Hi, I’m Katie.
I’m a freelance writer and journalism consultant. I write about the ups and downs of life — on topics like grief and joy, burnout and productivity, pain and love. I have a weekly newsletter called My Sweet Dumb Brain, mentor dozens of journalists, and juggle lots of creative projects in between. Here’s my full bio.
Have a story idea? Want to collaborate on a project? Let’s talk!
Projects
My Sweet Dumb Brain
A newsletter about facing life’s ups and downs, all while being kind to yourself.
Treat Your Future Self
A workbook designed to help you identify the self-care that works best for you.
Digital Women Leaders
A one-on-one mentoring service that connects women working in journalism.
Clients
As a freelancer, I work with many different companies. Here are some of the hats I currently wear:
I help newsrooms craft fundraising appeals through News Revenue Hub
I craft toolkits and other resources for Press Forward local chapters
I organize leadership training for Report for America corps members
I coach and train journalists through The Poynter Institute
And I consult and serve on the advisory board of The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
Published Work
Here are a few of my favorite published pieces over the years.
Have your New Year’s resolutions failed? This year, try taking things week by week | January 25, 2024, CNN
“A changing source of motivation — something that a fresh week and fresh goal offers — can keep you on track in ways that one big, intimidating, unmovable goal can’t.”
‘Mommy brain’ is real | July 14, 2021, The New York Times
“I’ve been playing a not-so-fun guessing game lately: Is my inability to form a coherent thought a result of pandemic fogginess or ‘mommy brain’?”
When grief and work mix, there are no easy answers | Jan. 26, 2020, Fortune
“Just as there’s not one right way to grieve, there are multiple ways to approach returning to work after the death of a loved one.”
I’ve got your back | October/November 2019, Garden and Gun
“Henry has already taught me so much. Now he’s showing me what it’s like to watch someone I love get older and less capable.”
Why my friends and I will never finish the AT | Oct. 29, 2019, Outside
“At our current pace — two days and less than 20 miles every year — it would take us 134 years to complete the Appalachian Trail.”
My husband died. Four months later, I started dating again | July 11, 2019, Glamour
“It’s all part of the agreement we make when we fall in love. People grieve deeply because they love deeply.”