#134 Writing a Memoir That’s Also an Industry Exposé Featuring Hannah Selinger

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I’m so excited to welcome all my new readers, listeners, and followers—thank you for being here! I’m especially honored that Freelance Writing Direct was named 2025 Podcast of the Year in the Education category by the American Writing Awards.

Educating through the podcast—whether via my guests’ insights or my own perspective from 30 years in publishing (as an assigning editor, journalist, essayist, and writing teacher)—is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

Today’s episode focuses on memoir that is also a deep dive into the issues in an industry–namely the restaurant industry in Hannah Selinger’s case. We discuss how she excavated her memories of a fraught and chaotic time in her life, and published them, first in an essay that went viral, and then in her book Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly.

In This Episode

How Hannah transitioned from essayist to memoirist with her debut Cellar Rat
The toxic culture and power dynamics inside the restaurant and wine industry
Why she chose to name names, including a celebrity chef, and what happened next
The role of personal narrative in exposing abuse and demanding change
How her viral essay led to a book deal and broader conversations
Tips for writing personal essays that resonate and build toward a memoir
Insights on vulnerability, courage, and truth-telling in nonfiction writing
What she hopes readers will take away from her story

Watch on YouTube

About Hannah

Hannah Selinger, author of Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly, is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and mother of two based in Boxford, MA. Her print and digital work has appeared in the New YorkTimes Magazine, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Eater, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and elsewhere. Her 2021 Bon Appétit essay, “In My Childhood Kitchen, I Learned Both Fear and Love,” is anthologized in the 2022 Best American Food Writing collection, published by HarperCollins and edited by Sohla El-Waylly.

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Sign up for Estelle’s Substack(for craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests.

Read Estelle’s latest post on Substack (and an offer to paid subscribers) Why Your Memoir Title Matters More Than You Think (And How to Nail It)

Classes

Email her at [email protected] to get on the list for her next personal essay writing class (in October) and find out how to secure your spot.

Her newest NYU class now taking registrations is Writing About Your Life Through Memoir, Essays and Articles.

Webinars

Sign up for her Webinar on April 24th from 1:00-2:30 pm ET for Writer’s Digest: Layering Throughlines and Timelines into Your Essays and Books to Pack a Punch. It will be generative, informational, and interactive.