Professional Experience

Alissa has worked in communications since 2005, when she served as an account executive in graphic design and marketing. As a liaison between the client and the creative team, she oversaw communications projects for a major big box retailer, including community relations campaigns and a national magazine for university and college students.

It didn’t take long to realize that her true passion lay in writing. She gradually transitioned into the role, first doing double duty as account supervisor and writer and then beginning to freelance. In 2010, she earned her Masters of Fine Arts degree in creative and professional writing from Western Connecticut State University, where her creative nonfiction thesis earned the honor of distinction.

She went on to become associate editor of the weekly newspaper the Crested Butte News between 2011 and 2017, and was a regular contributor to Wilderness News for many years. Her travel and adventure writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and Dirt Rag Magazine, and her essays and short stories have appeared in The Master’s Review, Mountain Gazette, and Aifé Literary Magazine among other publications (see selected writing here.)

In 2012, she founded WritingStrides, and for six years helped writers show up at the page and create meaningful stories through a blog, videos, workshops, courses and one-on-one coaching programs. She’s also taught writing through Western Colorado University, Western Connecticut State University, and many writing organizations, including the Writing the Rockies Annual Conference and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

Alissa is available for news and feature writing, as well as copywriting, editing services and workshops. Contact her to learn more.