A career built around words—and what they help people do.

The editorial foundation

My writing background spans literary criticism, digital copywriting, independent publishing, healthcare and financial content, travel writing, and film-festival materials. Across those settings, I learned to adapt quickly to different audiences, tones, formats, and constraints.

That foundation still shapes my work today. I care about clarity, structure, voice, and the human experience behind every piece of content—and I bring those instincts to learning design, change enablement, and content strategy.

Publications and criticism

I have published more than 200 reviews, essays, interviews, and articles in outlets including LA Review of Books, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Time Out, The Midwest Review, and Advantage.

Writing for librarians, publishers, booksellers, educators, and literary professionals sharpened my ability to assess complex material quickly, identify what matters most, and communicate a clear point of view with precision and economy.

Editorial leadership

I co-founded and served as senior editor of Knee-Jerk, an independent literary magazine based in Chicago. I helped set the editorial vision, solicit writers, review submissions, edit content, interview authors, manage publication schedules, promote the magazine, and support fundraising.

What began as a monthly web publication grew to include book-length print issues featuring emerging and established writers, artwork, and comics. The magazine earned recognition from Poets & Writers, CBS Chicago, Time Out Chicago, Chicago magazine, and the Chicago Reader.

Roxane Gay
Padgett Powell
Jack Pendarvis
David Shields
Lydia Millet
Kim Chinquee
Matt Bell
Roy Kesey

Copywriting and content strategy

As a digital copywriter at VivaKi, I wrote performance-driven advertising informed by search and keyword strategy for major brands including Walmart, HP, Kohl’s, GE, Aetna, Samsung, Lexus, Kaiser Permanente, Hyatt, and Fandango.

Earlier roles included healthcare and financial publishing, editing for the Key West Film Festival, and promotional content for the Virginia is for Lovers State Travel Guide. The work taught me to adjust voice and structure to inform, persuade, clarify, promote, or invite deeper engagement.

Awards and literary engagement