Stephanie Carmichael

I started writing online in 2007 and haven’t stopped since. While studying English literature, I blogged and contributed to small websites to build my portfolio, starting with the now defunct Girls Entertainment Network, a women-owned pop culture site.

In 2009, I attended San Diego Comic-Con, the world’s biggest entertainment convention, and got my first taste of covering live press events. From there, I turned passion into profession, redirecting my focus toward freelance games journalism. I wrote and copy edited articles for digital and print publications such as GamesBeat, Fast Company, Kill Screen, and The Mary Sue.

I've reviewed books, film, tech news — and even created my own video game zine for fun. I earned
multiple Story of the Week and Editor’s Pick awards at GamesBeat. My print work is credited in Riddle Me This, Batman!: Essays on the Universe of the Dark Knight, Kill Screen Magazine, and Hyper Magazine, among others. I've also edited both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts, including In Real Life by Lawrence Tabak and Project Superhero by E. Paul Zehr.

In 2014, I joined Classcraft, an ed-tech startup that uses the cultural relevance of games to create a playful and collaborative learning experience. As Head of Content, I oversaw all copy and content across the company. I served as a UX writer, marketing copywriter, community and social media specialist, and people manager. 

As a member of the executive leadership team, I shaped company values, developed brand voice and tone, ensured style consistency across touchpoints, and attended industry events such as ISTE, Games for Change, and ED Games Expo. Later as Head of Storytelling, I directed a fantasy IP for K-12 schools through the creation of stories, illustration, and animation. 

So in 2020, I joined Internet privacy company DuckDuckGo as a UX writer and copywriter. Currently, I work as a Senior UX Content Designer for SurveyMonkey.

I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh. My writing appeared in the campus literary magazine Backroads, and I presented an academic paper on spy fiction at the university’s undergraduate conference. (That's me: nerd.)

Today I live with my husband, son, two cats, and dog in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I enjoy reading, embroidery, and creative writing.