Letters From Melissa

Welcome to my writing services website lettersfrommelissa.com.

I am a San Francisco-based copywriter and journalist who has written for both online and print publications. My writing specialties include travel and advocacy (but my interests are quite diverse so please don’t hesitate to contact me and ask if your industry or mission is among them; it probably is).

Writing and travel are passions I’ve pursued since I was old enough to dream of distance places. In college, I began my studies in international relations but I later realized that my true love is writing and that I could experience the best of both worlds in journalism. I earned a bachelor of arts in journalism and later studied integrated marketing, including social media and internet marketing, maximizing search engine optimization (SEO), market research, and brand strategies.

Today I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and continue to write and seek opportunities to inspire readers with stories and unique experiences from destinations near and far. With regard to travel copywriting, my hope is to inspire tourists toward exploring the world in a way that will foster a deeper connection with the environment and community they’re visiting; to fully enjoy the fun of exploration, the shared wisdom from other cultures, and the sense of escape and adventure that travel experiences impart.

I have written for a variety of publications including Common Ground Magazine, Tango Diva, Everywhere Magazine, and the Golden Gate [X]press. I have served as editor of the Filipina Women’s Network’s V-Diaries and as national communications director for a progressive, grassroots advocacy organization.

When not writing or traveling, I’m volunteering at a local community organization, reading books and magazines that come my way, urging myself through a few more lunges on the gym floor, sharing food and drinks with good company, and making a mess in my kitchen.

Need help creating compelling print and online copy? Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss how I can help you with you marketing and communications needs. Learn more about my professional experience under Expertise.

Photo 1: Melissa (second from left) stops for a photo with kids from the village in Safranbolu, Turkey.
Photo 2: (Photo by Paul Ross) A sailboat glides past on Laguna Bacalar in Quintana Roo, Mexico.