Editorial Freelancers Association
Member Profile
Katherine Kirk
Gecko Edit
Hello, I’m Katherine Kirk. I help writers to wrangle their words into submission so that their message is clear of ambiguity and professional.
My friendly, personal approach gives you much more than better spelling, grammar, punctuation and syntax; I provide a human touch that is impossible to achieve through spell-checking software.
Why the gecko?
Because if I’m doing my job right, I’m like a gecko on the wall of your story, quietly snapping up the errors, inconsistencies and missteps that bug your readers, so that they can immerse themselves in your world.
Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction and Fantasy
The possibilities are endless in these genres. I love to figure out the world-building rules that scifi and fantasy authors have used and then ensure that they have been used consistently throughout the book, and across the whole series. My favourite SFF authors range from Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Ursula K Le Guin and Isaac Asimov to Iain M Banks, Neil Gaiman and JT Lawrence. I believe there should be more diversity in SFF; I seek to work especially with authors who are women, in translation to English, and minorities.
Literary Fiction
If your book is a genre-bending masterpiece of figurative artistry and innovative punctuation, then I am the editor for you. I will figure out the rules you have created and applied to your writing so that your reader can savor your words and embrace your unique spin on things. Whether you have written it in Morse Code or it can be read multi-directionally, I will help to ensure that readers have the best possible experience.
Historical Fiction
Another genre where worldbuilding, continuity and accuracy is important to your readers. I am especially interested in books set in the Victorian era, and all the way through the 20th century. I will help you make sure that your writing is consistent and appropriate to that era, so your readers can focus on the story.
RPG Content
There’s nothing worse than playing a new module in a tabletop RPG and not being able to find the information you need when you need it, or not being able to understand it. Take the pressure of your players by letting me proofread your guide, module, zine or other RPG content. I’ll make sure the style is consistent, spelling and grammar are accurate, and the information is all where it’s supposed to be, so they can focus on destroying that fire elemental.
Diversity
My goal is to help marginalized and underrepresented authors to have their voices heard, and to help readers of all backgrounds to see themselves represented in the stories that they love. I am also happy to refer you to a sensitivity reader so you can be sure that your characters are faithful representations of real-life communities.
“I have nothing but good things to say (and write) about my experience with Gecko Edit’s Katherine Kirk. Katherine copy edited my historical fiction book The Indenture of Ivy O’Neil. Her work was quick, comprehensive, sensitive, and incredibly helpful. She presented her information and recommendations in documents which were easy to understand and use.
My book is set in the late 1600s in Ireland and Maryland. Special care was needed to be accurate in reflecting the times, yet not be unclear to modern readers. I am American, my publisher, AIA Publishing, is Australian, and the subject matter spans Britain, Ireland, and America. Katherine provided sound information and input to come up with an appropriate approach. She tapped into resources to use terms appropriate to the time and place. She is very adept applying the finer points of grammar and punctuation. I learned a lot from her and have kept her materials as a reference for my writing. All in all, a very pleasant and productive experience.”
– Diane Helentjaris
“I found Gecko Edit to be extremely flexible and accommodating when it came to my publishing project. This was my first professionally edited project and I wasn’t sure exactly what type of services were needed. Katherine walked me through the options and helped to create a solution that fit both the project and the budget. She also helped me create a consistent product through the implementation of a customized house style guide based on my personal preferences.”
– Tim Sattley
“When my publisher selected Katherine to edit my latest novel, my expectations were high. But Katherine managed to exceed even those. Her deep knowledge of editing conventions, her command of the language, her accommodation of my writing style, her careful consistency checking, and her attention to detail, all worked together to produce a much-improved manuscript. She even researched my descriptions of real-world places and suggested several helpful changes to improve accuracy and realism. In addition to all this, Katherine herself was a joy to work with. I’d highly recommend her to anyone looking for outstanding professional editing work.”
– Don Thompson
“Working with Katherine was a joy. Not only is she superb at her editing craft but she was supportive of my writing and respectful of where I was coming from. There is no question my book is better now after her work. She also has a great sense of humor, so even when she suggested changes, it was never a criticism so much as a friendly suggestion to improve. We laughed a lot in our emails back and forth, and I will miss our creative times together. If you need an editor or a proofreader, you will not find anyone better.”
– Rabbi Paul Plotkin
“Katherine was a recommendation from another copy editor I know, and I couldn’t be happier with her work! She has an immense knowledge of grammar and the flexibility to work with character dialogue quirks, as well as finding your own repetitive tendencies to make your work shine as best as possible. You would do well to have her look at your work!”
– Lauren Sellers
“I am so glad that I found Katherine as an editor! As a brand-new author, I had trepidation about the process, but she immediately put me at ease. Not only is she professional and responsive, but she was also able to bring out the best of my writing with her thoughtful comments and suggestions. I am excited to work with her on all of my upcoming projects.”
– Kara O’Toole Treece
“I’ve been working with Katherine Kirk and Gecko Edit for over a year now, and using Katherine on all of our publications has been a godsend. Words can’t describe the level of stress relief provided by having an ace professional editor like Katherine standing watch on all our books before they go out to the printers. She’s better than taking my blood pressure pills. Everyone needs a good editor, and thanks to Gecko Edit’s reasonable rates, now everyone can have one! Katherine comes with my highest recommendation, and as a publisher of tabletop role-playing games, supplements and fiction, you can take that to the treasure vault. ”
– Jim Wampler
“I want to thank my editor, Katherine Kirk, for her keen insights, for helping to focus the characters’ voices, and for making my writing the best that it could be. I may have chosen you in part because your name sounds like “Captain Kirk” if you say it really quickly, but that ended up being one of the best choices I made on the professional front.”
– Dylan McFadyen
“I was recommended to Katherine’s service by a friend of mine, and though he works in the RPG industry I thought having a fiction piece edited would be sufficiently in her wheelhouse to give it a try. I was pleased by the experience and professionalism shown throughout the process. Payments were flexible and the project finished before deadline. One part of the experience I found rewarding was the quality of the entire line editing format. Suggestions went beyond simple word processing into the craft of storytelling itself. I would recommend highly!”
– Mike Stewart
Email: kath@geckoedit.com
Years in the field: 14
Years freelancing: 4
Katherine Kirk
Hello, I’m Katherine Kirk. I help writers to wrangle their words into submission so that their message is clear of ambiguity and professional.
My friendly, personal approach gives you much more than better spelling, grammar, punctuation and syntax; I provide a human touch that is impossible to achieve through spell-checking software.
Why the gecko?
Because if I’m doing my job right, I’m like a gecko on the wall of your story, quietly snapping up the errors, inconsistencies and missteps that bug your readers, so that they can immerse themselves in your world.
Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction and Fantasy
The possibilities are endless in these genres. I love to figure out the world-building rules that scifi and fantasy authors have used and then ensure that they have been used consistently throughout the book, and across the whole series. My favourite SFF authors range from Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Ursula K Le Guin and Isaac Asimov to Iain M Banks, Neil Gaiman and JT Lawrence. I believe there should be more diversity in SFF; I seek to work especially with authors who are women, in translation to English, and minorities.
Literary Fiction
If your book is a genre-bending masterpiece of figurative artistry and innovative punctuation, then I am the editor for you. I will figure out the rules you have created and applied to your writing so that your reader can savor your words and embrace your unique spin on things. Whether you have written it in Morse Code or it can be read multi-directionally, I will help to ensure that readers have the best possible experience.
Historical Fiction
Another genre where worldbuilding, continuity and accuracy is important to your readers. I am especially interested in books set in the Victorian era, and all the way through the 20th century. I will help you make sure that your writing is consistent and appropriate to that era, so your readers can focus on the story.
RPG Content
There’s nothing worse than playing a new module in a tabletop RPG and not being able to find the information you need when you need it, or not being able to understand it. Take the pressure of your players by letting me proofread your guide, module, zine or other RPG content. I’ll make sure the style is consistent, spelling and grammar are accurate, and the information is all where it’s supposed to be, so they can focus on destroying that fire elemental.
Diversity
My goal is to help marginalized and underrepresented authors to have their voices heard, and to help readers of all backgrounds to see themselves represented in the stories that they love. I am also happy to refer you to a sensitivity reader so you can be sure that your characters are faithful representations of real-life communities.
“I have nothing but good things to say (and write) about my experience with Gecko Edit’s Katherine Kirk. Katherine copy edited my historical fiction book The Indenture of Ivy O’Neil. Her work was quick, comprehensive, sensitive, and incredibly helpful. She presented her information and recommendations in documents which were easy to understand and use.
My book is set in the late 1600s in Ireland and Maryland. Special care was needed to be accurate in reflecting the times, yet not be unclear to modern readers. I am American, my publisher, AIA Publishing, is Australian, and the subject matter spans Britain, Ireland, and America. Katherine provided sound information and input to come up with an appropriate approach. She tapped into resources to use terms appropriate to the time and place. She is very adept applying the finer points of grammar and punctuation. I learned a lot from her and have kept her materials as a reference for my writing. All in all, a very pleasant and productive experience.”
– Diane Helentjaris
“I found Gecko Edit to be extremely flexible and accommodating when it came to my publishing project. This was my first professionally edited project and I wasn’t sure exactly what type of services were needed. Katherine walked me through the options and helped to create a solution that fit both the project and the budget. She also helped me create a consistent product through the implementation of a customized house style guide based on my personal preferences.”
– Tim Sattley
“When my publisher selected Katherine to edit my latest novel, my expectations were high. But Katherine managed to exceed even those. Her deep knowledge of editing conventions, her command of the language, her accommodation of my writing style, her careful consistency checking, and her attention to detail, all worked together to produce a much-improved manuscript. She even researched my descriptions of real-world places and suggested several helpful changes to improve accuracy and realism. In addition to all this, Katherine herself was a joy to work with. I’d highly recommend her to anyone looking for outstanding professional editing work.”
– Don Thompson
“Working with Katherine was a joy. Not only is she superb at her editing craft but she was supportive of my writing and respectful of where I was coming from. There is no question my book is better now after her work. She also has a great sense of humor, so even when she suggested changes, it was never a criticism so much as a friendly suggestion to improve. We laughed a lot in our emails back and forth, and I will miss our creative times together. If you need an editor or a proofreader, you will not find anyone better.”
– Rabbi Paul Plotkin
“Katherine was a recommendation from another copy editor I know, and I couldn’t be happier with her work! She has an immense knowledge of grammar and the flexibility to work with character dialogue quirks, as well as finding your own repetitive tendencies to make your work shine as best as possible. You would do well to have her look at your work!”
– Lauren Sellers
“I am so glad that I found Katherine as an editor! As a brand-new author, I had trepidation about the process, but she immediately put me at ease. Not only is she professional and responsive, but she was also able to bring out the best of my writing with her thoughtful comments and suggestions. I am excited to work with her on all of my upcoming projects.”
– Kara O’Toole Treece
“I’ve been working with Katherine Kirk and Gecko Edit for over a year now, and using Katherine on all of our publications has been a godsend. Words can’t describe the level of stress relief provided by having an ace professional editor like Katherine standing watch on all our books before they go out to the printers. She’s better than taking my blood pressure pills. Everyone needs a good editor, and thanks to Gecko Edit’s reasonable rates, now everyone can have one! Katherine comes with my highest recommendation, and as a publisher of tabletop role-playing games, supplements and fiction, you can take that to the treasure vault. ”
– Jim Wampler
“I want to thank my editor, Katherine Kirk, for her keen insights, for helping to focus the characters’ voices, and for making my writing the best that it could be. I may have chosen you in part because your name sounds like “Captain Kirk” if you say it really quickly, but that ended up being one of the best choices I made on the professional front.”
– Dylan McFadyen
“I was recommended to Katherine’s service by a friend of mine, and though he works in the RPG industry I thought having a fiction piece edited would be sufficiently in her wheelhouse to give it a try. I was pleased by the experience and professionalism shown throughout the process. Payments were flexible and the project finished before deadline. One part of the experience I found rewarding was the quality of the entire line editing format. Suggestions went beyond simple word processing into the craft of storytelling itself. I would recommend highly!”
– Mike Stewart
