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What does the rise of authorpreneurship mean for writers today?
In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus sits down with Regina Brooks, founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency and president of the Association of American Literary Agents, to explore how publishing is shifting and what writers need to understand now.
From what agents look for in submissions to how platform, AI, and direct-to-consumer models are reshaping the industry, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at how writers can move beyond simply writing a book to building a sustainable writing career.
If you’re writing, querying, or thinking about your next step, this is the conversation you need to hear.
In This Episode:
- What agents are really looking for in queries and submissions
- Why understanding the marketplace is as important as strong writing
- The role of personality and professionalism in author-agent relationships
- The difference between AI as a tool and AI-generated writing
- Why voice still matters and how agents can tell the difference
- What writers misunderstand about platform, PR, and book marketing
- How memoir submissions differ from fiction and nonfiction
- Why smaller presses and hybrid publishing models are expanding opportunities
- The rise of direct-to-consumer publishing and author entrepreneurship
- How to approach querying with patience while continuing to build momentum
Watch on YouTube
About Regina
Regina Brooks is the founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency, where she represents award-winning and bestselling authors and illustrators whose work has earned honors such as the National Book Award, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals, and the NAACP Image Awards. She also serves as President of the Association of American Literary Agents and is co-founder of the People of Publishing Conference in New York, helping lead industry conversations about rights, technology, and professional development across the publishing ecosystem. Regina brings a deep respect for the creative process and a sharp instinct for helping writers bring powerful ideas into the world.
Connect with Regina
Serendipity Literary Agency: https://www.serendipitylit.com/our_team/regina-brooks/
Regina Brooks’ book: You Should Really Write a Book: How to Write, Sell, and Market Your Memoir
Don’t miss episode #184 From Silence to Story: Writing a Hostage Memoir 50 Years Later
And find the free resource guide from the panel I moderated at AWP here
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Follow Freelance Writing Direct for weekly conversations with authors, agents, and industry insiders on how to build your craft and grow your writing career. 2026 and 2025 Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards)
Subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite platform, and follow along on Substack at estelleserasmus.substack.com for exclusive clips and insights. LATEST POST:Why Your Memoir Draft Still Feels Flat (And How to Fix It)
Get More From Estelle Erasmus
- Free NYU “Editor on Call” Event
Join Estelle Erasmus and the editor-in-chief of PROVOKED on April 22 from 12:30–1:30 PM EDT to learn how to pitch and publish your work.
Register here: - Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class
My Next 6-week session is in September/October 2026. 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.”
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 and an adjunct professor at NYU.
Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine. She has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.
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