About the editor

Karen Krumpak has been helping writers create their best work for over a decade as they strive toward making the stories they commit to the page as close to the perfect versions they envision as possible.

A former editor with Writer’s Digest magazine and WD books, she now provides editorial services to publishers and independent authors of speculative fiction, YA and middle grade fiction, literary fiction, and more from her home in Ohio.

 

 

When not reading for work, reading for fun, or listening to podcasts about writing and stories, Karen loves spending time with animals and baking bread.
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“I have worked with Karen Krumpak steadily for several years. She is thorough, professional, and very skilled. As a copy editor, she can work on a diverse set of genres, and is open to feedback. And she has an outstanding work ethic.”

GUY CUNNINGHAM, copy chief and publishing professional

“An essential member of my stable of freelance proofreaders and copyeditors; I consider her something of ‘an ace in the hole.’ The quality of her work is extraordinarily and consistently high, and she is capable of turning projects around very quickly when necessary. She has my highest endorsement for her ability, skill, and reliability.”

MICHAEL LINDGREN, managing editor of Melville House Books

“Karen has copyedited and proofread some of my most challenging projects. She brings an eagle eye for errors, excellent editorial judgement, flexibility with changing schedules, and a collaborative spirit to our work together. I highly recommend her.”

BETH WEBER, director of managing editorial at Chronicle Books

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Karen at both Writer’s Digest and Book Pipeline. Without reservation, she was our immediate choice for copy editor in launching our first novel for Fringe Press. Not only were we delighted with her insights, but the book’s author also marveled at her notes. She’s thorough, timely, and experienced. We look forward to using her services for future novels and enthusiastically endorse her work.”

JEANNE VEILLETTE BOWERMAN, senior executive for Pipeline Media Group and partner at Fringe Press

“Karen has great editorial instincts and a keen attention to detail. Not only does she address grammar and consistency, but she can also refine language for clarity and engagement. I trust her with my most complex projects.”

PERRY CROWE, senior managing editor at Chronicle Books

“With an eagle eye and a writer’s ear, she is one of the strongest helpers in an author’s toolbox.”

JOHN BADHAM, professor at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, director of Saturday Night Fever and WarGames, and author of John Badham On Directing

“I’ve found Karen’s copyediting work insightful, clean, and thorough!”

RACHEL GOLDSTEIN, associate production editor at Orbit/Redhook

“A superb editor who helped me tremendously, she was both personable and honest in offering me her smart opinions about how my book might be improved. I consider her a collaborator who always respected my intentions and preferences. But it is her taste and her honesty that I found most valuable. I would happily work with Karen again..”

DAN ATTIAS, director on The Sopranos, The Wire, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and author of Directing Great Television: Inside TV’s New Golden Age

“Karen is especially good with helping manuscripts that have uneven tone or plot and chronology problems, and addresses these issues with clear and helpful suggestions to the author. She takes a great deal of care with the work and always completes it on time.”

ARTHUR MAISEL, former production editor at Kensington Publishing

“Karen worked for me as an editor at Writer’s Digest magazine, and since that time I’ve come back to her for freelance writing and editing projects time and again. That’s because Karen is a natural storyteller who approaches the practice of editing with a detail-oriented eye while still managing to assess copy on a higher level, whether that means structurally, substantively, or strategically thinking through how it fits into a wider content ecosystem. Not only is Karen a strong professional who always meets her deadlines, but she asks the right questions and pokes at a piece in the right places in such a way that inevitably leaves the work in a far better place.”

TYLER MOSS, former former editor-in-chief of Writer’s Digest magazine