Meet the Editors: Katie Klear
In celebration of submissions opening, we are reintroducing ourselves! Get to know our editors—today with Art and Fiction editor, Katie Klear!
Do you have a routine that puts you in the editorial headspace? What is it?
I give myself a mental pep talk right before I start to edit a piece; think coach in the locker room. I tell myself that I am playing a game of eye-spy combined with a puzzle. My brain focuses in on the task at-hand that way, so I can fully submerse myself in the piece. I also try to envision the author reading the piece alongside me, whether that be hovering over my should or sitting beside me. This is to ensure I’m doing the least amount of harm to the work as possible. I want to keep the writing as true to the author’s intent as much as I can and picturing them in the room with me helps that goal immensely. From there, I’m ready. My mind knows the editing process and the tools I need are already at my finger tips thanks to computers being a one-stop-shop. I then start off on the fun challenge of editing a new piece.
What got you into editing in the first place?
I’ve been editing since the time I was creating. As a twin, my brother and I would check over each other’s work constantly. As a student, my instructors would have all the writers swap our works for peer editing. The moment when editing morphed from just another assignment into a true love happened randomly during my time in school. My friends had started to ask if I would edit their papers for them if I had some extra time, and I would nonchalantly agree. Then as I was randomly editing one of these non-required pieces, I thought to myself that this was fun! I realized I wasn’t just doing this extra work because I loved my friends, but also because I loved the action itself. After that, I would jump at every opportunity to edit writing and would even offer up my services unrequested. I wish I could recall the exact piece I was editing where the realization finally struck me, but it eludes me now.
Who or what is your biggest inspiration as a writer/editor/artist?
New artists spark the greatest fire in me creatively. Seeing the raw passion and fresh energy fledgling writers bring to the conversation reminds me of my own intense love for the craft. I also see an opportunity to help a fellow creative grow with the help of my expertise in editing. I can clearly see what role I am able to play in bringing about a new and beautiful work into this world.
Katie Klear is a creative writing major at Columbia College Chicago. She has been a production assistant and editor for Hair Trigger Magazine, an editor, reader, and publisher for The Borgen Project and an editor and curator for As I Lay (Stu)Dying Literary Magazine. She has a natural inclination toward editing and the production side of writing.
Her work has appeared in Chief Learning Officer Magazine, Study Breaks, Allium, As I Lay (Stu)Dying Literary Magazine, among others.