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Jocelyn Carbonara 11/14/24 Jocelyn Carbonara 11/14/24

Writing as Therapy or Advocacy

In uncertain times, are you prone to action to channel your anger, disappointment, or desire for change? Do you join or lead causes, schedule a protest, or become vocal in online platforms? If you’ve experienced trauma by an individual, perhaps you’ve prosecuted or confronted your perpetrator. All these actions are justified and often necessary.

But many are more inclined to process their emotions internally, expressing them in ways that may seem abstract—but which can still deliver impact. And one of those methods is writing.

Scott Carbonara 10/10/24 Scott Carbonara 10/10/24

Rituals to Help You Write

Many athletes perform rituals when they’re on a winning streak. For example, some refuse to shave, wear the same socks for each game, or fuel up on the same pre-game snack. While it’s doubtful that these quirky habits play any part in the outcome of a game, these rituals may help an athlete mentally prepare.

Writers also need to put on their "game day" mindset quickly when planning to write. Although professional writers can generate inspiration out of thin air, most of us need to prime the pump to get our heads ready.

Here are a few pre-writing rituals to kickstart your creative process.

Jocelyn Carbonara 10/3/24 Jocelyn Carbonara 10/3/24

Does My Book Need an Outline?

When writing a book, you’re like a tour guide inviting a reader on a journey through your topic. Readers aren’t risking much to spend a few minutes scanning an 800-ish word article. If they’re bored, confused, or even offended, they can move on and still enjoy their lunch. But what about with a non-fiction book, which averages 50,000 to 60,000 words? That’s like going on a weeklong road trip with you.

Scott Carbonara 9/26/24 Scott Carbonara 9/26/24

Is My Life Interesting Enough for a Memoir?

I hear this all the time. The person asking sometimes replaces interesting with words like great, special, dramatic, exciting, or unique.

That question usually implies that memoirs are only for people who’ve lived extraordinary lives or experienced “next-level” events. Or sometimes it implies: Imagine the ego someone must have to write a whole book about their own life.

However, as a ghostwriter of memoirs, I answer this differently.