my work is more than just words
I hold the space where a life becomes a book and a person becomes an author of their own truth.
It’s excavation, structure, witness, stewardship, and transformation all packaged up in a memoir.
There are plenty of people who can help you “get your story out” or who have you dictate your highlights reel, put it into chronological order for you, and then call it a memoir. (Even though crafting a true memoir is way more than that.)
I’m here for the writers who want more than chronology or a half-finished manuscript that never becomes the book it could have been.
My work is about meaning. Discernment. Curation. Alchemy. Quality. It’s about telling the truth bravely—and shaping that truth into a memoir with depth, integrity, and literary care.
Our creative partnership means you get my support, expertise, and tried-and-true process.
If you want to write a story that is written well and actually matters to your reader, we should talk.
WHO I LOVE TO WORK WITH
i could be the memoir coach and guide you've been looking for
My work is for the writers who know their story deserves more.
Photo credit: Adam Tougas
I RESERVE THIS WORK FOR THE RIGHT PERSON.
You know there’s a story in you.
A real one.
A deep one.
You’ve thought about writing it. Maybe you’ve started. Maybe you’ve stalled. Maybe you’ve been circling the same chapter for years. Maybe you've put it in a drawer because you don't know how to move forward. Maybe you know there’s something there, but you haven't a clue how to shape it into a book.
That’s where I come in.
But I’m not for everyone.
I’ve got a particular type of person I’m here to support.
It could be you, if you don’t want to write a book that:
1. only lists all the things that happened
2. makes the reader wonder the whole time, “Why do I care?” or “Why does any of this matter?”
3. sounds like a personal diary
4. overshares or undershares life's most critical moments
5. reads as a boring play-by-play that starts the moment you were born
If all of that is true, we’re a great match.
NO NAVAL GAZING, DUMPSTER FIRES, OR DIARY ENTRIES WELCOMED HERE.
(PLEASE & THANK YOU.)
See, very few people—especially first-time authors—know how to curate their lived experiences into something meaningful. To excavate their life’s terrain and understand what makes it a story. So, they write the facts of what happened, and it reads like a diary or info dumping. A vanity project. Naval gazing.
Some are okay when their manuscripts end that way, and they go on to publish them. Personally, I think that gives memoir a bad name, and it makes me cringe when I come across books that have done the author’s life (and readers' experience) a total disservice.
Which is why I leverage my formal education in creative writing (studying memoir), my experience as an author, my industry knowledge, and years of working with authors in book development to help you avoid the common mistakes first-time authors and memoirists make.
I help you dig below the superficial explanations and chronological retellings. Together, we dive into the depths of your memories so you can understand your life more deeply, and then we shape that into a memoir that is honest, well-crafted, and worth reading.
Photo credit: B Hauz Productions
“Ally is a phenomenal writer and incredible human. I love working with her! Part of her magic is in helping you find the powerful story among all the words and crafting it in a way that reaches into the hearts of your readers...I wouldn’t trust any [one] but Ally to tell my story.” —Marisha Horsman, Founder of Nourishing Light
“Working with Ally on my memoir helped get it out the door. From day one, she helped with structure, timeline, and goals. Her support throughout the process has been amazing... and the amount of research she does on her own to bring the story to life only reflects her investment in the project and me. I am incredibly grateful to have had Ally as a coach!” —Jessica Jackson, Co-founder of Copper House Detroit and Author of Sis, You're Copper
HOW WE MIGHT WORK TOGETHER
THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BEGIN
Begin with a Call
A simple first conversation to explore fit and next steps. Plus, it's a great way to pick an expert’s brain before you invest in a long-term project in an
expensive industry.
Book a Consultation
A focused paid session for clarity, momentum, memoir direction, or publishing support. This is the chance to find out what you don’t know and avoid costly mistakes .
Bring in Expert Insight
A strategic review for writers who already have a full draft and need expert editorial feedback. This is for those who want an honest, objective assessment, not just their egos stroked.
Brave a Deeper Path
My flagship memoir coaching experience, The Memoir Studio, is for writers ready for deeper, guided support from the very beginning. (You won't be sorry.)
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
Photo Credit: B Hauz Productions
The magic of my business is People find me at the right place and right time on their journey.
I bring both depth and rigor to the page. I care about the truth of the story, the quality of the writing, and the kind of book that can meet a reader with real power.
I help authors find the courage, clarity, and structure to bring their truth to the page. I’m known for my combination of strategic thinking, written craft, emotional depth, and honest guidance. And I help clients not only develop publishable manuscripts, but also reclaim the power of their own stories.
If you’ve been looking for the right memoir coach or guide to help shepherd you along the writing and publishing path, maybe I’m her. My people often tell me, “I knew you were who I was looking for as soon as I came across you.”
That’s the magic of this beautiful business I’ve created. People seem to find me at the right place and right time on their journey. “Serendipitous” they say. “Divine timing,” I think. Either way, when I find my ideal person, they’ve often found their ideal coach. And that’s the beginning of a beautiful partnership.
Hi, I'm Ally
The truth is this: I’m here to give people permission.
I’m a memoir coach and developmental editor, but that only tells part of the story.
The truth is this: I’m here to give people permission to tell the truth about their lives and transform those truths into meaningful memoirs that not only bring them back home to themself, but help others feel seen, understood, and less alone.
That’s what I’m really doing.
I’m not here to sell you on writing a book. I’m sure-as-shit not here to help you write any 'ole thing and then hit publish.
I’m here to help people reconnect with themselves through the written word, rewrite their lives in a way that honors their experiences, and shape that truth into stories that heal, help, and matter.
Memoir is my favorite vessel for that work because it asks so much of us: honesty, courage, discernment, structure, voice, and the willingness to make meaning from what we’ve lived.
Photo credit: Lo Storer
If your story is asking more of you,
let's talk.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you reach out.
You just need to know that this story matters,
you’re ready to take it seriously.
"We all have a story in us, and I knew I'd never get that story out of my head without some help. Ally provided that help and set me on the path to getting that story on paper and someday into book stores. In addition to her professionalism, she's really fun to work with. I'm glad I got the chance to work with her." —Lynnellen Moore
"Having Ally work one on one with me about the story behind my book helped me form the outline. She has an ability to draw out what you want people to learn about your story in a way that makes even the hard parts easy to talk about. She has such compassion and empathy, and makes your story feel so important." —Lisa Johns