Schimke worked at some of South Africa's largest newspapers including The Argus, The Star and The Cape Times, as a political reporter, before going freelance in 2000.

Schimke has contributed to a broad range of newspapers and magazines including Mail & Guardian, Daily Maverick.,[2] The Sunday Times,[3] Marie Claire, Visi,[4] Elle, Financial Mail, Business Day, African Decisions, The Argus, The Star, The Cape Times, Rapport, Fair Lady,[5] Real Simple, High Life and Psychologies.

She was a humour columnist for Femina magazine, as well as for Parent24[6] In 2006, Schimke co-authored the bestselling, Fabulously 40 and beyond: coming into your power and embracing change,[7] with Margie Orford and her latest book, The Karen Book of Rules (NB Publishers)[8] with comedy writer Karen Jeynes,[9] was released in September 2020.

Schimke edited Open[21] (Oshun, Struik, 2008) a collection of women's erotic writing by some of South Africa's top female writers.

She has edited the work of well-known South African authors like Martin Steyn,[22] Chanette Paul,[23] Dov Fedler[24] and Bronwyn Davids[25] Schimke is a writing coach,[26] developmental editor, course designer and mentor.