Book Editor, Ghostwriter,
Writing Coach

So what am I? An editor. A writer. A writing coach.

All three.

I began my long career as a freelance writer after the stock market crash of 1987 wiped out the bulk of my PR business in a few months. Seven often-lean years later, I simultaneously landed regular writing assignments with a national Christian magazine and a book contract with a major Christian publishing house. Around 2014 everything started to change. I joined the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network and a second division for professional writers and book editors. After flunking the screening test for article editing (I passed the tests for developmental and book editing), I recognized the need to strengthen my editing skills. I acquired several editing guides and took some continuing education courses. Ironically, once I did that, more book editing projects came my way as article assignments dwindled in the ever-changing world of print periodicals. In recent months, authors have sought my help with coaching and evaluating manuscripts. I still handle ghostwriting projects, although many editing jobs involve as much writing and revising as the first few ghostwriting jobs I handled in the 1990s. While it may sound like I have a split personality, everything I do fits my love of the editorial enterprise. Everything starts with good writing—and editing—whether that is a letter to the editor, a short news story, or a 300-page memoir.

Ken’s Story