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I loved chatting with New York Times bestselling author, Tia Levings about writing a memoir of escape, and how strong scenes, structure, and editorial choices turn personal experience into a powerful narrative.
Tia Levings is the New York Times bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, a memoir about her escape from Christian patriarchy and high-control religious culture. She writes about religious trauma, evangelical influence, and the cultural forces shaping women’s lives today. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and The Huffington Post, and she was featured in the Shiny Happy People docuseries. Her next book, I Belong to Me, releases May 2026.
In this episode, Estelle Erasmus and Tia Levings discuss:
- How to turn lived experience into a compelling, page-turning memoir
- Why choosing the right scenes matters more than including everything that happened
- The difference between situation and story, and how it shapes narrative drive
- How to weave research and cultural context into memoir without slowing the pace
- Writing about trauma while maintaining momentum and reader engagement
- The role of developmental editing in strengthening structure and emotional build
- How to create a memoir that resonates beyond your personal experience
- Why memoir is not a “parade of bad things,” but a search for meaning and connection
- Crafting chapter endings that keep readers turning the page
- Building a platform and expanding your story into broader cultural impact
Tia also shares how she broke free from a high-control environment, how visibility became a form of safety, and how storytelling can create both personal healing and collective awareness.
Watch on YouTube
Buy Her Book
Links & Resources:
Follow Tia Levings on social media: @TiaLevingsWriter
Estelle’s website
NEW Substack post: A Recap of the Editor-on-Call Event with Susan Dabbar of PROVOKEDmagazine. All the intel you need to get published there.
Don’t miss episode #188 Reclaiming “Selfish”: On Craft, Creativity, and Braiding Truth Into Memoir with Kerry Docherty
And find the free resource guide from the panel I moderated at AWP here
About Estelle Erasmus
Estelle Erasmus is an NYU writing professor, former magazine editor-in-chief, TEDx speaker, and the author of Writing That Gets Noticed, named a Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers. She has appeared on Good Morning America and her essays and articles have been cited on The View. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Freelance Writing Direct, where she shares insider strategies on craft, publishing, and building a writing career.
Get More From Estelle Erasmus
- Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class
My Next 6-week session is in September/October 2026 (Just a few spots left). May is Sold Out.
Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details. - Watch
Estelle’s TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond - Book
Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers “Best Book for Writers.”
Follow Estelle
Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus
Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus
Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social
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