New post on my Substack: the case for prioritizing writing at a time when there's so much pressure to center branding and marketing. "This is why most of us became writers in the first place — we need to write. And we write to be read. So yes, our readers are on top of our minds each time we publish. But they read us and not primarily because we engage with them. They read what resonates, what moves, what feels true."

Right now, I’m reading and rereading Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail, which is a comfort read for me—a sapphic romance novel. It’s interesting to go outside of my usual genres; I never read romance novels until very recently. At the same time, I’m reading a forthcoming memoir by Morgan Parker. What are you reading, and how are you feeling/thinking about it?

What are some of everyone’s favorite writing tools—pens, pencils, programs, things to help focus, etc.? Over the last few years I’ve found myself incredibly fond of .25mm pens because I press so hard on the page (I think it may be a mobility thing), but I also love Evernote. I’m not good at keeping organized, but I find the notes less intimidating than a Word doc.

Hi all, I’m currently sick with a cold and life is still chaos for my family (my husband has been critically ill in the hospital for seven weeks), but I’m very excited to announce that I’ll be teaching a class called The Shape of Your Memoir this month on January 27, 2025. The Shape of Your Memoir is a transformative 1.5-hour class designed to help you uncover and refine the narrative structure of your memoir and/or essay. Whether you’re just beginning or deep into the drafting process, this class will guide you in identifying and addressing cracks in the foundation of your storytelling. You’ll learn how to move beyond a simple chronological recounting of events and shape your writing into a compelling narrative with a beginning, middle, and end—one that resonates with readers and leaves them deeply satisfied. Through practical insights, real-life examples, and actionable tools, you’ll explore how to create a gentle map for your memoir, allowing the story’s natural shape to emerge as you write. As a bonus, the class includes a one-hour co-working session, giving you the chance to apply what you’ve learned, ask questions, and receive real-time support. Join us to transform your collection of facts and anecdotes into a meaningful, cohesive story that captivates readers from start to finish. Recording and transcript available. http://www.esmewang.com/shape-of-your-memoir x esmé

Hi folks, I'm happy to announce that my debut novel Dear Haider is scheduled for publication on June 1, 2024, by Baraka Books! https://www.barakabooks.com/catalogue/dear-haider/ It's one of those stories that came to me fully formed in a flash, as I was recovering from a severe mental health crisis. I was at the time in school, but had a break between undergrad and grad school, and wrote most of the first draft in that two month period. I wasn't fully satisfied with my draft however, and due to the demands of grad school, left the manuscript alone for almost 5 years. Then, a close friend of mine, who works as a medical copywriter, generously offered to edit my manuscript with me. It was the pandemic, so we went on Zoom every Sunday and worked on 2-3 chapters for a few hours at a time, for a period of four months. I will be forever indebted to her. Then, I think I did things quite backwards. Instead of trying agents and big publishers first, which I didn't have confidence to shoot for, I submitted to two small presses. One of them, whose founder happened to be my parents' friend and neighbour, immediately made an offer. And the rest is history. I'm happy to share more about my writing/publishing journey, so if you're interested, let me know and feel free to ask questions!