Kristin Gustafson

Kristin Gustafson – Editor

I'm a published poet who wants to make your writing sing. I specialize in copy editing and proofreading fiction and poetry.

Overview

My love for editing comes from a love of language and a passion for helping authors. As an author and poet, I know how daunting it can be to share your work with others. That is why I am committed to offering my clients a collaborative editing experience, where I support them every step of the way.


I started editing in 2017 as the Assistant Editor of Poetry for Quiz & Quill Magazine. In that position, I helped the Poetry Editor select pieces for print. Outside the magazine, I revised and provided suggestions for countless poems, short stories, plays, and essays in my hands-on writing courses.


I started my freelance editing career in December 2018; I edited everything from blog posts to articles to poetry manuscripts. I was hired as a Marketing and Revisions Editor for New Degree Press in June 2020, where I edited over a dozen manuscripts (including poetry collections, novels, and nonfiction books).


My poetry has been published or is forthcoming in ALOCASIA, Anti-Heroin Chic, the Bitchin' Kitsch, Bullshit Lit, Cartridge Lit, Cleveland Scene Magazine, Coffee People Zine, Contemporary Verse 2, Gone Lawn, Gordon Square Review, HAD, LEVITATE Magazine, Meniscus Literary Journal, Misery Tourism, Moss Puppy Magazine, The Offing, Open Minds Quarterly, Progenitor Art & Literary Journal, The Quarter(ly), Quiz and Quill Magazine, Soliloquies Anthology, Something Involving a Mailbox!, Troublemaker Firestarter, and Y2K Magazine.

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Fantasy Poetry Romance Science Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Contemporary Verse 2's 2023 2-Day-Poem Contest: 2nd Place
  • Finalist in Gordon Square Review's Blackout Poetry Contest
  • 2023-2024 Literary Cleveland Breakthrough Writing Resident
  • Semifinalist in Button Poetry's 2024 Chapbook Contest
  • 3rd Place in MEMEZINE's "weird lil' guys" contest
Certifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing (2019)

Work experience

Literary Cleveland

Oct, 2023 — Oct, 2024 (about 1 year)
As a Breakthrough Writing Resident, I was given time to work on my first full-length poetry collection under the mentorship of Danny Caine. I presented at the Inkubator conference (the largest free writing conference in the United States), met authors such as Edwidge Danticat, took classes in poetry and marketing, and gave several public readings.

Gordon Square Review

Feb, 2022 — Jun, 2023 (over 1 year)
As one of three volunteer poetry readers, I helped the poetry editor select the best poems for publication via Submittable.

New Degree Press

Jun, 2020 — May, 2022 (almost 2 years)
I coordinated editing, proofreading, cover design, interior layout, and marketing efforts for each author. Over the course of five-month sessions, I offered personalized developmental, line, and copy edits, deadline reminders, and marketing support to each of my authors via Zoom and written communication. During my two years at NDP, I helped over 20 authors raise over $125,000 toward their publishing costs.

Self-employed

Dec, 2018 — Present
I specialize in editing poetry and fantasy/science-fiction novels. My services include line editing, copyediting, and proofreading.

The Comic Book Project

Sep, 2018 — Dec, 2018 (3 months)
I taught middle school students how to create comic books from start to finish; I offered editing suggestions as students requested them.

Quiz & Quill Literary Magazine

Aug, 2018 — May, 2019 (9 months)
I assisted the Poetry Editor in selecting poems for publication and assisted in selecting fiction and nonfiction pieces for the magazine as necessary.

Wexner Center for the Arts

Aug, 2018 — Nov, 2018 (3 months)
I curated a syllabus and taught 6th-grade classes about the fundamentals of poetry and storytelling. I offered editing suggestions as students requested them.

Otterbein University

Jan, 2016 — Apr, 2019 (about 3 years)
I read and edited dozens of poems, plays, essays, short stories, and scenes from novels for my peers as a part of Otterbein's Creative Writing program.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Electric Rivers: Poems

Bosko, Jill

Jill Bosko

Copy Editing
The Phoenix King (The Ravence Trilogy, 1)

Verma, Aparna

Copy Editing
The Boy with Fire (The Ravence Trilogy)

Verma, Aparna

Made with Reedsy
Those Happier Days: a collection of poems

Viswanath, Deepika

Independently published

Developmental Editing
The Algerian Dream: Youth and the Quest for Dignity

Farrand, Andrew G.

Made with Reedsy
Dark Horizon: Crossing the Void

Snellen Jr., David

Schneltor Media

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Orange and Pink Sunset: A Sapphic Poetry Chapbook

James, Ivy L.

Copy Editing
Finding Poetry, Finding Me

Bruckenstein, Rebecca P.

Desire

Leatham, Julia Morgan

Behind Her City Eyes

Erin, Sarah

The Djinn Entrapment

Mascolino, Leigh Eskin

The Dark Space Between (The Space Between Book 2)

Stirling, Cassandra

What She Knows

Martinez, Juanet

To Her

Lloyd, Juzel

Young Adult

Gundred, Kyra

The Energized Self : A Journey to Interconnected Healing

Medina, Andrea

Paved A Way: Infrastructure, Policy and Racism in an American City

Yarbrough, Collin

While You Were Away: The Dreams 2020 Left Behind

Bonilla, K.C.

El Bilingual Catarsis: A Collection of Poetry

Avilés, Wendy S.

Aether Wuld

Rodriguez, Marlon

If

Wilder, Ingrid Pritchard

From Waves, I Rise: A Collection of Poems

Ghosh, Niharika

The Art of Collaboration: An In-Depth Look at Creative Practices for Creative People

Welch, Sydney Elizabeth

I Am Glass

Weidman, Julia

Genesis Mortalis (Take It)

Hearn, Ashlea

Mala & the Mask of Gold

Atilano, Jaime Martin

Off The Record

Quinn, Jocelyn

The Deep Space Between

Stirling, Cassandra

The Unlearning

Garrett, Maddy

Kristin has 32 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Isaac L.

Isaac L.

Jan, 2024

Pinned
Working with Kristin was wonderful. She was clear on expectations, timeline, and pricing. She delivered ahead of schedule, and her work was thorough, detailed, and very thoughtful. I will definitely be working with Kristin again!
Ramiz Firas J.

Ramiz Firas J.

Sep, 2023

Pinned
Kristin was a wonderful editor to work with! She was extremely kind, on time, and provided quality feedback that also helped me understand the art of writing poetry. She was patient with her explanations, she answered every question in detail, and she made my work pop in a way that I never expect...
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David S.

David S.

Feb, 2023

Pinned
I've written a whole book and I still struggle to express how great Kristin is. Whatever you take out of this review, multiply it by--as my calculus teachers used to say--an arbitrarily large number. I'm uncharacteristically at a lack for words! Her mastery of grammar made my prose 100% better. ...
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Ariana L.

Ariana L.

Jun, 2025

I hired Kristin to edit my poetry collection. She was so kind and supportive the entire time we worked together. Her suggestions and critiques were thoughtful and soooo creative! One of my favorite things about Kristin is that she gives an explanation to every edit she makes. This shows me that s...
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Bahar A.

Bahar A.

May, 2025

I truly value Kristin’s honesty and insightful feedback. Working with her has been a great experience, and I look forward to collaborating on more poems in the future!

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