Hi there, fellow writers!

My name is Kelsey, and I’m a coach at Contena. I’ve been working with the Contena team behind the scenes here for about three years (as of May 2023), and I am so, so excited to be working one-on-one with members like you. Read on to learn a little bit more about me! 

How I got here:

Like a lot of people here, my professional background is varied. The majority of my decade and a half career has been in marketing — but I’m also a classically trained Pastry Chef, a rowing coach, I’ve spent significant time in the sports world, and I’ve even worked as a summer camp counselor.

The thread that’s run through almost all of my jobs has been writing. Yes, even in the kitchen! In addition, the skills I’ve learned in those seemingly unrelated jobs — interpersonal relationships, collaboration, clear communication, team building, management, leadership, and more — have all served me in my writing career.

All experience is good experience:

Sometimes members come to us and say their biggest concern is that they have zero freelance experience. But I can promise you that 100% of the time, that’s not really the case. Because even though their educational and professional background might not have been in writing specifically, they always have transferable skills that they can bring to the table. 

It’s one of the things I love most about coaching: getting to help tie all of those experiences together. Then, showing members how they can use that experience to become better writers — and secure their dream gigs. 

When I'm not coaching:

A little bit about me personally, I’m a reader (see my top 10 reads here), a runner, a rower...and, of course, a writer. My reading taste (like my apartment decor) is eclectic: a mix of non-fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and more. In my spare time, I’m working on a fiction novel, and belong to a writer’s group that meets virtually once a week. I live in Philadelphia — where I was born and raised — with my rescue cat Riley. 

If I’m not at my computer, you can catch me at a cycling class, on a run, or with an iced coffee in hand, regardless of the weather.

Feel free to message me with questions, reading recommendations, or just to say hello. I can’t wait to connect with you all!