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First, an announcement:
My first Substack Live will be with former Chatelaine Editor-in-Chief Rona Maynard on June 25 at 4 p.m. ET. Here is the link to the post: Musings on Magazines: The Story Behind the Story. https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/musings-on-magazines-the-story-behind
Sign up and dive into the magazine archives with us to hear behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
I hope to see you there.
Now for today’s episode:
Tiffany Graham Charkosky joins me to discuss her debut memoir, Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy. Tiffany shares how she transformed a deeply personal story about genetic testing, inherited cancer risk, and the loss of her mother into a compelling narrative that balances medical realities with emotional resonance. We discuss dual timelines, scene building, revision, metaphor, dialogue, and the challenges of writing about illness without overwhelming readers. Tiffany also reflects on legacy, family history, motherhood, and what it means to tell the story she needed to read herself.
We cover:
• Writing a memoir about genetic testing and inherited cancer risk
• Using dual timelines to create narrative momentum
• Balancing medical information with storytelling
• The role of metaphor, dialogue, and scene in memoir
• Revision strategies and cutting material that doesn’t serve the story
• Family legacy, motherhood, grief, and healing
• The relationship between advocacy and creative work
• Craft lessons for memoir writers
Watch on YouTube
About Tiffany
Tiffany Graham Charkosky’s work explores human relationships, medicine, and women’s health. Her debut memoir, Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy, was published in 2025. Her writing has appeared in outlets including Oprah Daily, Lit Hub, Electric Literature, Gordon Square Review, and MUTHA Magazine. Tiffany studied English and creative writing at Kenyon College and holds a master’s degree in urban planning, design, and development from Cleveland State University. She serves as Director of Arts & Culture at Cleveland Public Library and lives with her family in Northeast Ohio.
Don’t Forget to watch episode #196 Going Back Through Time to Get the Story: Dionne Ford on Family History, Reporting, and Memoir
Click here to see the resources from the 2026 AWP Panel, Estelle moderated that Dionne was a panelist in.
Mentioned in this podcast: Building a Memoir Around a Defining Moment with Jacque Gorelick
Get More from Estelle
- My next editor-on-call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16 with the executive editor and publisher of Electric Literature, Denne Michele Norris. Here is the link to that event. https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures
And here are my podcast episodes with Denne. - I’m on the Mom Coms hilarious comedy podcast reading and talking about so much, including a piece I wrote for Scary Mommy called Mom’s Life Hacks to Cut Through Other People’s Crap. Check it out here on YouTube and let me know what you think.
- Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class
My Next 6-week session that begins September 2026 is sold out.
Email freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com to get on the waiting list for new classes. - 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.” Please leave a review. - Listen/Watch
Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards)
About Estelle
Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers.
Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, The Independent, Slate, Shondaland, Marie Claire, Electric Literature, and AARP The Magazine.
Follow Estelle
Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus
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Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus
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