LISA MARIA REESE

Creative writer specializing in fiction that merges magical realism with folklore. Current novel explores European and Pacific Northwest traditions through the lens of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, questioning traditional hero narratives. Developed writing skills through workshops, peer critiques, and coursework at Harvard Extension School, ready to contribute to the Randolph College writing community.

• Mass Communication Specialist, 08/01/25, 12/31/26, US Navy Reserves, Washington, DC, The US Navy Reserves is a branch of the US Armed Forces. I served as a Mass Communication Specialist at the Pentagon, responsible for public affairs content and writing instruction for junior personnel., Produced illustrated graphics to showcase the Navy’s 150th birthday for Pentagon public affairs distribution that counted down to the date, Ran writing workshops for junior enlisted on clarity and editorial judgment, which improved the quality of submitted work across the unit
• Photojournalist & Video Editor, 08/01/17, 03/31/18, WTKR News 3, Norfolk, VA, WTKR News 3 is a CBS affiliate in Norfolk, VA. I joined as a staff photojournalist and video editor, responsible for daily news packages., Shot and edited daily news packages for broadcast, which built the ability to capture a story and shape it fast, Developed a working instinct for what makes a story land within a high-stress environment that now informs how I approach revision in my own fiction
• Broadcast Journalist, Video & Radio Producer, 03/01/12, 04/30/15, Armed Forces Network Misawa, AFB Misawa, Japan, Armed Forces Network Misawa is a military broadcast outlet serving US service members at Misawa Air Base in Japan. I produced stories across video, radio, and print, covering service life and community on and around the base., Produced 30+ stories a year across video and radio at an overseas posting in Japan, where being far from familiar context made me a more careful, detail-oriented writer

• Active Workshop Participant – Scribophile Online Writing Community, 01/01/25, Present, Scribophile is an online writing community built around manuscript-level critique exchange. I participate as an active workshop member, both giving detailed critiques on others’ work and receiving feedback on my own work-in-progress., Write detailed manuscript critiques for fellow writers, paying close attention to arc and where the story loses the reader, which made me much better at spotting those same problems in my own work, Applied close-reading habits from Harvard Extension coursework to peer feedback, then turned the same lens back on my own revisions, Read across literary and genre fiction to build the vocabulary I use to name what’s working and what doesn’t work in a draft
• Mentor to Emerging Writers – US Navy Reserves, 01/01/16, Present, As part of my ongoing service in the US Navy Reserves, I mentor junior mass communication specialists in storytelling and editorial craft through workshops and one-on-one sessions., Mentored 15+ junior Navy communicators in storytelling and editorial craft, which helped them develop clearer and more confident Sailors

• Creative Writer, Essayist & Novelist, 09/01/18, Present, Freelance, I work as an independent fiction writer. My primary project is Chasing King David’s Stag, a novel in development since 2018. I also maintain a personal essay portfolio at lmreese.com and workshop my work through Scribophile and competitive contests., Revised Chasing King David’s Stag through multiple full drafts, which developed the folkloric influenced themes and sharpened the protagonist’s voice, Built a personal essay portfolio at lmreese.com, establishing a consistent writing practice around memory, identity, and place, Workshopped fiction on Scribophile to exchange manuscript-level feedback, which made me faster at spotting pacing and structural problems in my own drafts, Entered NYC Midnight contests, which strengthened my ability to build a complete story quickly
• Podcast Host – The Nest, 01/01/24, Present, lmreese.com, The Nest is a podcast I host and produce independently through lmreese.com. Each episode is an in-depth conversation about my approach to folklore, mythology, and the challenge of making space for your creative practice as a writer., Launched The Nest as a space for writers to talk about folklore and literary craft, which grew a small niche audience of likeminded creators, Developed informative episodes on how I use mythology and folklore with my writing, inviting curiosity from others who share my specialized interests, Built a consistent publishing cadence, which forced the kind of discipline that long-form creative work requires