Elizabeth Austin
writer, solo mama
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Writing Illness Narratives | January 2026
Writing Illness Narratives | January 2026
Transform illness experiences into powerful essays. Join Elizabeth Austin's 4-week online nonfiction workshop. Starts Jan 2026. Enroll now!
Website & Resources
Elizabeth Austin
Elizabeth Austin
Writer
Writing Elizabeth | Substack
Writing Elizabeth | Substack
A writer and solo mom’s messy take on writing full-time and raising teens after my daughter’s years in leukemia treatment. Challenging polished survival stories, exploring the raw reality of getting through, and publishing essays along the way. Click to read Writing Elizabeth, by Elizabeth Austin, a Substack publication.
The Writer’s Starter Pack
The Writer’s Starter Pack
Work With Me!
Work With Me!
Opinion | Happiness Is a Big, Ugly Sofa - The New York Times
Opinion | Happiness Is a Big, Ugly Sofa - The New York Times
Buying a new, adult couch in a space of my own felt monumental.
My Writing
Why I Gave Up Holiday Hosting - The New York Times
Why I Gave Up Holiday Hosting - The New York Times
I spent years dreaming of giving up, but figuring out how, when the role of host had calcified around me like plaster, seemed impossible.
How Will I Feed My Family Now? - The New York Times
How Will I Feed My Family Now? - The New York Times
I rely on SNAP benefits. That requires constant trade-offs.
Girls Who Journal Have Always Been Radical - Electric Literature
Girls Who Journal Have Always Been Radical - Electric Literature
The Years My Son Refused to Go to School - TIME
The Years My Son Refused to Go to School - TIME
COVID didn’t simply alter everyone’s schedules— it changed the way children interact with the world.
What Gisèle Pelicot Means to Us - Harper’s Bazaar
What Gisèle Pelicot Means to Us - Harper’s Bazaar
The sexual assault case that shocked the world ended in guilty verdicts for the men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot. It is a powerful symbol of justice for victims of sexual assault across the globe.
An Open Letter to the Old Man Who Bartered with My Cancer-Patient Daughter at the Community Yard Sale Fundraiser - McSweeney’s
An Open Letter to the Old Man Who Bartered with My Cancer-Patient Daughter at the Community Yard Sale Fundraiser - McSweeney’s
Dear Old Man Who Bartered with My Cancer-Patient Daughter at the Community Yard Sale Fundraiser, Thank you for attending the Alex’s Lemonade Stand ...
The Cost of Distrust: How RFK Jr.’s Leadership Threatens Families Like Mine - Ms. Magazine
The Cost of Distrust: How RFK Jr.’s Leadership Threatens Families Like Mine - Ms. Magazine
Finding Comfort in the Horror of Stephen King's Maine - Reactor
Finding Comfort in the Horror of Stephen King's Maine - Reactor
Elizabeth Austin details the experience of reading Stephen King's work while her child was going through cancer treatment, in this personal essay
Making Friends With My Nemesis — Write or Die Magazine
Making Friends With My Nemesis — Write or Die Magazine
Take a peek inside my diary on The Magpie!
Take a peek inside my diary on The Magpie!
featuring writer Elizabeth Austin
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