Alyse the Poet
As a black femme writer I am seeking ways to uncover the lost languages that lie hidden not just in my family but in our globally diasporic collective memory. My approach to story telling is influenced by the passing down of my ancestral history; a series of oratorically redacted black out poems delivered to me by my mother as we’re sat in our garden patio of jade trees, and cacti; obscured by nightfall. The long pauses between sips of beer and drags of her cigarette, is where I began to make meaning from what was left unsaid. In between those pauses is where I learned to listen for the stories that didn’t make it past her lips, that didn’t pass between our generations. I have explored story telling through this lens from a multitude of angles; through performance, poetry, opera, playwriting and prose.
Copywriting
Copy that sounds like your “smartest, funniest friend." I specialize in 'unhinged' authenticity and narrative precision. Drawing from my background in devised theater and sociology, I write copy that cuts through the digital noise by being self-aware, culturally literate, and with a playful sense of clarity.
​
Service 1: Brand Voice & Persona Development
I help brands stop sounding like corporations and start sounding like humans. Using my background in sociology and performance, I analyze your target audience’s "cultural zeitgeist" to build a brand voice that is authentic, self-aware, and emotionally resonant.
Best for: Startups, non-profits, or heritage brands looking to modernize their identity.
Deliverables: Brand Voice Guidelines, Persona Maps, and "Voice-Stress-Testing."
Service 2: High-Engagement Digital Copywriting
The "Clown's Precision" for Content.
In a world of boring ads, I write the "unhinged" copy that people actually stop to read. I specialize in punchy, short-form content that uses humor and radical honesty to build instant trust.
Best for: Social media campaigns, SEO-optimized blog posts, and "un-ignorable" email marketing.
I apply "clown logic" finding the unexpected, the funny, and the vulnerable to your product descriptions and ad copy.
Service 3: Community-Centric Narrative Strategy​
Drawing from my work with the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund and local arts organizations, I help brands design communications that foster genuine community belonging. I bridge the gap between high-level mission statements and grassroots storytelling.
Best for: DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) reporting, Community Engagement plans, and non-profit fundraising appeals. I don't just write "about" a community; I use my sociological training to write *with* them.
Service 4: Scriptwriting & Narrative Design
I write scripts for videos, audio tours, and interactive user journeys. My training in devised performance at Pig Iron allows me to visualize the "physicality" of a story, ensuring your technical content flows with rhythm and dramatic tension.
​
Best for: Video sizzle reels, technical explainers, and interactive UX writing.
I treat a user's journey through an app or website like a five-act play, ensuring every "act" (click) leads to a satisfying payoff.