Walter Smelt is a poet and translator who works as a freelance editor and writing tutor.

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Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Walter received a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and religion from Boston University, where he completed a thesis on the poet Robert Lax. After working as an after-school teacher in Massachusetts and a classroom assistant in Spain, he went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry from the University of Florida. While there, he gained experience as a graduate instructor in creative writing and composition, a writing tutor, and an academic editor. He then moved back to the Boston area to attend Harvard Divinity School, where he received a Master of Theological Studies degree in religion, literature, and culture, while writing feature articles for the school's website and continuing his freelance editing.

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Today, Walter earns his living as a freelance editor, mostly of academic papers (including journal articles, course papers, and master's theses) and application essays, and as a tutor and teacher. Less remuneratively, he is working on his first poetry manuscript, along with creative nonfiction projects and the translation of Spanish-language poets such as Leon Felipe and Antonio Machado.