I am Nilsa S. Crosby-Ellis, Nonfiction Writing Coach (specializing in Memoirs), Editor, and published author. I’m also a former New York City public school English teacher, written communications specialist, and founder of Helping Writers Write and SmartiePants Publishing.

I am a fluent, masterful speaker and writer of Standard English and my story-telling abilities keep readers captivated and engaged.

At New York University, I studied Public Relations and Corporate Communications in their Master’s program and was given the dishonorable distinction of earning the Passive Voice Award from a professor that kept me on my toes and forced me to step up my writing game to compete. 

At the City University of New York’s College of Staten Island, I earned a bachelor’s degree with the highest honors in English as an undergraduate and earned a Master’s in Education with a specialization in English writing with the same distinction. 

In the early '90s, my first byline appeared in The Black Reign, a local newspaper with radical views deeply rooted in racial and gender equality. I wrote about things like the divide and bias that exists in the African American community between light-skinned and dark-skinned people. That was where I unapologetically found my voice.

The first book I published in 2014 with my company SmartiePants Publishing, was my memoir, entitled Five Loves: Stories of Misguided Love, Lust, and Betrayal. It did not begin as a full-blown desire to write and publish a portion of my life's story. I was going on an expedition looking for myself, and not only did I find myself, but I found healing and self-love, and not a moment too soon. 

My published book was acclaimed as a gripping, no-holds-barred, naked, and honest self-examination of love, lust, and betrayal, and the difficult road back to self-love. It earned an award in the nonfiction category at the 2015 African American Author’s Expo. One person emailed me to say, “I was on a six-hour flight from NY to LA, and I read your book from cover to cover. I laughed, I cried, I grunted, I gasped, and I’m sure I annoyed my seatmate. Yet, when I landed, I was sad that your book ended. Thank you.” That was a game-changer. 

I founded Helping Writers Write in 2018. I was chased down in the dollar store by an eager woman who said she had been “looking for me,” which in New York City could be a good thing or a bad thing. It turned out that the woman who hosted my cleverly titled “Pillow Talks” (talks where women sat around on decorative pillows and discussed the themes from my book) told her that I might help her with her story. She was officially my first client – definitely not my easiest, but my first.

After that, numerous people asked me to help them write their books.  As a result of those inquiries, Helping Writers Write was born. Well, that and my desire to help aspiring authors gain the confidence and clarity to write and publish their stories. I continue to have the pleasure of working with a host of great stories that just need a little attention to be told well. 

Helping Writers Write is the place where I decided to marry my love of writing with my desire to help people tell meaningful stories that change lives. As my passion took shape, I started coaching aspiring nonfiction authors’ visions to completion. I support writers with a proven path from idea to publication. I help writers transform their boring prose into captivating, distinctive, inspiring manuscripts for publication. I continued to pivot until found my passion. I’m grateful.

Until 2021, I taught English writing and grammar every day for over a decade to my very own personal group of twenty-or-so high school hostages (students) in my classroom. I made it fun, engaging, and culturally relevant. I hope they remember their voices and their freedom of expression in a world where that can be difficult. 

Thus far, I have worked in-depth with numerous clients whose nonfiction stories I take personally. Each client receives my undivided attention and my eagle-eyed examination of every detail that helps produce their stories in a meaningful way that makes sense and touches hearts. The result is an intriguing, thought-provoking story that readers have a hard time putting down. 

If you have a compelling story to tell, join me. I’d love the opportunity to help you bring your story to life.

Peace & Love,