Listen:
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all your memories, journals, and drafts, wondering how to shape them into a book people will actually want to read? I know I have.
In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, I chat with author and memoir coach Wendy Dale, the creator of The Memoir Engineering System.
Wendy has spent 15 years fine-tuning a step-by-step approach that helps writers avoid endless trial and error and finally finish their memoirs with confidence. She knows what she’s talking about—her own memoir Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals was published by Three Rivers Press/Penguin Random House, and she now coaches writers from beginners to seasoned professionals.
In This Episode
-
Why structure is more important than beautiful sentences when it comes to memoir
-
How to move from remembering your life to creating a plot
-
Simple ways to craft scenes that draw readers in (and avoid generic writing)
-
How transitions can make or break your story’s flow
-
Why subjective writing creates true emotional resonance
-
Strategies for taming piles of material without getting lost in them
-
The surprising truth about what makes a story universal
Whether you’re just starting out or knee-deep in drafts, Wendy’s advice will help you see your memoir as something you can actually build—piece by piece—without getting stuck.
Related Episode
#131 The Flavor of Trauma: A Food Memoir Wrapped Around a Family Story with Bonny Reichert
Watch on YouTube
Connect with Wendy Dale
Connect with Estelle
Audiobook and sample
Get More from Estelle:
Webinar: Sign up for Estelle’s webinar on October 9th in collaboration with Writer’s Digest
Mapping Your Memoir: How to Find the Heart and Shape of Your Story
🎤 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
📬 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
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)
Follow Estelle:
📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky
