Lorraine Martindale​
Writer
Developmental Editor
Content Creation & Brand Storytelling
ABOUT
I'm Lorraine, a Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has worked for publishers, non-profits, media companies, and arts organizations in New York and LA. I have an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School, where I facilitated a writing group. In addition to my work as a copywriter and editor I have also published fiction and nonfiction in a variety of settings. I love to work with writers and organizations to help find their voices.
CONTENT CREATION & STORYTELLING
Your brand has a compelling story. I will work closely with you to find its unique qualities. This will include conversations and research to make the voice of your brand come to life. I am adept at creating copy with vivid imagery and narrative. My extensive experience includes catalog, brochure, web, and direct mail copy: art and jewelry copy for auction catalogs, product copy for spa and personal care, food-and travel related copy for websites, promotional copy for conferences, book-related copy for book clubs and promotional materials, and daily and weekly e-blasts for advertisers.
I have created content for Tibet House, Christie's, The Unterberg Poetry Center 92Y, Random House, American Express Publishing, American Spa, Weight Watchers, The MacArthur Foundation, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Brooklyn College, and New York University.
DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING
A developmental edit is a thorough process that includes manuscript evaluation and a line-by-line edit of your manuscript. The in-depth edit will include an evaluation of character development, plot, tone, narrative flow, dialogue, continuity, structure, pacing, and overall impression. The intent is to ​make your manuscript or story ready for publication.
As an editor, I have worked with Penguin Putnam, New York Review Books, DK Publishers, Felony & Mayhem, Shambhala Publications, Sourcebooks, and DC Comics.
For Guideposts Books I created and edited a fiction series called Tales from Grace Chapel Inn that sold a million copies for the direct mail market.
WRITING COACHING
Often a project needs a closer eye. If you need someone to guide you at the beginning of your idea or rough draft, writing coaching can help. Coaching sessions can also help improve your writing with exercises on voice and character development and sentence-by-sentence suggestions on making your writing stronger.
At the beginning of the first session, together we will ascertain the intention of your idea, story, or manuscript. We will also discuss what you would like to work on. Sometimes an outline is required; sometimes writers want tutorials and suggestions to help improve. I am flexible and available to help make your work its best.
Ghostwriting services are also available; please inquire for details.
Project rates for editorial and content creation services vary per project; please contact me directly for an estimate.
Portfolio writing samples are available upon request.
EDUCATION
The New School, New York, NY
MFA in Creative Writing
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
BA in English
Université de Bourgogne, Dijon France
French Literature and Language
New York University
Certificate in Publishing
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TESTIMONIALS
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“Lorraine is a superb editor! She is professional, has a great eye for details, and has amazing editorial instincts. I worked with Lorraine on two of my books and look forward to working with her on many more to come! She does her work with joy. I appreciated that she also expressed contrary views when needed. As writers, often deep in our projects, we do not always see the pitfalls in the flow of a script. Hire her and you will thank me later.”
Tania Damha, 2021
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"Lorraine was everything I could have wanted in a developmental editor. She read my 90K word manuscript with an experienced eye, and her work product made my novel far more professional than I could have done on my own. Her recommendations were spot on. Her knowledge of character and narrative should be available in a book of her own. She was worth every penny I paid. I will probably use her again in the future, and couldn't recommend her more highly.
John Rosskopf, 2022
