About me
In the current stage of my career as The Writing Editor, I get to do what I enjoy the most: helping others curate their writing to share their own knowledge and ideas in the most effective, engaging way possible.
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Kirsten Blokland, PhD
The Writing Editor
Kirsten Blokland, PhD (she/her)
Writing and editing are what I do best and what I enjoy the most. Let me tell you why:
Passion: I love words. As a word and grammar nerd (aka "logophile"), I am fascinated by the art of using words and other elements of written language to connect with readers and have an impact on them.
Education: I earned my PhD from the University of Toronto in 1999, as a researcher in Psychology. My grad-school research lab was located at the world-renowned Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Research Institute, giving me collaboration opportunities with top academics within the hospital and university settings.
Experience: Most of my career has been in the context of academic research settings, studying developmental and clinical psychology and psychopathology, the genetics underlying ADHD and dyslexia, and the psychosocial side of veterinary medicine. I also worked as a research consultant and writer/editor for a national organization dedicated to evidence-based support for parenting practices, giving me the opportunity to translate the science of parenting and child development into engaging, accessible, relevant resources for parents and professionals.
This collection of experiences has involved authoring and/or editing a great many published scientific manuscripts as well as plain-language resources, and has helped me to realize that this is the part of the research process I enjoy the most: communicating and sharing knowledge with others through the written word, and helping others to do the same. ​
Effectiveness: One of the greatest gifts to emerge from my research-related experiences is the ongoing opportunity to hone my writing and editing skills. Being a great writer is a prerequisite for becoming a great editor. I've been very fortunate to have had ample, rich opportunities, and wonderful mentors and colleagues who generously shared their knowledge along the way. The result of these influences, coupled with years of experience and effort, is effectiveness.
Working as a writing editor and plain-language writer allows me to contribute to others' success:
I help people elevate their writing so their knowledge and ideas are communicated effectively, for maximum impact.
Kirsten Blokland, PhD
The Writing Editor
