Nice to Meet You!
I am Kaitlin Schmidt, a queer and neurodivergent editor. I have a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Whitworth University of Spokane, Washington.
I first worked as an editorial assistant for two years at Rock & Sling, a literary magazine run by former Spokane Poet Laureate Thom Caraway. Later I became a copyeditor at The Spokesman-Review, a major newspaper with the third highest readership in Washington state, and worked there for two years. After moving to western Washington, I became a contributor to and moderator of the Village Books Fiction II writing group in Bellingham, where I exchanged beta reading and line editing with other authors for two years.
The act of repeatedly breaking down the evolving mystery of language and writing eventually led me to a career in teaching English. From 2018 to 2023, I taught high school English and yearbook at Lakewood High School in Arlington, Washington. As an English teacher, I demystified writing concepts on a daily basis; as a yearbook teacher, I equipped students to become writers, editors, and designers all in one (and we learned together that you can’t have too many editing passes before sending a product to print). Throughout that time, I advised a creative writing club for youth on the side.
Over time, a pattern surfaced: I continually delighted in empowering people to make their written words match the stories and ideas in their head. So in 2023, I decided to follow that passion as a full-time freelance editor, and I’ve been working with publishing organizations and independent authors ever since! To see what types of projects I specialize in, check out my editing services page. To see a sampling of books I’ve worked on, visit my portfolio page. I can’t wait to geek out about your writing!
Editing Philosophy
My editing philosophy is one of collaboration and respect. After reading my feedback, writers often tell me that I understood their intent and gave them just the right suggestions to make that intent come through clearly. That is always my goal—discerning your purpose and then helping you get your writing to where you want it to be.
When copyediting and proofreading, my goal is precision and consistency. I want your manuscript to be as clean as a whistle, so not only do I correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, usage, and style, but I create a style sheet tracking the characters, timeline, locations, and other elements specific to your manuscript. It’s not a true copyedit without a style sheet!
When I perform manuscript assessments, line edits, or developmental edits, my goal is to make sure your writing craft successfully conveys the message you’re truly aiming for. I also value giving specific positive praise in these higher-level edits, which is not just a matter of morale—precise praise tells you what to keep, and what to keep doing.
Finally, when partnering with a writer, I always approach with empathy. Writing is vulnerable, and I believe that people need encouragement, respectfully worded critique, and compassion during personal challenges to keep the fire in their hearts alive.
Nerdy Journey
I am, unquestionably, a nerd. I grew up reading an endless amount of high fantasy, sci-fi, and romance, and those stories shaped the journeys of my heart. I still read the same genres as an adult, albeit with a more critical eye, and have never kicked the habit of staying up late into the night reading “just one more chapter.” I also play Zelda and Skyrim and pretty much anything where I can be an assassin or an archer or an elf (or preferably all three). I went so far as to take a class to make my own bow with hand tools and then learn how to shoot it. (I’ll stop short at becoming an actual assassin. No promises on the elf part.)
All that reading has paid off in my editing. Primarily, it bolstered my intuitive sense of when something is written incorrectly or ineffectively. Secondarily, going deep into genre fiction familiarized me with how tropes work (or don’t).
The gaming and the archery just help me as a person, though regarding the latter, there is an argument to be made for getting real experience in the things I write or edit.
As a teacher and editor, all of my research into obscure turns of phrase, hyphenation, spelling variants, and all things storytelling-related have resulted in a deep fascination with how words work. And so, the nerdy journey continues.
Intersection of Identity and Editing
Being openly queer changes how I work as an editor and writer. As a writer, all my characters seem to end up being queer one way or another. As an editor, I have empathy and sensitivity when it comes to identity struggles—on the page or in real life.
I am also neurodivergent, and my journey of self-discovery in that regard has given me patience and openness for people who desire individualized support. You won’t ever hear the words “why don’t you just” from me. This has also gifted me with insight into the strengths that unique wiring can bring, such as the honesty that can often come with autism or the pattern recognition of ADHD (with the understanding that these are generalizations; neurodiversity manifests uniquely in each person). If you are interested in learning more about neurodivergence and how it can both overlap with and differ from mental disorders, this article from Right as Rain of UW Medicine might serve as a good primer.
I can’t wait to meet you. Make sure to check out my editing services page to browse ways I can partner with you, and contact me with questions!