Meet the Team
With WordSmyth, you get a team of experienced writers and editors at your disposal — when you need them, as often as you need them — ready to turn out magazine-quality copy that will take your brand to the next level.
Elise Hofer Shaw
Founder + Editor-In-Chief
Founder, project manager and our OG EIC (Editor-In-Chief), Elise Hofer Shaw brings 20 years of print and digital editing experience to WordSmyth.
Elise Hofer Shaw cut her teeth working her way up the masthead at Modern Luxury magazines, including positions as senior editor of CS magazine (ten years), founding editor and editor-in-chief of The Men’s Book (four years), and editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Weddings (seven years). From 2014 to 2019, Elise curated content for Sophisticated Living Chicago magazine as editor-in-chief, as well as managing the content for slmagchicago.com. Since launching WordSmyth in 2020, she has been defining, honing and elevating the brand voice for countless lifestyle and design clients in Chicago and around the world. In the process, she has established a vast network of immensely talented writers and editors that extends from California to New York to London and beyond. And now, her network is your network.
Kate Templin Stahl
EXECUTIVE EDITOR + CONTENT directOR
Kate Templin Stahl brings 20+ years of print and digital writing and editing experience to WordSmyth.
A lover of words and a trained journalist, Kate Templin Stahl started her media career in New York, working at O, The Oprah Magazine, and Washington, DC, before returning to her Midwestern roots. In Chicago, she held the title of features editor of CS magazine and helped launch Michigan Avenue Magazine as its executive editor. She then made the switch from print to online media, joining the editorial staff at POPSUGAR, where she spent the next decade learning the combined power of a great story and smart SEO. As a freelance writer and content creator, Kate has worked with various print and online publications, while also helping lifestyle brands in the beauty, interiors, design, and wellness spaces develop their brand identity and tell their unique stories. She joined Wordsmyth in 2022.
MORE THAN WORDS
But there’s more. At WordSmyth, our client projects rarely end with the printed word. Design, public relations, social media: We are always eager to collaborate with talented designers, publicists, and social media managers. In fact, we know some of the best and can help build the perfect team of niche experts for your desired scope — no more, no less — in a manner that’s on par with the size of your business and your budget. Whether you’re starting a new company that needs the soup to nuts — website design, content creation, social media management, and PR — or have an existing brand that needs some extra media love, we’ll work with you to develop a plan that works for you (and manage the project so you don't have to).