I’m Carrie Madren, an award-winning freelance journalist and writer based in Northern Virginia, just outside of D.C. Though I specialize in environment and sustainability, I also regularly cover stories with roots in science, ecology, faith, sustainable agriculture, art, and more. I’ve crafted lengthy features as well as pithy news pieces and narrative-style profiles for dozens of regional and national publications, including The Washington Post‘s Capital Business section, Scientific American, Washingtonian, Maryland Life, Costco Connection, The Ecologist, Parks & Recreation, American Forests, and others.
Before launching my own business as an independent writer, I was the senior staff writer at Bay Weekly newspaper in Annapolis, Md. Now, I cover topics ranging from mangrove forests to stand-up paddling to orchid ecology for a wide ranges of publications.
I use AP Style, and am a stickler for precision, story flow, and of course holding the reader’s interest. As an editor, I cut clutter and wordiness, carefully consider active verbs, and help highlight the significance in any piece.
As an amateur photographer, I can provide high-resolution photos to accompany stories that I cover in person.
In addition to crafting stories for magazines and other publications, I create copy for marketing and communications firms and write book reviews for The Washington Independent Review of Books.
““Carrie’s writing is colorful and clear, even with complicated topics.””
