-to-reply-on-social-media-and-when-to-not/

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

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

• 📰 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"

• 🎧 More episodes: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast

• Read Estelle's latest article How to Use the Internet to Become Your Own Private Investigator (Next Avenue/PBS)

Classes:

📝 One spot left in Estelle's September/October 6-week Zoom fiction class. Email: freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for info.

Follow Estelle:

• Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus

• TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus

• Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus

• BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social