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Katherine Kirk

@geckoedit.com

2.1K followers 2.9K following 490 posts

A hopeless semantic. Copyeditor, line editor, proofreader, alt-text writer, tentacle counter. (she/her). www.geckoedit.com linktr.ee/kirkldk 🦎🏳️‍🌈🧠🌶️🖖🏻💙📚👀✍️🔥 #amediting Scritcher in Chief to Peaches and Alabaster. 🐈🐈

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Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Sep 12

Phew! They've fixed it.

Reposted by Katherine Kirk

Erin Brenner (she/her) @ebrenner.bsky.social · Sep 12

In addition to all the editing tools I shared on my blog this week (www.righttouchediting.com/2025/09/11/s...), I've got a collection of of tools created by editors for editors: docs.google.com/spreadsheets.... Check 'em out! #AmEditing

a man in a suit and tie says edit edit edit in front of a shelf full of shoes

Alt: a man in a suit and tie says edit edit edit in front of a shelf full of shoes

media.tenor.com

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Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Sep 12

Once it starts working again, the online subscription is worth its weight in gold (do online things weigh anything?) because it's searchable and full of useful features.

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Sep 12

If that website doesn't come back online soon then I'm going to have to.

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Sep 12

@chicagomanual.bsky.social Are you doing OK? Any ETA on fixing whatever's gone wrong?

*tries to soothe the hyperventilating list of deadlines*

Screenshot from the Chicago Manual of Style Online: Page Under Maintenance: Due to temporary technical difficulties, some features of CMOS are currently unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please try again shortly, and if the issue persists contact cmoshelpdesk@press.uchicago.edu.

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Reposted by Katherine Kirk

Northwest Editors Guild @edsguild.bsky.social · Aug 13

Here's Alabaster, #StetPet editorial assistant of Morocco editor @geckoedit.com.

"Alabaster's favorite spot in summer is on the deck, on this comfy lounger. That is, when he hasn't spent the day fishing. As long as I keep him supplied with treats and scritches, he's content to leave me to work."

Orange and white cat reclining on an aqua lounge chair, partially in the sun with tropical plant shadows on its face.

Orange and white cat sleeping on its side on a pillow, hugging two fish-shaped toys.

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Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jul 22

My Bluesky account is becoming an "airing my gripes with M-W" account. I do like @merriam-webster.com, I swear. It's my favorite dictionary. My frustration is more with the inconsistencies of English as it is used than with the people working so hard to descriptively record it. #AmEditing

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jul 22

@merriam-webster.com whyyyy? #AmEditing

A screenshot of the entry in Merriam-Webster for pepper mill, showing it as two words.

A screenshot of the Merriam-Webster entry for saltshaker, one word.

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jul 21

A soft way in could be using Word's Read Aloud feature. I use in it my editing, as it often catches things my eyes would skip over, that aren't actual spelling mistakes but aren't what the author meant, like missing words or 0/O. And like the error I deliberately snuck into this reply... 😉

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jul 18

No one really cares about the Oxford comma. But... @chicagomanual.bsky.social and @merriam-webster.com, the "begs the question" question begs the question: Does this mean war?

Is "begs the question" OK for "invites the question?"

Whose side are you on?

#PedanticNonsense #AmEditing

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jul 16

Thanks and yes, no sperm for me please

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jul 16

I've woken up in a very mentor-y kind of mood. So: If you're a fiction editor at the start of your career, or you're stuck on something editing-related, how can I help?

I'm great at answering questions on:
- Word styling
- client management
- CPD
- efficiency
- SPaG
#AskMeAnything #AmEditing

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Reposted by Katherine Kirk

Benjamin Dreyer @bcdreyer.social · Jul 14

I *totally* helped this happen.

At long last, blowjob dominates over blow job.

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Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jul 14

I lived in Mauritius in the nineties, when there was a werewolf scare. The police put a notice in the newspaper saying "The werewolf does not exist, but if you see it, please report it..."

Greg Pak @gregpak.net · Jul 14

werewolves were real. seriously, it was a whole thing. also we all wore astronaut helmets on astronaut day.

Tiffany⸆⸉ @tiffanyclay.dev · Jul 13

What’s a real thing from your childhood that kids these days would find completely foreign?

Like, how we used to be able to walk right up to the gate to meet our family coming off a flight.

Or how we had to pick a spot to meet at the theater BEFORE we went.

Reposted by Katherine Kirk

Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · Jun 23

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 17387:
The world is filled with writing advice.
Some of it is personal, some of it is fairly universal.
But advice is only ever advice: all authors are different. And if a method doesn't work for you, or get you the results you need, you don't have to follow it.

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Reposted by Katherine Kirk

Kellye Garrett @kellyekell.bsky.social · Jun 23

Genuinely was surprised that Missing White Woman won the Thriller Award for Best Mystery! A huge thank you to ITV, Tosca, Jean, and all the judges. Congrats to all winners and nominees! Bio has been updated.

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Reposted by Katherine Kirk

Kristen Tate @kristentate.bsky.social · Jun 24

Come join me on July 14 for some real story nerd stuff – there will be charts and spreadsheets and templates! #AmEditing

Northwest Editors Guild @edsguild.bsky.social · Jun 23

And more free, virtual #AmEditing events:

New! 📖 Sharpen Your Editing Skills by Studying Fiction with @kristentate.bsky.social, 7/14, 6:30 pm Pacific
📖 Developmental Editing Happy Hour, 7/15, 5 pm Pacific
🍻 Copyediting & Proofreading Fiction Happy Hour, 7/16, 4 pm Pacific
(🧵: 3/4)

Cartoon phone, laptop, coffee, and scattered office supplies. Text: @EdsGuild virtual event

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Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jun 24

Beanz.

An orange and white cat sleeps in a shrimpy pose, clutching his feet and showing off his toe beans.

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jun 24

- include a disclaimer that it's uncorrected and may not be directly quoted from in the review cos that bit might change
- make sure the ARC reviewer is clear that their role is not to point out typos, grammatical errors, or stylistic choices that aren't really errors

Congrats on your book!

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Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jun 24

I used to review ARCs, and I think including a release date (even if it's just the month for now, and not the specific day) can be helpful so they can plan their reading time. It's also totally normal to send uncorrected proof copies to ARC readers, but...

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Reposted by Katherine Kirk

Benjamin Dreyer @bcdreyer.social · Jun 24

Of the many things I resent about the last decade, toward the top of the list is the way my jaw clenches whenever I think of Anne Frank's "I still believe that people are really good at heart."

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Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jun 24

It was the "I won't wear a mask, even for a few minutes, to protect more vulnerable people and slow the spread of a deadly pandemic" that convinced me otherwise. Nothing since has changed my mind.

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Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jun 24

The unique millennial slow-boiling panic at never having done nuclear bomb drills and being too poor (and disillusioned) thanks to the myriad of economy-crashing and totally avoidable yet unprecedented events to be preppers. #WhatHasHeDoneNow

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jun 18

omg *incoherent babbling*

Katherine Kirk @geckoedit.com · Jun 18

Fluffy cat tummies. Let's go!
#Catsky

A floofy orange cat naps on an armchair with her flufftastic belly on full display.

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