You’ve gotten the call to write your memoir, but one doubt just lingers in your mind: how are you supposed to do this?
A memoir coach is a hired professional who’s skilled in the craft of writing. They’re there to help you alongside your memoir writing journey and ensure that your writing is structured and solid.
However, editing isn’t the only thing that memoir coaches do. In fact, that’s only a very small sub-section of their role in the memoir writing process.
No…it’s not just developmental editing
Oftentimes, developmental editing seems to be at the forefront of the role. It is a core component. They are going to guide you in how to structure your story, write scenes, and do more craft-focused work, after all.
Having a memoir coach can be the difference between getting it done, and never getting it done. They’ll give you structured deadlines, goals, and be a key push in writing. That way, your writing momentum stays alive. With a coach, you’re much less likely to stop yourself from writing until the end, because they’ll bring that accountability you need.
While a memoir coach doesn’t replace a counselor or therapist, memoir often revolves around deep personal traumas or adverse events. That means, you need a coach who is willing to talk about these experiences, and ask the right questions about them too. The core meaning behind your memoir is connected to those memories you’re writing about, and your memoir coach needs to be someone who will handle them with care and compassion.
The Benefits
Many have written a memoir without a memoir coach.
But, sometimes, for first-time writers that means the first draft isn’t as strong or polished as they would’ve wanted it to be.
When you hire a memoir coach, you’re giving yourself the chance to:
- Get your memoir written right the first time.
- Not be tempted to stop writing when the process gets difficult.
- Listen and learn from an experienced memoir writer who’s been in your shoes.
By the end, you’ll have a memoir that reflects your life experiences and connects with others.
What Makes Ally Different
Each memoir coach has different things to bring to the table. When you sign up to work with Ally, you’re getting all of the above and more.
First, Ally has a background in psychology (and one year of study in marriage and family therapy). She brings emotional intelligence and light therapeutic/counseling perspectives to the work of memoir coaching. If your story is sensitive and carries a lot of heavy life events such as trauma, then Ally can handle those stories with care.
She’s also formally trained. Not every memoir coach can say this. Sometimes, they bring knowledge from writing their own memoir and learning the craft over time. However, Ally has two degrees in creative writing, including her master’s (MFA) and she concentrated in memoir. She’s also published her own memoir and writes personal essays (which she’s actively pursuing publication for.)
Finally, connections are everything. Ally gives out personal referrals and introductions, and has introduced past clients to editors, publishers, and book designers. There is also the option to have Ally mediate or facilitate conversations between her authors and the people in her network she’s referring. That way, you don’t leave with just your manuscript, but also the right people and next steps to getting your book published.
MEET YOUR NEW MEMOIR COACH
If these benefits resonate with you, maybe it’s time to see if you and Ally are a good match.
Plus, depending on where you’re at in your memoir journey, there are multiple routes you can take.
- If you’re ready to dive headfirst into memoir, then check out The Memoir Studio, a 9-month high-touch studio where you’ll work individually with Ally in order to craft your first memoir manuscript.
- Or, if you’re looking for something a bit lighter, then look into booking a Memoir Compass Calibration, a 60-minute call where Ally will help you define the Meaning, Message, and Mission of your memoir.
This post was written by TWPRT’s Summer 2026 Intern, Cierra Rossi.
At the time of this writing, Cierra Rossi is an incoming fourth-year Professional Writing Major at Champlain College. Cierra grew up in Brookfield, Massachusetts, but she has since moved to Burlington, Vermont, where she is completing her bachelor's degree. When she’s not nose-deep in a book or writing her own prose, she loves theater, board games, and cooking new dishes for the people closest to her. She hopes that after graduating in 2027, she’ll be able to continue in the publishing industry, helping books find their people through marketing or by submitting her own writing.
