Kathryn Plahitko
Welcome to my portfolio!
My name is Kathryn Plahitko.
I have never known a time where the craft of writing was not of intimate interest to me. As a tenacious, dedicated, and detail-oriented young professional I've been given opportunities to grow that interest into an expert-level skill.
My personal desire with my services is to help those who possess valuable stories to illustrate them in a way that's clear, concise, and impactful. I've done this in the past through developmental editing, copyediting, and user-centered design. I currently possess over four years of editing experience and endeavor only to continue to foster that desire to aid others in their pursuit of producing meaningful work.
KATHRYN Plahitko
Education
Purdue University, West Lafayette August 2020 - December 2024
3.8 Overall GPA
Major – Professional Writing
4.0 GPA in related courses
Professional Experience
Editor, IN Legislative Services Agency
December 2025 - Current
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Line edit and proofread legislative content according to a company-specific style guide/drafting manual
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Fact-check and research items within legislative content to confirm accuracy
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Copyedit drafts of laws ranging from 1 page to over 250 pages to ensure readability, consistency, and accuracy
Managing Editor, The Purdue Pulpit
May 2024 - December 2025
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Designed, edited, and managed the production of a monthly newsletter for the local Christian community
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Established and managed a team of 3 writers, assigned leads and provided editorial support
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Finalized design and content, set deadlines, and published 3 editions of this newsletter
Undergraduate Writing Consultant, Purdue University Writing Lab (Purdue OWL)
January 2023 - December 2025
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Provided English tutoring services to both graduate and undergraduate students
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Maintained professional relationships with both returning and new clients (over 200 sessions completed)
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Investigated grammatical and phrasal errors in writing across multiple genres and course levels
Bible Acquisitions Intern, Tyndale House Ministries
May 2024 - July 2024
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Wrote and edited back cover copy for the NLT Premium Gift Bible
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Helped to manage data and documentation for 5 unique projects simultaneously
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Evaluated and discussed over 150 pages of content for an actively developing Bible project
Editor, Greyhouse Coffee and Supply Co.
March 2024 - May 2024
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Compiled and updated over 100 pages of digital copy according to a company style guide
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Adjusted assessment of digital copy and editorial process according to feedback from my supervisor
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Provided insight and feedback on website UI and digital copy to increase usability and engagement
Editor, “For the Both of Us” by Mackenzi Rivera, Published by Addis Press Publishing
November 2023 - January 2024
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Coordinated bi-weekly publishing and editorial review meetings with author to ensure satisfaction
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Managed editorial schedule for maximum efficiency and productivity
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Developed, copyedited, and proofread 140 pages of devotional content, following the Chicago Manual of Style
Leadership Experience and Achievements
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Leadership Team (Team Director), Delight Ministries, May 2022– December 2024
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Member, Sigma Tau Delta, English Honors Society, April 2023 - Current
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College of Liberal Arts Dean’s List and Academic Honors, Fall 2020 – Spring 2023
Technical Skills
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Proficient in the Microsoft suite, Google Workspace, and Canva
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Experienced in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop
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Familiar with multiple style guides (AP, Chicago, APA, MLA and IEEE)
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Experienced in market research, user-centered design, and content development
Major – BA, Media and Mass Communication
3.8 GPA in related courses
Minor – Religion Studies
3.4 GPA in minor related courses
Major – BA, Professional Writing 4.0 GPA in related courses
Published Projects
As I continue to navigate the ever-evolving publishing world, I am continually astounded by the industry and those who participate in it. The bravery and intentionality behind each piece of the broader publishing puzzle enliven me to continue my work in this field. Each project I work on is different from the last but equally filled with excitement and a desire to serve others well. The following serve as a sample of the work I've been priveleged to complete thus far.
Back Cover Copy
Tool Used: Microsoft Word
Role: Writer, Editor
Highlights:
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overall goal: rewrite BCC language to optimize SEO and shift tone to conform with updated branding of one of Tyndale House Publisher's most popular titles (Premium Gift Bible)
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perfomed market research to inform shift in tone and information amended in the rewritten copy
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researched current back cover copy on similar titles in Tyndale's catalogue to ensure brand and tone consistency
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completed drafts and revised my work based on feedback from my supervisor
Overview:
During my internship at Tyndale House Publishers I was tasked with updating the back cover copy for their Premium Gift Bibles. I worked under the guidance of my supervisor, Jeff Gissing, to complete this copy. I wrote multiple drafts for this copy, performed market research both internally and externally, and refined the existing drafts based on feedback from my supervisor. Once my copy was approved it was utilized in the updated copies of each Bible in the premium gift title group. Alongside writing copy for this title I also had the privelege of working with Tyndales design and marketing teams to decide on cover styles and brand focus for these Bibles based on past publishing metrics for this title and current market trends.
Coffeeshop Website Copy
Tool Used: Microsoft Word
Role: Copyeditor, Dev editor, and UX editor
Highlights:
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overall goal: create a document for Greyhouse Coffee Co. to organize website copy and provide UX focused feedback
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designed a document on Google Docs to compile and edit website copy
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worked through the document progressively and collaborated through periodical review meetings throughout the length of the project
Overview:
In this project I worked with the marketing coordinator for Greyhouse Coffee Co located in West Laffayette, IN to update and implement a document that compiles their website copy. This involved designing an interactive document that compiled all of their website copy in order to easily understand and edit the content effectively. The coordinator and I also spent time discussing the effectiveness of the website and implemented improvements based on those discussions. Many of my edits were grammatical but I also suggested edits to the website's structure and phrasing. Below is the link to the updated website and the document that I created with the edits that I discussed with my contact.
The Future Is Ours: A 30 Day Prayer Journal Devoted to Your Future Spouse
Tool Used: Google Docs
Role: Developmental editor and line editor
Highlights:
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overall goal: developmentally edit a 140 page devotional study manuscript to help the author, Mackenzi Rae prepare her book for publishing
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focused on fine tuning the author's unique voice and on the overall impact and organization of her work​
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worked progressively on the first drafts of Rae's individual devotional entries through periodical meetings
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edited Rae's writing for sentence-level issues including:
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grammatical correctness
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narrative flow, wordiness, and pacing
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consistency in tone, style, and structure
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wordiness and specified language
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Overview:
Over the course of a few months I worked with author, Mackenzi Rae on 140 pages of devotional content before its submission to a small publisher called Addis Press. I edited the work in a developmental and line capacity and discussed the edits with Rae throughout my time working on the project. Alongside discussions of sentence-level issues and grammatical correctness were conversations about what impact Rae wanted to create and establishing a tone that was casual but clear. Below are links to the Amazon page for Rae's devotional and a sample of the edits that I made on her work.
Academic Writing
Like everyone who grew up in the public school system essaywriting has been paramount in my understanding of the craft of academic writing. I've learned how to formulate arguments, express complex ideas, and to analyze texts crtically. As I moved through grade levels however, I found myself approaching these assignments differently than some of my peers. I found that being asked to express thoughts on the page and refining my own words was an act of joy and excitement, not simply a task to be done. Each essay I've written appears to me like a puzzle: frustrating, time consuming, and fragile. The whole thing would fall apart if one piece was in the wrong place. The collection below includes of some of the most difficult and rewarding academic pieces that I've written in my years within higher academia. Each section below includes a small blurb to introduce you to the piece, but to get the full story, click the button below the blurb.
Fantasy and Science Fiction Style Guide
This is a group project that I was involved in during my junior year of college. The task was to create a style guide as if we were a publishing house that focused on a specific genre or style of writing. Our group decided to make a style guide for a publishing house the focuses on science fiction and fantasy writing. This was our final project for the class and included the style guide below alongside a short manuscript that was formatted according to our guidelines. This project helped me to foster a working relationship with my peers and offered an opportunity to develop my personal interest in the production and execution of specified formatting. I truly enjoyed this project and I am excited to do more work like this in the future.
The Necessity of Culture in a Scientifically Advanced Society
I wrote this essay for a class that I took during my freshman year at Purdue. This course was about the formation of societies and cultures and our assigned readings followed ideas on how societies function and the differerent ways that cultures are formed and carried out. For this argumentative essay I posited that success based leanring is responsible for the majority of advances that the human race makes as a whole.
The Hand That Grips The Soul
This essay is the final project for a class that I took that discussed writing in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. During this class we read novels by great writers such as Margaret Atwood and Ursula K. LeGuin. For this final essay, the prompt was left quite open, I was to write and reflect on a piece of work that we'd read in connection to a general theme. I chose to write about LeGuin's science fiction novel, The Dispossessed. The topic that I chose to investigate the ways that indivdiuals create complexity in the makeup of society.
Critical Claims Essay
This essay was from a class that centered around how humans study and practice communication theory. This course deepened my appreciation for the art of communication and allowed me to grow my abilities in both written and verbal communication strategies. While the topic of the course was rather simplistic, the structure, assignment load, and grading scale for this course made it the most difficult in my college career. I ended this course successfully and was even part of a small reflection group that the professor, Dr. Boyd, invited for a private discussion of the course and its level of difficulty. This essay explores the different ways that musician, Finneas, utilized thematic devices to convey a specific message to his audience in one of his music videos.
Creative Writing
My love for writing stemmed from a love of stories, a desire to get lost in the words, and an attention to the specific elements of each piece. This connection to others' work naturally formed a love for creating my own. This small collection is a group of writings that I've completed over the years. Each section below includes a blurb, meant to introduce you to the piece. To read the full work, simply click on the button below the blurb.
Mutiny
This is my most recent creative writing piece that I wrote as an assignment for an advanced fiction writing course. I wanted to develop my skills in writing action scenes so I developed a tense scene that I would imagine serves as the opening scene to a larger story that I hope to write someday soon.
From Escape Artist To Devotee
This is a blog-style short essay that I decided to write concerning my experiences at Purdue University over the course of my academic career there. I discuss my interests, growth, and desire to learn.
Digital Design
Digital Design is a skill that I feel I'm consistently in the process of learning. I'm interested in learning new software and understanding how to make writing presentable to diverse audiences across various platforms. The projects below are representative of my current level of proficiency in digital design. Each section has a small blurb that includes details of the specific project. Click the button below the blurb to view the project itself.
Delight Ministries Purdue University Sticker Designs
I was a part of the leadership team for the Purdue University chapter of Delight Ministries for over two years. At the start of every semester, the team would organize a kickoff celebration meant to spread information about Delight and increase excitement for the upcoming semester. The designs below were passed out at this celebration and subsequent meetings. The designs were inspired by Delight's color scheme and organizational pillars.
"Bookstagram" Account
I worked on this book-themed Instagram account during my senior year of college for a class that focused on social media marketing and management. I had been keenly interested in creating content that educates others on the Christian books that are available to read and enjoy for a few years before taking this class and took my opportunity to finally create it. I have always loved reading but since becoming a Christian have struggled to find books that align with my morals and values. This Instagram account is something that has helped me to develop skills in desing and marketing while also engaging with written content that I love.
Purdue Pulpit Layout
In May of 2024 I was asked by a good friend of mine to be lead editor of a newsletter for a ministry that that he'd been building. This ministry is called Purdue For Christ and it's focus is on unifying the capital "C" church that exists on Purdue University's campus. This goal is achieved through meetings of ministry representatives. Inviting them to a space where they can share ideas, prayer requests, and triumphs. The Purdue Pulpit is the monthly newsletter for this ministry.
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In order to streamline the publishing process, I designed a general layout that I utilized throughout my time as lead editor. The first button is a link to said layout while the second button is a link to the most recent published editions of the Purdue Pulpit.
Meditation Promotional Videos
This project was completed as an assignment for a course that I took during my freshman year of college. It was my first go at digital design and sparked a desire to continue with multimedia work throughout my college career. I was able to learn an entirely new software that gave me easy access to engaging visual elements that helped me to showcase my argument for the practice of meditation in youth and adults.
This course taught me about the importance of clear communication. Allowing me to explore how to implement classic communication theory into the work that I produce. For this project I was tasked with creating two different videos promoting or educating two different audiences. I decided to complete my videos about educating parents and children about the benefits of meditation. This project was really interesting to me and while the final products aren't nearly as polished as I would probably make them now, I know that I gained valuable skills in creating them.
Child/Young Adult Audience
Parent/Adult Audience
