Kirsch completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia in 1996. She then completed a Master’s in Creative Writing at New York University. In her writing career, Kirsch has earned multiple writing awards and several fellowships.

Kirsch’s professional writing career began in 1998 when she was working as a senior producer for Oxygen Media and editing the Girls On website. Kirsch also wrote the advice column “Ask Princess” for Oxygen Media.

Other works by Kirsch include her poem "Sleep's Underside" in Acquainted with the Night (a collection of poems about insomnia) and various articles, which have been featured in Nerve, Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal, National Geographic Traveler, New York, and Scientific American.

Kirsch wrote the advice book for women in The Girl’s Guide. She also blogs for the Huffington Post.