Estelle Erasmus sits down with literary agent Maria Whelan of Inkwell Management, recently recognized by Poets & Writers as one of today’s top literary advocates. In this candid conversation, Maria shares what’s capturing her attention in the publishing world right now—from standout nonfiction proposals to magical realism, horror with heart, and even Loch Ness Monster romance.

She discusses her “career agent” philosophy, how hybrid paths like Substack are reshaping publishing, and the query mistakes she sees over and over. If you’re looking for agent insight—or want to better understand how to pitch a project that stands out—this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode:

• What most writers overlook in nonfiction proposals

• How to query memoir, fiction, and children’s books effectively

• Why passion and originality matter more than chasing trends

• How the publishing landscape has shifted post-pandemic

• The role of writing groups and community in an author’s success

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p64Mlq0nQhE

About Maria

Maria graduated from University College Dublin then obtained her Masters in Modern Literature from the University of Edinburgh. Before joining InkWell, she worked as a Foreign Rights Assistant at Janklow & Nesbit and worked at Akashic Books. Maria enjoys a blend of literary and commercial fiction, as well as speculative fiction, horror, and magical realism. She is particularly fond of novels that straddle the cultural divide. She is looking for books in the fiction and nonfiction space that speak to the current cultural moment or examine overlooked facets of society. Some of her authors include Luke Dumas, Joselyn Takacs, Katrina Kittle, Audrey Burges, Dima Alzayat, Luna McNamara, and Vinod Busjeet.

Connect with Maria

X: @mariarwhelan

IG: mariawhelann

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-whelan-56733472/

Submit to Inkwell: https://inkwellmanagement.com/submissions

If you haven’t yet—watch Estelle’s TEDx Talk:

How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

In this bold, funny, and widely shared talk, Estelle blends personal storytelling with the real-world writing strategies she’s 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

In the first of several short, bite-sized solo episodes on TEDx Talks, Estelle Erasmus shares the exact strategy behind her own talk—how she discovered the right idea, built a strong structure, and delivered a message that resonated with thousands. Whether you're applying to give a talk or refining one you’ve already booked, this episode offers practical tools to help your TEDx Talk connect, teach, and stick.

In this episode:

• What TEDx organizers look for (and what to avoid) [2:21]

• Why your talk needs an idea—not just a personal story [3:58]

• Tips for blending story, research, and message [6:43]

• The three teaching tenets Estelle builds her talk around [7:27]

• Why circling back to your opening creates resonance [7:34]

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

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/

Editor and author Michele Filgate returns with a powerful follow-up to her bestselling anthology What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About—this time turning the lens on fatherhood.

In this episode, Estelle Erasmus chats with Michele about the personal and professional transformations that shaped What My Father and I Don’t Talk About, how TikTok gave her earlier book a second life, and what it really takes to build a lasting literary career.

In this episode:

• What changed between publishing her first and second anthology [2:26]

• The unexpected TikTok virality that reignited interest in her debut [4:20]

• How grief, marriage, and motherhood shaped her latest work [10:12]

• What it takes to edit a balanced, emotionally resonant collection [12:24]

• Advice for writers looking to create and publish anthologies [13:44]

• Why literary citizenship is crucial to a sustainable writing career [18:01]

• Michelle’s next chapter: turning inward to publish her own book [23:31]

Watch on YouTube

Michele Filgate is the editor of What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About and What My Father and I Don’t Talk About. Her writing has appeared in Longreads, Poets & Writers, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Paris Review Daily, Tin House, Gulf Coast, Oprah Daily, and many other publications. She received her MFA in Fiction from NYU, where she was the recipient of the Stein Fellowship. She teaches creative writing at The New School.

Connect with Michele:

Website

Get her book

Episodes Mentioned

Kelly McMasters Episode #41

Joanna Rakoff: Episode #87

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 | Listen to the Audiobook
📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras. Latest post How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen
🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips

Follow Estelle:
📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky

AI is disrupting the writing industry—fast. But what does that mean for you as a freelance writer, content creator, or journalist?

In this Summer Shorts with Estelle solo episode, I share my editorial perspective on the recent Chicago Sun-Times controversy involving an AI-generated listicle that included fake book titles attributed to real authors.

You'll learn:

• Why listicles and content marketing assignments are disappearing [3:38]

• What types of editorial content are most vulnerable to AI outsourcing [6:09]

• How ghostwriting and white papers are emerging as higher-paying, human-centered alternatives [9:30]

• Why editorial integrity and fact-checking are more essential than ever in the AI era [11:13]

• How to tell the difference between short-term panic and long-term opportunity [11:51]

Want context on where the industry is heading? Don’t miss my 2025 Forecast episode:

How to Steer Through the Publishing Gauntlet https://estelleserasmus.com/119-solo-episode-estelles-edge-on-steering-through-the-publishing-gauntlet/

And 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 | Listen to the Audiobook
📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras. Latest posts Stop Counting Words. Start Shaping Your Story (and a bonus for paid subscribers) and How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen
🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips

Follow Estelle:
📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky

What does it mean to grow up in a world that doesn’t fully reflect your identity? In this episode, covering memoir, race, religion, the stories we’re told, and the ones we learn to write ourselves, Estelle Erasmus sits down with writer and memoirist Shannon Luders-Manuel, author of The One Who Loves You: A Memoir of Growing Up Biracial in a Black and White World. Shannon shares the deeply personal journey behind her memoir, which explores her childhood growing up mixed-race in a predominantly white family, her complex relationship with her Black father, and how those dynamics shaped her identity, relationships, and voice as a writer.

In this episode:

• The story behind the book’s title and structure [3:31]

• How Shannon used personal artifacts, like journals and letters, to write memoir [6:08]

• The challenges and emotional truths of writing about family [7:15]

• Writing scenes, trusting memory, and tips for memoirists [15:02]

• How religion, race, and belonging intersected in Shannon’s upbringing [18:37]

• Her experience as a sensitivity reader and why nuance matters [19:46]

Shannon Luders-Manuel is the author of The One Who Loves You: A Memoir of Gorwing Up Biracial in a Black and White World (Lawrence Hill Books, 2025). Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, JSTOR Daily, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among others. She holds an M.A. in English literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and performs sensitivity reads for major publishers, providing feedback on Black and mixed-race characters and issues.

Connect with Shannon:

Website

https://www.shannonludersmanuel.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/shannon.ludersmanuel

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/shannon_luders_manuel

Threads

https://www.threads.com/@shannon_luders_manuel

Watch Estelle’s TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

In her widely shared TEDx Talk, Estelle Erasmus reveals how to command attention in a noisy world—starting with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine. It’s bold, funny, and packed with real-world strategies for writers who want to be seen and heard.
🎥 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 | Listen to the Audiobook
📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras
🎓 Sign Up for Estelle’s NYU Classes
🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips

Follow Estelle:
📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky