Welcome to Let’s Write Your Story, my editorial service dedicated to helping people share the big experiences of their lives (or their loved ones’) in books, speeches, profiles, and other written pieces.
For the past 25 years, I’ve written profiles for some of the country’s best magazines, including The New Yorker and ELLE. In my view, a rich personal story—drawn out by a smart and attentive writer—not only helps the subject learn more about themselves, it also helps them see that they are part of something bigger than themselves. And of course, reading about an interesting, accomplished person who has faced challenges inspires others like nothing else.
My background profiling people in many fields (I’ve also co-authored a book about notable women and girls) has prepared me well for writing life and legacy stories for private clients. Here’s how my service works: Once you’ve commissioned me, we’ll create a detailed plan for recording the important chapters of your life. I’ll interview you, then I’ll send you a draft of my write-up to edit as you see fit. (It’s your story, after all.)
If your goal is to produce a book, I will partner with a gifted graphic designer I’ve collaborated with for over a decade to help us achieve your vision. I will manage the production process from start to finish, including helping you select high-quality printing services. Whatever format you choose, I will make sure your story is written in a clear and engaging way, with your voice shining through.
If you’re writing your own story, I can also provide editorial support on an hourly basis. For the past 30 years, I’ve edited and coached professional writers, business and university leaders, and nonprofit and museum execs, helping them hone personal stories for books, essays, magazine and newspaper articles, and marketing materials.
I’d be delighted to work with you if you are:
- someone who’s eager to reflect and share their story in a written narrative
- a retired or retiring executive seeking to document corporate history and/or family business values (philanthropic, educational, entrepreneurial) for the next generation of organizational leaders
- a family member who wants to capture the memories of a beloved parent or grandparent, or who needs help writing an obituary or eulogy
- an executive, entrepreneur, or academic seeking a ghostwriter
- a new or seasoned memoirist looking for a writing coach to help keep them on track, or edit a finished manuscript
- a financial advisor helping clients articulate their values and financial or philanthropic priorities as part of their estate planning
Please contact me to discuss your project and my rates. If you have an important story to tell, I hope you’ll think of me. I look forward to working with you!
ABOUT ME
I am a veteran magazine reporter who specializes in writing about people, finding the moments of inspiration, setback, and joy that have shaped their personal and professional lives. My profile subjects have included entrepreneurs, politicians, artists, writers, entertainers, and scientists. I’ve written profiles for, among many other publications, The New Yorker, where I started my career, and ELLE, where I worked as a contributing writer and editor for over 20 years. Now living back in Milwaukee, my hometown, I continue to write for national and local publications, including The New York Times, Oprah Daily, The Mayo Clinic Press, and On Wisconsin.
To see samples of my biographical writing, you can find a profile of the singer Macy Gray that I wrote for The New Yorker here, an oral history summary I wrote about the late Wisconsin state senator Margaret Farrow here, an interview I did with Lauren Bacall for ELLE here, and a profile of the influential Museum of Modern Art photography curator John Szarkowski that I wrote for On Wisconsin magazine here. A piece I wrote on memoirs for The New York Times can be found here.
ENDORSEMENTS FROM CLIENTS
“We have so appreciated your professional approach and the friendship we have shared while working with you on our project. After explaining the kind of book we hoped to produce, we found you quick to understand our requests. While interviewing us, you had a knack for asking the right questions. You didn’t just hear, but you carefully listened! When we asked you to take care with sensitive information, you did so with great understanding. Thank you. Our end product, Driven: The John Kreilkamp Story, is one we are proud to share with family, friends, and employees. And after working with you, Louisa, we would like to sum up our thoughts about you: A great writer. Very professional. Honest. Kind. Thank you again for being a special part of our ‘story.’ ”
—Marlene & John Kreilkamp, former owner/president of Kreilkamp Trucking
“Has anyone ever told you, ‘You should write a book.’ Well, Peter and I did with the help of Louisa Kamps. We needed guidance, and she kept us on a schedule, nudged us toward coherence where we lost the reader, helped us cut out superfluous ideas, and edited our manuscript to get it into book form. It has been a fun and rewarding ride. With Louisa’s guidance, we finished our book and are in the process of publishing it. We guarantee that we’d never have arrived at a finished product without Louisa’s help.”
—Sally & Peter Blommer
“Louisa is a pleasure to work with. She’s written three personal history pieces for me about different members of my family, and each time, she developed lively, surprising stories, digging up details that I didn’t even know about. It’s clear she has a brilliant understanding of storytelling, a real writer’s eye for details that touch and stick with you, and that she can connect with people of all ages. I highly recommend her.”
—Kate Meyer, owner, BizTimes Media
