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Freelance Writing Direct: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.


Aug 8, 2024

Aly Walansky has been covering lifestyle topics, with a focus on food, travel, and cocktails, for two decades. She's done all of this living and working (and eating!) from a tiny New York City studio apartment — so she knows a thing or two about cooking and eating well on a budget, in small spaces -- and sharing it with her audience. Her daily Substack newsletter goes out to close to 10,000 people each day.



In this episode:

  • How Aly Walansky found her niche.[3:26]

  • Secrets of building sustainable relationships with editors [4:43]

  • The gift of Substack when it comes to time management [6:10]

  • How Aly created content during the pandemic [10:17]

  • Her experience writing for 10,000 substack subscribers and what she offers paid subscribers. [12:59]

  • How she structures her AMAs [14:26]

  • The new wave of AI in Journalism [15:55]

  • Adding yourself into the story [17:30]

  • The importance of a social media footprint for writers, even if you’re an introvert [20:52]



Connect with Aly

alywalansky.substack.com

 

Connect with Estelle:

 

Watch Estelle’s episode #88 with Former HARO Founder, Peter Shankman

https://estelleserasmus.com/88-the-founder-of-haro-peter-shankman-a-hero-to-journalists-on-deadline-launches-source-of-sources/

 

​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at 

https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter.

 

Sign up for Estelle’s Personal Essay Class for Writer’s Digest 

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

 

See Estelle’s latest blog post with news

https://estelleserasmus.com/a-few-pieces-of-exciting-news/



Get Her Book 

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

 

Pre-Order Her Audiobook:

https://shorturl.at/4uG2P

 

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

 

Estelle’s latest substack post on Micro Memoir

https://estelleserasmus.substack.com/p/if-you-are-writing-a-micro-memoir

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus