Welcome to the Spiritus Books Blog

Subscribe to our blog and we’ll send you a bonus: Our handy guide Do I Need an Editor, Ghostwriter, or Author Coach?

Explore posts by topic:

Search all posts:

Scott Carbonara 9/18/25 Scott Carbonara 9/18/25

Writing Engaging Blogs or Articles

Since book authors also often write articles or blog posts, I want to share some tips on how to do it effectively. But instead of writing a how-to post, I want to show you an example of engaging short-form copy, such as might appear in a blog (on leadership, which is another of my businesses as a speaker and consultant). I’ll break the article itself down by sharing elements [in bold and brackets, like this] that, obviously, wouldn’t typically appear in a published article. These are tips you should be mindful of when you write.

Jocelyn Carbonara 9/4/25 Jocelyn Carbonara 9/4/25

An Editor’s Perspective: Developing and Preserving an Author’s Voice

If you’re writing a book, you’ve probably heard about author “voice.” One of the most common concerns I get from new authors is, “I want to make sure whatever editor I work with preserves my voice.”

That’s critical to me too. In our work as editors and ghostwriters, our goal is never to dilute or arbitrarily change your voice. Instead, we want to amplify it—to sharpen it, soften it, or work to make it as clear and impactful as possible.

But I often see confusion around author voice, so I’d like to demystify it a bit here.

Scott Carbonara 8/30/25 Scott Carbonara 8/30/25

Why Your Ghostwriter (or Editor) Needs to Be a “Fit”

A while ago, I contracted with “Antonio” (not his real name) to ghostwrite his highly personal memoir about a traumatic life event. When we first met, Antonio told me I was the fifth ghostwriter he’d interviewed, and he still hadn’t found his ideal writing partner. Before we finished the first meeting, we both knew we felt instant “chemistry” and would make an outstanding writing team. But I urged him to conduct his due diligence.

The ghostwriter/author (or editor/author) relationship is an intimate one. The last thing you want is to share the most personal details of your life with a ghostwriter only to discover quickly that you can’t stand the person writing your story!

Scott Carbonara 1/2/25 Scott Carbonara 1/2/25

Don’t Wait to Write Right to Start Writing!

One resolution I hear often from people when they learn I’m a ghostwriter is something like: “I’ve always wanted to write a book! Maybe that should be my New Year’s resolution!”

Yes, maybe it should. If that’s your resolve, let me tell you how to make it happen. Resolutions that come with an action plan are more likely to remain intact and come to fruition.-goes-here

Jocelyn Carbonara 12/12/24 Jocelyn Carbonara 12/12/24

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as an Author

Even masters of their craft deal with imposter syndrome. Poet laureate Dr. Maya Angelou once said, “I have written 11 books, but each time I think, ‘uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.”

Two of my areas of expertise as an editor are non-fiction and memoir. I think these hold a special corner on fostering imposter syndrome. Here are some tips to overcoming the imposter syndrome that may paralyze or stall you in your writing.

Scott Carbonara 12/5/24 Scott Carbonara 12/5/24

Three Warning Signs You’re Not Ready to Write Your Book

We’ve always believed that everyone has a story to tell—one that can inform, enlighten, teach, and/or inspire others. But from our years in the field, we’ve found there are times when would-be authors might want to hold off on writing. Here are three times an author coach may be the better choice than jumping into writing your book.