Meet the CYC Team

Elisa Doucette - Founder, Client Strategy & Writing Coaching

Elisa studied at the University of Maine, with a dual concentration in Creative Writing and Classics (focused on Roman Latin linguistics & culture), and serves as the Editorial Advisor to the Y-Combinator AI software startup Foster. A frequent contributing writer, podcast guest, and event speaker, her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Entrepreneurs on Fire, Forbes, The Business of Writing, Froemmer’s Radio, Yahoo! Small Business, BlogHer, WordCamp, The Huffington Post, Undomesticated Magazine, and many others. She is a member of ACES - The Society for Editing, former curator for TEDxAberdeen, and a judge for the Page Turner writing awards.

She can often be found traveling about looking for great stories to live, interesting tales to share, and delicious food & drink to nom on. When she’s not working or writing, she is likely curled up with her Kindle, devouring a new book.

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Writing is an individual pursuit. No “one strategy” or “one method” or “one word count” is going to guarantee your success. It is all about learning frameworks and systems, then figuring out how to adapt them to your writing life and craft. Every wheel has already been created, you just have to figure out how to spin yours.

Erika Rasso - Director of Development & Production

Erika Rasso holds a B.A. in English and marketing, and an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has worked as a writing consultant, an editor for literary and academic journals, an assistant to film producers, and most recently, an executive coordinator at The CW Network. When she’s not writing or editing, Erika spends her time reading (big surprise) and trying to get her money’s worth from her AMC A-List subscription.

Has been part of the team since: September 2015

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Even though I love grammar and the strategic ways it is used to convey ideas, I don’t believe that your writing has to be mechanically perfect to be exceptional. If we look back on Nathaniel Hawthorne and James Joyce, their works are filled with run on sentences and misused punctuation, and they are still regarded as literary masters! Besides, grammar is always evolving. A mistake you’ve made in one article may no longer be a mistake a month or two later.

Specialties & Interests: Email & Newsletters, Scriptwriting, Arts & Entertainment, Writing about Writing, Business, Food & Drink, Learning

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Most Read Book: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Favorite Story to Tell: When I was in Paris with my parents, we were taking a bike tour and I was lagging behind. We were crossing a busy street and a bus turned the corner and hit me! I was completely okay, the bus was going really slow, but I was very mad that the bus didn’t wait for me!

Sarah Ramsey - Senior Developmental Editor

Sarah Ramsey holds a M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy and a B.A. in History. She has spent most of the last two decades doing strategic communications work for space-focused organizations like NASA. She wishes she could write space-based, because if she could live anywhere else, Mars would be it. 

In addition to providing communications expertise to government agencies and non-profit organizations, she writes genre fiction and short- and long-form articles for food and beverage industry publications. In her free time, you can find her working through a long to-be-read list and an even longer to-be-written list.

Has been part of the team since: January 2017

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Because I like contradictions, I believe that to write well you must always be thinking, but that you shouldn’t overthink how you write. To me, writing is like the overflow buffer for the brain – you get your thinking all out on the screen or in notebooks (or on napkins, the back of envelopes, old receipts buried in your purse). It can be helpful to think about your individual  process of writing with an eye to improvement, but the most important thing is to get words on the page. You can’t fix what isn’t there.

Specialties & Interests: Development Editing, Content Editing, Science and Technology, Food and Beverage (especially where it connects with small businesses and public policy), Pop Culture and Fandom, Genre Fiction

Location: Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Most Read Book: Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire and The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Favorite Story to Tell: My high school had an exchange program with a school in Germany. During my month-long stay there, we took a three-day trip to Berlin. We were there when the country voted on keeping the still-newly unified country’s capital in Bonn or moving it back to Berlin. Berlin won the vote, and the city went crazy in celebration. Strangers were hugging each other, cars honked, people cheered, there was a massive crowd in the Breitscheidplatz – for a group of kids from a small town in Arkansas, this was like nothing we’d ever seen. We were welcomed to the celebration like we were from there, and that changed the way I looked at the world.

If you want to connect, find me on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Chris Angelis - Senior Content Editor

Chris Angelis has a PhD in English literature from the University of Tampere, where he has also taught Gothic fiction. In addition to this work, he is a literary-fiction writer and the owner of a literature blog, Home For Fiction. 

When Chris doesn’t write or edit, he programs webapps related to writing and texts. He also likes to think he’s a musician, playing bass/guitar and piano, and creating post-rock and post-metal soundscapes with his one-man band, The Focus Protocol. In an ideal world, Chris would spend most of the year on the beach of some Greek island.

Has been part of the team since: April 2019

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Thucydides argues we can be either peaceful or free, but we can't be both. This is a principle I want to apply to writing and art in general. Can we, as writers, escape the constraints of being peaceful? Can we be free in our writing? It's a goal worth aiming for!

Specialties & Interests: Short Stories, Fiction (Long-Form), Poetry, Personal Essays, Philosophy, Writing about Writing, Technology, Travel

Location: Tampere, Finland

Most Read Book: For practical reasons—my doctoral dissertation—Bram Stoker’s Dracula. For pleasure (I’m serious!) William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Favorite Story to Tell: When I was 11 or 12, vacationing at my grandparents’ house, I accidentally drank some lighting fluid that was kept in an empty water bottle. I was terrified, but even more so when I heard a neighbor suggesting I should be taken to the hospital. My grandparents thought there was no danger—they just gave me some milk and olive oil. I was fine a few hours later, though my breath smelled like a disintegrating diesel engine for a couple of days. Ah, fun times…

If you want to connect, find me on LinkedIn.

Bayo David - Assignment Manager

Bayo is a graduate of the National Open University of Nigeria, where he earned his bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship and business management in 2019. He is furthering his education by pursuing an online Google certificate course called Foundations of Project Management. In addition to his education, he has been honing his skills as a professional virtual assistant, project manager, and sales executive through his work as a freelancer for the past three years.

Has been part of the team since: January 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: No one ever became outstanding at what they did by quitting along the way. Regardless of how difficult it appears today, just one more step might be all it takes to get it right. I believe there is always a solution to any problem.

Specialties & Interests: Learning new software, reading, project management, and self-development.

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Most Read Book: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss, and Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent.

Favorite Story to Tell: When I was just 12 years old, my parents went through a divorce. I and my three other siblings stayed with my mom, and it was a very difficult time for us. One evening, after dinner (we were not happy with the quality of food we had that day, and mom tried to explain why we should accept what we have and stop complaining), I told my mom that, although I am the last of her children, I will not be a burden to her. I told her I needed to start working, but she laughed and said, "When the time comes, you will," but I insisted that the time is now and I have to start now. I asked if I could help my father's close friend with his small store; he said no and gave me some money; I refused the money and insisted on being paid monthly; he accepted after much persuasion, and I can come to his store after school to do my assignments and help him with minor chores, but I can't remember how much he paid me for my service because the money was paid directly to my mom. In my final year of high school (I was then 16 years old), I started paying my tuition fee, and since then, until I graduated from the university, I was responsible for my tuition fee and other financial obligations. I am and will always be a go-getter.

Danielle Thompson - Account Coordinator & Graphic Designer

Danielle graduated from the University of Victoria with a BA in History and a Minor in Applied Ethics. She worked in the hospitality industry for six years where she learned exactly how to keep other people happy and is now working on the same for herself. She is currently finishing the last course of her Graphic Design Certification from British Columbia Institute of Technology. 

Danielle has a passion for correction, perfection and making things shine. This is truly all-encompassing—from folding laundry and washing dishes to proofreading and editing, and (of course) design! She happily lives in the PNW of Canada, and loves exploring forest trails, paddleboarding at the lake, and generally being near the ocean in her free time.

Has been part of the team since: June 2022

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: The world doesn’t hate us for making something imperfect. Perfectionism gets in the way of greatness. I’m slowly rewiring my brain to fully believe this myself.  

Specialties & Interests: Photo Retouching, (Re)branding, Vector Graphics, Proofreading

Location: Victoria, BC, Canada

Most Read Book: Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Favorite Story to Tell: In 2015, I was in Nepal with my cousin when a massive earthquake hit, not far from where we were staying. When I got back from my excursion, my cousin was quite shaken up about it, but I hadn’t felt anything and didn’t know what was wrong. Turns out that exactly when the first earthquake shook the entire area, I was up in the air paragliding! It was a wild coincidence (and the best place to be!), but I did experience the many aftershocks on the ground.

Alice Sholto-Douglas - Content Editor

Alice Sholto-Douglas has experience with writing, copyediting, and academic research. She completed her Master’s in Literature at the University of Cape Town, where she spent six years teaching undergraduate students. She also holds a BA (Hons) in Arts and Literature from New York University as an editorial assistant for academic journals. As a fierce believer in the value of research and strong idea expression, writing is tangible and gratifying to her. She has honed her skills and expertise while working for various publications and organizations on an array of subjects, including art, law, business, and education.

Has been part of the team since: June 2022

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: That how we put words to the world precipitates real effects, and so we make the world through words.

Specialties & Interests: Literature first and foremost but also law, business, and education.

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Most Read Book: The Harry Potter series, What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt, and Beloved by Toni Morrison

Favorite Story to Tell: When I was little, about ten years old, I wrote a letter to Dumbledore (from the Harry Potter series) because I was under the illusion that Hermione was me in the future, and I needed him to know. It made complete sense in my head. In the letter, I wrote, "I have a ginger cat, like Hermione, love school and books ... like Hermione. I think I might be Hermione. I know it's silly! But I think it's true" – and then, scrunched up because I'd run out of space – "Please write back." I left it on the windowsill for an owl, and Dumbledore never wrote back.

If you want to connect, you can find me on LinkedIn.

Amna Faiq Ali - Content Editor

Amna holds a BA in Business Administration from National University of Modern Languages, a Masters in Business Administration from Quaid-e-Azam University, and a Masters in Philosophy from Lahore University. She has worked full-time as a writer and head of the content department for a renowned Web3 company in Pakistan. With that 7 years of experience, she holds a diverse writing portfolio, helping conglomerates across the globe. When working with her essay students, she is well-known for strict markings and detailed feedback!

In her free time, Amna loves learning new things, creating new recipes, designing new clothes in her head, and buying new books. She happens to be very "talkative" when it comes to penning down words, but IRL she is a more active listener and observer.

Has been part of the team since: March 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: No-one has two hearts in their body, so you either want something or don't want something. There is nothing called “neutrality” at a personal level. The more clear one is about this, the easier it becomes to make decisions and avoid dilemmas.

Specialties & Interests: Blockchain, Crypto, Web3, Current Affairs, Cooking, Economy, Politics, Conspiracy Theories, Style & Beauty, Research.

Location: Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Most Read Book: The Godfather by Mario Puzo, Shahab-nama by Qudrat Ullah Shahab, Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins, Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

Favorite Story to Tell: My Business Communication professor always deducted my marks for overwriting exam answers. But now I am a professional “accidental writer” with seven years experience!

Allie Crawford - Content Editor

Allie holds Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology and Philosophy and a Masters in Applied Philosophy and Ethics from Texas State University. She is currently a doctorate student studying Developmental Education with a concentration in Literacy. She loves working with people on building strong personal writing strategies and changing the traditional narrative in academia. Allie currently teaches courses in Integrated Reading and Writing, and her research focuses primarily on the gap between theory and application. Additional research topics include support for refugee women as they transition to postsecondary education, professional development, the language used in the developmental education field to discuss students enrolled in the courses, and reading strategy support. 

In her free time, Allie enjoys snuggling her cats and dog, crocheting, hiking, yoga, baking, and indulging in countless hours of audiobooks and Netflix. Her favorite thing to bake are sugar cookies – perfect for all times of the day!

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: There is no ‘right’ way to write and the process can be messy. Yes, there is an ‘academic’ standard and that is only one form of writing. Let the words flow in whatever way they come to you and then keep going! 

Specialties & Interests: Personal Essays, Researched Articles, Email & Newsletter, Short Stories, Fiction (long-form), Education, Health & Wellness, Hobbies, Learning, Lifestyle, Philosophy, Self-development, Writing about Writing

Location: Central, Texas, USA

Most Read Book: Any book written by Haruki Murakami and Tisha by Robert Specht

Favorite Story to Tell: The 5th grade class at the school I attended always competed in a pentathlon after learning about Greek history. The pentathlon consisted of a race, long-jump, javelin throw, discus throw, and a wrestling match. I am not the most athletic person, but I went undefeated both in practice and on the day of pentathlon against the girls and boys in wrestling. The final round even had a do-over. My family still raves that it is one of my greatest accomplishments and it was a match to be remembered. What makes this story so hilarious to me is that if I run into people nowadays that were there, they bring it up! One lady came to a fitness class I was teaching and shared that her family and her regularly discuss it at their dinner table!

If you want to connect, find me on Linkedin.

Shanece Grant - Content Editor

Shanece Grant is a writer, editor, and digital marketer with 8+ years of experience creating captivating content. With expertise in copywriting, SEO, and managing Google Ads, Shanece excels in delivering impactful marketing messages. Shanece is passionate about nature, languages, research, and storytelling. If she could do anything, she would explore other galaxies in person. In her free time, you can find her writing horror stories.

Has been part of the team since: June 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Pursuing alternative education paths outside of traditional institutions, such as self-directed learning, unschooling, or pursuing unconventional skills. This challenges the conventional notion that formal education is the only path to success. It also emphasizes individual autonomy in shaping one's educational life journey.

Specialties & Interests: Short stories, script writing, poetry, hobbies, lifestyle, philosophy, technology

Location: Jamaica

Most Read Book: Duma Key by Stephen King, The Harry Potter Series, Runaway Jury by John Grisham

Favorite Story to Tell: Growing up, I had these extraordinary neighbors whose cars were like time machines straight out of the past. They were ancient relics, probably not even street legal, and to top it all off, they had absolutely no brakes. Can you imagine? But here's the kicker: It didn't faze them one bit. I'd watch in awe as they fearlessly leaped out of their moving vehicle, gracefully tucking and rolling to safety, or simply wait patiently for the car to come to a halt on its own. The absence of brakes never hindered them from squeezing every drop of adventure out of life. And that got me thinking, if they could conquer the road without brakes, then what could possibly stand in my way?

Julia Hess - Content Editor

Julia has both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in English from California State University, Fullerton. She has taught college-level English for over 4 years and has been a writing tutor for 10 years. Beyond academia, Julia also has private sector experience in copywriting, blog writing, content editing, and technical writing/editing. With Craft Your Content, Julia has held roles as Managing Editor and Podcast Editor. She is currently a content editor.

Has been part of the team since: March 2017

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Be as introspective as you can when faced with writer’s block. Ask yourself what you’re afraid to write, and see what happens if you face that fear.

Specialties & Interests: Literary fiction, cross-stitching, planning parties.

Location: San Diego, CA, USA

Most Read Book: I don’t like to read a book twice. I’d have to say Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan are the only books I’ve read several times! 

Favorite Story to Tell: I love telling the story of how my husband and I “stole” our neighbor’s cat. Their cat was in love with us and would come over to our front door and sit on our laps, purring and drooling. She was so sweet, but she wasn’t ours. After lots of convincing, I was able to get our landlord to agree to let us adopt a cat. Our neighbors knew how much their cat loved us, and offered to give her to us. Sweetcat was our first baby! (She has passed away since; she was 16 years old and lived a long and very adventurous life.) 

If you want to connect, please add me on LinkedIn!

Taylor Berger - Content Editor

Taylor Berger holds an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in Film Studies and Creative Writing from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Taylor has pursued a career in writing since she was seven years old, and has worked as an editor, a content manager, a ghostwriter, a creative development lead, and a screenwriter. When she’s not writing, Taylor is usually busy blowing through an average of 75 books per year, curating Spotify playlists, or binge-watching horror movies.

Has been part of the team since: June 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: The best writing is accessible to everyone. It’s great that you know so many big words, but you’re telling a story — not competing in a vocabulary contest.  

Specialties & Interests: Personal Essays, Short Stories, Scriptwriting, Philosophy, Self-Development, Arts & Entertainment, Writing about Writing, Poetry, Fiction (Long-Form), Researched Articles.

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA.

Most Read Book: I’d like to tell you that it’s something impressive but it’s probably Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Favorite Story to Tell: I was in a pretty bad car accident a while back. I once relayed this story to a professor, and she sort of cocked her head to one side and said: “Huh. Do you ever think that killed you and you’re already in hell?”

Simoun Redoblado - Content Editor

Simoun graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. A former English teacher and assistant principal, Simoun writes and edits material seven days a week (occasionally stopping for coffee). His online work has been published in sites like Collider, Amendo, Crazy Money Facts, and The Hip Hop Insider. A high school textbook author since 2013, he has written and co-written titles that have entered national circulation in his home country of the Philippines.

Caffeine binges aside, Simoun is a devoted husband to one and father to two. His biggest fear, in fact, is to get those numbers mixed up when introducing himself.

Has been part of the team since: July 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Imperfection is everywhere. I have yet to see a perfect person, perfect relationship, perfect company, or perfect Eggs Benedict. When we embrace our flaws and work together to compensate for these shortcomings…well, we don’t become flawless. We become, in the truest sense of the word, human. Perhaps that should suffice.

Specialties & Interests: Personal Essays, Researched Articles, Writing about Writing, Arts & Entertainment, Self-Development, Learning, Family

Location: Quezon City, Philippines

Most Read Book: How Not to Write: An Office Primer for the Grammatically Perplexed by Terence Denman and Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Favorite Story to Tell: When I submitted the earliest draft of my first-ever CYC submission (a piece on the craft of writing in Hamilton), I described myself as a “father of one” in the introductory paragraphs. About a week later, as I worked on fleshing out the piece, I had to retool that phrase. Why? Just a few days after my proposed article was greenlighted by Elisa, my wife and I found out that we were pregnant with our second child! That one-word revision will forever be seared in my heart.

If you want to connect, you can find me on Facebook or Twitter.

Sena Gürdoğan - Copy & Content Editor

Sena is a graduate of Istanbul University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature. She also holds an Honors degree in Media and Communication from Anatolian University. She started her career as an editor and translator for several publishing houses and soon continued as a publishing coordinator. She has worked as an English-to-Turkish translator for a number of published psychology books and studies. After the economic crisis, which affected Turkey almost 3x more than global impacts, she continued her work abroad, starting as a Copywriter for an SaaS company based in Estonia. Sena also holds a certification in Pedagogical Formation from Istanbul University.

Science fiction is her favorite genre, and she likes to discover new sci-fi writers whenever she has time. Sena also likes to watch underwater documentaries, as well as educational videos on Youtube in areas of her interest, and skateboarding whenever she finds a perfect spot.

Has been part of the team since: May 2022

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion:  There’s always something to learn from people but in order to stand out and be original, we sometimes need to show the courage to be different and be our weird-selves.

Specialties & Interests: Researched Articles, Arts & Entertainment, Blockchain/Crypto, Finance, Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy, Psychology and Neuroscience.

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Most Read Book: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

Favorite Story to Tell: That one time I was almost not allowed to take an exam because I couldn't get my tragus piercing out. It was stuck. And it was an important exam (the one for Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Entrance), which is why I was raged and shocked when the lady at the entrance said I couldn’t get in with ‘that thing’. Anyways, with lots of explaining the obvious, like it’s not a secret listening device and finally talking to the exam manager, I convinced some people that piercings can not hurt us, nor the integrity of any exam. So I found my way into the exam room after a quick cry in the public bathroom. I was feeling triumphant, the only problem was that they took some notes about some rules not being followed properly. I didn’t tell anyone about this incident, especially my mother who drove me there, until after everything turned out to be alright and I got a good grade from the exam.

If you want to connect, you can find me on LinkedIn and Twitter 

Melanie Keath - Copy Editor

Melanie has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University, where she couldn’t rein in her varied interests enough for a double major and so graduated with three minors, in French, English, and psychology. She went on to work as a copy editor at The Tribune in Ames, Iowa, before leaving the newsroom for a non-profit position mentoring university students, both in the U.S. and abroad. She married in 2004 and spent the next 15 years as a stay-at-home and sometimes-homeschooling mom to four sons. 

Putting her word-brain back to work as a proofreader has been a joy. When she’s not editing or driving kids around, you’ll find Melanie with a cup of coffee in hand, listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or public radio. 

Has been part of the team since: September 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Kindness is better. Better than being right, better than brutal honesty, better than winning. Kindness wins.

Specialties & Interests: Proofreading, Fiction, Personal Essays, Learning, Family, Travel, Lifestyle

Location: Pennsylvania, USA

Most Read Book: The Chronicles of Narnia. I read them myself, and then read them to all of my kids.

Favorite Story to Tell: In line for the bathroom at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Nairobi, I ran into an acquaintance and classmate from Iowa State University. We hadn’t seen each other in years, but Midwest recognizes Midwest. I was at the tail end of a five-week trip mentoring Kenyan and American students; she was on the front end of what has become a 20-year career as a professor in Nigeria. Big world, small world.