Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.

Kim Foley MacKinnon is a Boston-based editor, journalist, and travel writer. She is the executive editor of Girl Camper Magazine, and is currently serving as the president of the Society of American Travel Writers, the country's most esteemed travel writing organization. Over the past 15 years, her work has appeared in the Boston Globe, AAA Horizons, Daily Candy, Global Traveler, Business Traveller, Lola, Boston Herald, Parents magazine, Bay State Parent, and many other publications. She has also written four guidebooks and contributed to several others. Her latest book is 100 Things to Do on Cape Cod & the Islands. In this episode: How Kim started writing about travel. Advice for getting started writing in the travel industry. Finding your niche in travel writing. Details on joining Society of American Travel Writers Connect with Kim: Website: https://www.escapewithkim.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-foley-mackinnon-160b996/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapewithkim/ Girl Camper: https://girlcamper.com Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/teaching-speaking/ Estelle's Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://lnkd.in/eyxFTpcA Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.

Sheryl Ziegler, Psy.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Play Therapist in private practice. She is the author of Mommy Burnout: how to reclaim your life and raise healthier children in the process. She is a regular national and local news contributor on topics related to parenting and mental health and did a Tedx talk on "Why Moms are Miserable" which is all about the power of connection. She is the host of Dr. Sheryl's PodCouch and the founder of the parent-child puberty course, Start with the Talk. She is a frequent speaker on chronic stress, parenting and burnout both in the workplace and at home. Dr. Ziegler is Colorado's NBC affiliate (9News) Parenting Expert for the franchise series Mental Health & Me. In this episode: Tips and tricks on getting great sound bites from the people you are interviewing. Examples of effective sound bites — and why they work. The benefits of working with a ghostwriter. Connect with Sheryl: Website: https://drsherylziegler.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrSherylZiegler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsherylziegler/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsherylziegler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mommyburnout Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/teaching-speaking/ Estelle's Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://lnkd.in/eyxFTpcA Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.

Shelby Leigh is a bestselling poet who writes about mental health, self love, healing, and more. She is a mental health advocate and a book marketing strategist. She has been writing on internet for more than 7 years, amassing a following of more than 500,000 readers. She is the author of the #1 best selling book Changing with the Tides, and just released the book Girl Made of Glass. Shelby empowers writers to show up on social media and promote their books through courses and guides. In this episode: How Shelby started sharing her poems online. The marketing aspect of writing a book. "BookTok" and advice for creating content on TikTok. Connect with Shelby: Website: https://shelbyleigh.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyleighpoetry/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shelbyleighpoetry Twitter: https://twitter.com/shelbyleighpoet YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shelbyleighpoetry Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/classes Estelle's Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://lnkd.in/eyxFTpcA Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people.

Stacey is a former senior editor at Remodeling Magazine, and today she writes mostly about the Build World from her home in Pittsford, New York. You can find her by-lines in publications like Better Homes and Gardens and USA Today Special Interest Publications, AARP online; Forbes.com; REALTOR magazine; Professional Builder; Products; Professional Remodeler; Custom Builder; Timber Home Living, Country's Best Cabins, Remodeling, Window & Door Magazine, Rochester Magazine, Canandaigua Magazine, Net Assets; AKC's Family Dog; Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Washington Post, Baltimore Jewish Times. She is also the co-author of Hiking the Catskills: A Guide to the Area's Greatest Hikes. Stacey holds an MFA from George Mason University and has taught writing at George Mason, George Washington, Marymount and Georgetown University. She also teaches at the writers center in Washington D.C. and Writers and Books in Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. Her essay, Tourist No More, which is her contribution to the book She Can Find Her Way: Women Travelers at Their Best was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is currently working on a novel. When not writing, Stacey loves to hike, read and bake – but, of course, not all at once. In this episode: The importance of creating relationships with editors. Tips Stacey learned through her journey in freelancing. How Stacey balanced writing a book, while still writing and publishing articles. Stacey's advice on productivity. Connect with Stacey: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-freed-0099573/ Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/classes Estelle's Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://lnkd.in/eyxFTpcA Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.

In this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Allison K. Williams. Allison has edited and coached writers to deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, Spencer Hill, St. Martin's, and independent presses. She has guided essayists to publication in the New Yorker, Time, the Guardian, the New York Times, McSweeney's, and TED Talks. As Social Media Editor for Brevity, she inspires thousands of writers with blogs on craft and the writing life. She's also the author of Get Published in Literary Magazines. A former circus performer, Allison has written for NPR, CBC-Canada, the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, Creative Nonfiction, McSweeney's, Kenyon Review Online and Travelers' Tales. In this episode: Allison's journey from circus performer to writer and editor Tips for self-editing your work The benefit of writing retreats Connect with Allison: Website: https://allisonkwilliams.com Get Seven Drafts: http://sevendrafts.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/guerillamemoir Facebook: awilliamscdn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guerillamemoir/ Allison's upcoming class: Project Memoir April 20 - June 8, 2023 https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1Pmsc4NUcGaf3lXpvt2NbqQfMRaSBAgBX Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/classes Estelle's Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://lnkd.in/eyxFTpcA Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.

In this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speak with Noah Michelson. Noah is the Editorial Director of HuffPost Personal and the host of "D Is For Desire," HuffPost's love and sex podcast. He joined HuffPost in 2011 to launch and oversee the site's first vertical dedicated to queer issues, Queer Voices, and went on to oversee all of HuffPost's community sections before pivoting to create and run HuffPost Personal in 2018. He received his MFA in Poetry from New York University and has served as a commentator for the BBC, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, Current TV, Fuse, Sirius XM and HuffPost Live. In this episode: Noah's unlikely start to his career in journalism. The emotional impact of telling stories that resonate. What Noah looks for in a story from a writer. Connect with Noah: HuffPost Profile: https://www.huffpost.com/author/noah-michelson Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoahMichelson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noahmichelson1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NoahMichelson/ Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/classes Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://lnkd.in/eyxFTpcA Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.

In this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki spoke with editor/author, Alan Henry. Alan Henry is the author of Seen, Heard, and Paid: The New Work Rules for the Marginalized. He is a service journalist and editor who writes and commissions stories that help readers make better use of technology and embrace a healthier relationship with it in their lives. He is currently the special projects editor at WIRED. He was previously the Smarter Living editor at the New York Times, and before that the editor in chief of the productivity and lifestyle blog Lifehacker. In this episode: Connecting with editors and understanding what they want to publish. How to be seen in the workplace. Henry's tips for freelancers on writing and self-editing. Advice on working with a publishing company. Connect with Alan: Email: alan_henry@wired.com Personal Email: alanhenry@novaworks.net Website: https://www.alan-henry.net Twitter: https://twitter.com/halophoenix Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/classes Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://lnkd.in/eyxFTpcA Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.

In this episode, Estelle Erasmus speaks with News Anchor, Jen Maxfield. Jen Maxfield is an Emmy-award-winning reporter and anchor for NBC New York in 2013. Prior to joining the station, she worked for Eyewitness news as a reporter and substitute anchor for 10 years. She started her broadcasting career in 2000 in upstate New York and moved to the city in 2002. She has reported live from 1000s of news events over her 22-year career and estimates that she has interviewed more than 10,000 people. In addition to being a journalist, she is an adjunct professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, teaching courses in broadcast journalism including Video 1 and On-Air skills. Maxfield's first book, More After the Break: A Reporter Returns to Ten Unforgettable News Stories, the book was published in July 2022 and was an instant Amazon bestseller. She loves coming back to her alma mater to educate a new generation of journalists. In this episode: Writing a book that elicits strong emotions and navigating those feelings. The value of community. Jen's tips for 'writing for the ear' aka television, radio, and video. Interviewing techniques for broadcast journalism. Advice on facing rejection and not allowing the word "no" to get in your way. Connect with Jen: Website: https://www.jenmaxfield.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenmaxfieldnews/ Purchase More After the Break: https://www.jenmaxfield.com/author/ Send us an email: freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/classes Estelle's Editor-on-Call event March 2nd in collaboration with NYU: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/editor-on-call-tips-from-a-new-york-times-editor-to-get-you-published-tickets-478568911497 Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1608688364?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_MF3W8GPJA1AN4R0CDR69&fbclid=IwAR04EFtFpEblIwFS1odm8ERpr5feWjEzgGrs5apqzTn3GaI8s_vzpIXEGlc Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.

In this episode, Sherry Paprocki speaks with Michelle Rafter. Michelle has spent her career writing about business and technology, first as a newspaper reporter, then as a freelance reporter, columnist, and editor for national and local publications. Today, she ghostwrites books, research reports, and thought leadership articles on business, enterprise technology, and the future of work for CEOs and global consulting firms. Michelle is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). She lives in Portland, OR with her family and wire fox terrier, Juniper. Off the clock, she loves strength training, the New York Times Spelling Bee, hanging out with her 3 adult children, reading, and watching movies. In this episode: How Michelle began her career in newspapers and transitioned to freelance writing. Building long-lasting relationships within the writing industry Michelle's tips for other freelance writers Connect with Michelle: Website: https://michellerafter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellerafter/ Send us an email: freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/classes Estelle's Editor-on-Call event March 2nd in collaboration with NYU: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/editor-on-call-tips-from-a-new-york-times-editor-to-get-you-published-tickets-478568911497 Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/writing-that-gets-noticed-estelle-erasmus/1142384174 Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.

In this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Sherry Paprocki speaks with Tami Kamin Meyer. Tami is an attorney and freelance writer based in Columbus Ohio. She writes primarily about law, business, cannabis, health, and travel for Forbes, MarketWatch, Better Homes and Gardens, Next Avenue, Your Teen, National Trial Lawyer, and Ohio Magazine, to name a few. She is an active member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, where she is Chair of the Marketing/Communications Committee. As Editor of Write Now Columbus, Kamin Meyer oversees a monthly e-newsletter about the burgeoning literary scene in central Ohio. In 2020, she was named to the Board of Editors of the Columbus Bar Association. In this episode: Integrating Law and Writing into a niche. Transitioning from being an attorney to full time freelance writing. When to get a Lawyer to review contracts Connect with Tami: Website: https://tamikaminmeyer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamikaminmeyer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamikaminmeyer/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/girlwithapen Send us an email: freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com Connect with Estelle: Website: https://estelleserasmus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/ Estelle's Classes: https://estelleserasmus.com/classes Estelle's Editor-on-Call event March 2nd in collaboration with NYU: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/editor-on-call-tips-from-a-new-york-times-editor-to-get-you-published-tickets-478568911497 Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: Available for pre-order. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/writing-that-gets-noticed-estelle-erasmus/1142384174 Connect with Sherry: Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki Book: www.freelancefancy.com If you've enjoyed our podcast, please leave us a review. Reviews help bring our podcast in front of more people. We want to hear from you. For questions, ideas for future episodes, and thoughts on our episodes, email us at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com.