About Me

Hi! I’m Kaila Desjardins (she/her), and I’m a freelance editor and indie author living on Algonquin Anishinaabe territory (aka Ottawa, Canada). When I’m not editing for clients, I’m either writing, editing, or daydreaming about my current project. Or the book I’m reading. Or the show I’m currently obsessed with. Basically, my brain is always focused on one story or another!

I love (and I mean love) helping writers with their novels, poetry, and picture books. Each project feels like I’ve been invited into my clients’ lives and imaginations, and I’m honoured every time someone lets me in. And that’s largely because I’ve been exactly where you are now! I know the editing experience can be daunting – handing off part of your heart and soul for feedback, even just grammatical feedback, isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s downright terrifying. But I’m here to make the experience as smooth and stress-free as possible! I bring you into the process, and I will never simply redline your text.

But beyond being an author myself… what makes me qualified?
• Courses and training through the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)
* Proofreading and Copyediting with the Chicago Manual of Style
* Copyediting: Beginning
* Copyediting: Intermediate
* Copyediting Fiction
* Developmental Editing of Fiction: Beginning (note, this course is designed for novels and short stories, not poetry† or picture books)
* Editing Children’s Picture Books
• Continued learning through Editors Canada, including subjects like poetry, conscious language, line editing, and worldbuilding
• Member of Editors Canada
• Editing Essentials qualification through Editors Canada
• B.A. in English from the University of Ottawa
• Certificate in copyediting and proofreading from Universal Class

† Poetry editing courses specifically are rare to come across, as the vast majority of poetry courses are geared towards understanding how to read and write poetry. Many poetry editors take what we learn from those courses, poetry craft books (both of which can touch on self-editing), other editing courses, webinars, and even other poetry editors when approaching the task.

A few fun facts:
• My favourite novels are the Serpent & Dove trilogy by Shelby Mahurin
• My favourite poetry collection is I Gave Myself the World by Catarine Hancock
• My favourite nostalgic children’s book is The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, and my favourite recent picture book is How to Party Like a Snail by Naseem Hrab
• I’m a proud Trekkie and annual Comiccon goer
• I love a good nature walk
• I genuinely get distracted by squirrels. They’re just too cute!

Interested in working together? Send me a message!