Melissa Lore

Creativity is intelligence having fun.

Albert Einstein

From writing plays as a kid on her parents’ old Olivetti typewriter (it typed in cursive!) to earning her MFA in fiction at Columbia University, Melissa lives and breathes narrative, drama, and storytelling. That makes her a terrible person to watch movies with (she always spoils the ending), but it comes in handy for clients who need help with messaging, creative campaigns, and storytelling that inspires action.

Melissa brings her experience writing for consumer brands including Nickelodeon, Chewy Granola, and Norwegian Cruise Lines to Vital’s roster of B2B and higher education clients, tapping into powerful emotional motivators that competitors miss. 

When she’s not running brand narrative workshops or brainstorming campaign headlines, Melissa can be found skiing or kayaking with her husband, two teenagers, and two giant fluffy sheepadoodles. (The dogs don’t actually ski.)


Notable clients include: University of San Diego Online Degrees, ACI Worldwide, boost.ai, Intradyn

Fiction shortlisted for 2020 Mid-American Review Prize

Fiction shortlisted for the 2021 Masters Review

Published in ZZYZYVA

Split Lip

The Normal School


  • Joined Vital ’21
  • MicroArts
  • Columbia University

  • Columbia University, MFA Fiction, 2009
  • Pomona College, BFA English & Literature, 1999

Vital Education Team Purple

Higher Education


A brief history at Vital

Director of Brand Strategy
Senior Content Strategist

Random Bits

  • I was the honorary postmistress of Osaka for the 50th anniversary of Japan’s Postal Service.
  • Both my children were born in a third-floor walkup apartment in Brooklyn.
  • I’ve ghostwritten multiple non-fiction business books (I won’t name names).
7

Dance Dance Revolution

10

Inbox Zero

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Queen Bee (IYKYK)

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Hockey Mom