by Ken Walker

As one familiar with fluctuating income, I know how challenging it can be to be grateful when the roller coaster takes a dive. That’s what happened after I completed a time-consuming developmental book edit at the end of January.

At first, I wasn’t too upset. I had completed that project on the heels of another two-month developmental edit. These two jobs wore me out; it took several weeks to recuperate. Plus, the week mid-February’s triple ice-and-snowstorm package left our home without electricity for five days, I was delighted to not have many deadlines on my plate. Still, on the last Monday of February as my wife and I finished morning devotions, I prayed, “Lord, I could use a couple more paying jobs this month.”

That afternoon at 2:00, an editor emailed to ask if I could write a rush story on some disaster relief shipments going into Texas. She needed it in 48 hours, but it would pay twice their normal fee. I jumped online to do research and connected phone interviews with two of three people I hoped to reach. By 6 o’clock I had the rough draft finished. After a few minor revisions the next morning, I was done. Because the group went to electronic payments during last year’s lockdowns, I also had the money in a week.

While the speed with which that work showed up impressed me, more was on the way. On Thursday afternoon, I received an unsolicited email from an author who had published a couple books through Amazon’s book division. Now he wanted one of them professionally edited. I told him I had the time to work on it. We talked Friday afternoon, he sent me the files, and after a sample edit we were off and running. Not only will the manuscript be finalized soon, he and I worked well together. I thoroughly enjoyed editing his book.

In addition, a couple hours after this author and I talked, another editor emailed to ask if I could tackle a writing assignment for a new quarterly magazine. Although I would only have a couple weeks to pull it off, I had the flexibility. A few minutes after asking for details, he called on Facebook, saying he thought it would be simpler to have a quick discussion.

Since then, more unexpected work has appeared. In early April, a ghostwriting project I expected to start on suddenly vanished. The same day, an editor I had worked with in the past called to ask if I had time to help her with a rush project. “I do now,” I replied. In addition to the income, it was one of the most enjoyable assignments I have worked on in recent years. Work I wouldn’t have been able to do if I had started that ghostwriting job.

The moral of the story: editors, whenever you face fear-inducing slowdowns in work or income, remembering that God is in control will help calm your nerves.

Ken Walker is an experienced ghostwriter, co-author, and book editor who has written, edited, or contributed to more than 75 books. They include a number of professionally-published books in the fields of health, personal experience, and teaching, and self-published memoirs—the latter a growing niche in the publishing world. Ken is also an experienced freelance writer, having written for a variety of national publications. He is still a regular contributor to websites of two denominations. Ken enjoys using his writing and editing skills to help others relate what God has done in their life. Samples of his work are available on his web site, www.KenWalkerWriter.com, or you can e-mail kenwalker33@gmail.com.