Listen:
In this episode, I loved chatting with Kerry Docherty, author of Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth, about what it really takes to write a bold, emotionally honest memoir.
We dive into:
- Why “selfish” is a loaded word for women and how to reclaim it
- Starting a memoir with rupture to hook the reader
- Using dreams, spirituality, and what Estelle calls the “echo effect” to deepen narrative impact
- Writing about marriage, motherhood, desire, and identity without holding back
- The risks and consequences of telling the truth on the page
- How to balance scene, reflection, and tension to keep a memoir propulsive
- What gets cut and why it matters for the arc of the story
Kerry also shares how writing this book changed her, and the one piece of advice every aspiring memoirist needs to hear.
Watch on YouTube
About Kerry Docherty
Kerry Docherty cofounded the lifestyle clothing brand Faherty with her husband and his identical twin. A graduate of Yale University and Pepperdine Law School, she is passionate about community building, sustainability, and creativity. Kerry is also the author of the children’s book Somewhere, Right Now, featuring art by New York Times bestselling illustrator Suzie Mason. She lives with her husband and two children on the New Jersey shore, where she is constantly looking for sea glass.
Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth is a memoir by Kerry Docherty, cofounder of the lifestyle clothing brand Faherty. Blending personal narrative and cultural critique, it explores what happens when a woman decides to prioritize her own desires and wellbeing after years of people-pleasing and overgiving.
Links & Resources:
Don’t miss episode #187 People Over Proposals with Literary Agent Sally Ekus
And find the free resource guide from the panel I moderated at AWP here
Celebrating Student Successes
Tess Clarkson’s poignant piece, which she honed in class, was republished this week in AARP’s The Girlfriend (it first ran there in 2020).
Read: What Happened 20 Minutes After I Got Married
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.
Enjoying the show
Follow, rate, and review Freelance Writing Direct on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch full episodes on YouTube.
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
