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True Story Project

Design
Writing
Strategy

True Story Project was founded by E.L. Valentine, an award-winning writer-storyteller across three disciplines: marketing, journalism, and public speaking.

Valentine's writing career started by writing 'fake news' jokes for Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update segment. In 2012, he co-founded True Story, which paired his short stories and poetry with original, live music. Over the next 10 years, True Story and Valentine would go on to perform keynote speeches, a musical stage play off-Broadway (The Mammal Problem), at TEDxBoise, Treefort Music Festival, and more.

Valentine now provides marketing services and AI coaching for small businesses, nonprofits, artists, and entrepreneurs from Los Angeles and New York to Tirana and Tokyo. Valentine is an alumnus of UCLA, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Psychology.

E.L. VALENTINE | Creative Director

If you're looking for a writer who can bring creative ideas to the table, as well as add value to branding and business strategy, you don’t need to look any further than Eric. He's a positive influence to a company's culture and has some impressive editing skills, too.

— Tanya Vaughan | Business Owner

“I hired Eric once, precisely because of the collaborative muscles he flexed in his career. In a short time, I saw Eric had creative chops, too, and he quickly began writing and editing copy and designing documents for my creative production team. He has developed himself into precisely the rock star creative person with a savvy business sense you now seek. He'd be my first choice with which to start building a brand.”

— Matt Long | Albertsons Media Collective

Eric has served as my backend tech specialist and brand developer, and the impact he’s had on my business has been real and measurable. From streamlining our internal workflows to refining our public-facing brand, he’s helped bring structure, clarity, and consistency to areas we once struggled to organize. What I appreciate most is that he doesn’t just execute—he thinks with you.

— Nawa K. Coleman | Business Owner

Happy Clients & Colleagues

Resumé

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | True Story Project, LLC
man standing on road infront of high-rise buildi
man standing on road infront of high-rise buildi
SR. COPYWRITER | 116 & West
LEAD MESSAGING STRATEGIST | Scentsy, Inc.
MEDICAL COPYWRITER & EDITOR | United Healthcare
COPYWRITER | CLM Northwest
NEWS REPORTER & EDITOR | Main Street Media

E.L. Valentine's experience spans industries from journalism and marketing to public speaking and AI implementation.

FUN FACTS
  • Wrote news jokes for SNL's Weekend Update

  • TEDxBoise speaker

  • Treefort Music Festival performer (StoryFort)

  • Off-Broadway performer (The Mammal Problem)

  • Reached the summit of Mt. Fuji 2x

  • Experienced remote worker

  • Taught English for 3 years in Tokyo, Japan

  • Survivor to his wife, Elizabeth, who passed away when he was just 25.

  • UCLA graduate w/ B.A. degrees in Psychology and Philosophy

  • Completed the Los Angeles Marathon

  • All-League offensive lineman in high school

  • Lover of arts, food, and travel

  • New Year's baby

20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Email

Eric@TrueStoryProject.com

Hours

7 Days a Week: 9:00AM – 9:00PM