Welcome to
Penpal Writing Coaching
For writers who want to build momentum, strengthen their craft, and receive in-depth feedback on their current project.
Have you been struggling to get your writing projects off the ground?
Do you have so many ideas you don’t even know where to start?
Do you want to strengthen your craft, but traditional writing courses, workshops, and coaching are inaccessible to you?
Do you feel too busy, stressed, and/or sick to write?
Are you tired of writing goals that set you up to fail?
If this is you, I can help.
Writing is difficult work, but it’s also incredibly rewarding and important.
I have strategies to help you make time and space for your writing, no matter what else is going on in your life.
And I can give you personalized, professional feedback on the next steps to take to strengthen your craft and meet your writing goals.
Writing coaching and feedback is not about telling you what to do or messing with your voice. I listen closely so I can work with you to help bring your vision and ideas to fruition.
Why penpal coaching?
Zoom has opened up some major doors in terms of accessibility. And it definitely has its place.
BUT it can be really difficult to schedule coaching sessions when you don’t know how much energy you’ll have on some random day in the future. If you’re managing complex health needs or are a caretaker to others, you can’t always know how much time you’ll have available on a future date.
For many people, an intensive hour of pre-scheduled screen time is just never going to work.
Writing is a highly accessible craft. You can do it on your own time. You can have short writing sessions or long ones. You can use so many different types of software to suit your creative process and physical needs. Why should coaching be any different?
You can STILL get professional and supportive feedback on your work and writing practice without energy-intensive phone calls or Zoom meetings.
Benefits of coaching over email:
You don’t have to put on a nice shirt or Zoomba your living room just to hear my feedback about your work-in-progress.
You can ask questions and work through materials on your own time.
You can get personalized, deeply considered feedback without feeling like you need to take it all in at once.
It can feel vulnerable to ask for feedback on your writing; receiving that feedback over email can feel safer than receiving it during a live phone call.
Because feedback is in writing, you can refer back to it any time, even long after our sessions have finished. This is a much better use of your time than re-listening to a full session to get that one detail you need.
Spelling and hyperlinks. No need to take notes or worry that you missed a resource I recommend. It’ll all be right there for you in writing.
If you’re a writer, you’re probably very comfortable with the written word.
Why not make writing coaching easy on yourself?
Skip the Zoom sessions, and save your energy for improving your craft.
Who might benefit from writing coaching over email?
Introverts. If you prefer writing to talking, I just get that.
Writers with chronic illness. You don’t know how many spoons you’ll have days in advance.
Neurodivergent writers. Sometimes Zoom sessions are way too draining to be worth it. So let’s not.
Caretakers who won’t know how “available” they’ll be on a future day.
Writers who want to take a deep breath, go at their own pace, and be intentional about taking in feedback.
Writers who would rather spend an hour writing than talking.
Who am I?
I’ve worked in various editing specialties for nearly two decades, and I’m passionate about storytelling. I’m also an award-winning memoirist. I love building deep, supportive relationships with other writers, and I believe that writing is an exercise in community-building. The strongest writing grows out of feedback and conversation with other writers and industry professionals.
Introducing…
THE 6-SESSION MOMENTUM PACKAGE with the Penpal Writing Coach
This is for you if:
You find it easier to make progress on your writing with regular accountability.
You’re ready for fresh eyes on your current project, and you want to be challenged creatively.
You need coaching at a pace that fits your life and leaves plenty of time for reflection.
You’re inspired to build momentum in your writing practice, even if you don’t have a big project in mind.
You’re stuck in the “messy middle” of a project and aren’t sure how to move forward.
You want creative clarity and focus, and to stop being pulled in a million different directions at once.
What it includes:
A reflective questionnaire to help you set clear goals for our time time together.
Every two weeks, you send me up to 2,500 words for detailed review and written feedback. (If you don’t have writing to send, you can ask me writing questions instead!)
Each “session” is initiated when you send me your writing to review (or questions to answer), and it includes two rounds of thoughtful, in-depth email coaching.
As needed, I provide personalized worksheets, exercises, & prompts that meet you where you are, whether you’re digging deep into craft techniques or establishing your writing rituals.
Personalized reading recommendations and other resources that I think would support your process.
What clients are saying…
Working with Alyssa on my writing was lovely! She provided excellent feedback that was invaluable to me as a writer. Her knowledge of writing and editing is apparent while working with her. It's so meaningful to work with someone who sees your potential and is able to push you to be the best you can be in an encouraging and kind way. One of the best parts of working with Alyssa is that my access needs were centered throughout the whole process in a thoughtful and inclusive way. I would recommend working with Alyssa to anyone, but even more so if you experience chronic illness, disability, or neurodivergence.
-Juliana Kilmurray, writer
“Alyssa provided developmental editorial service for my book published by Hampton Roads. Her editorial skills and ability to organize info and see the big picture are first-rate. I highly recommend her.”
-Jason DeBord, author of Dreams 1-2-3
“Phenomenal work, thank you very much!! You are like a highly trusted, silent co-author, and my book is stronger and flows more eloquently because of your suggestions.”
-Anonymous client from Scribendi.com
“Alyssa’s support has been life-changing. She combines a terrific understanding of writing craft with a genuine compassion for the ways in which life's challenges can impact the ability to make space for and believe in yourself. Alyssa's empathetic, playful, and practical coaching has opened up more creative possibilities than I would have believed.”
-Lindsay Hobbs, owner of Topaz Editing & Literary
Want more details about penpal writing coaching?
Send me a message.