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Scott Carbonara 11/7/24 Scott Carbonara 11/7/24

Do You Need a Ghostwriter? Six Scenarios Where a Ghostwriter Makes Sense

You might assume that only celebrities and politicians use ghostwriters. Did you know some of your favorite childhood serials like Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Goosebumps, and The Baby-Sitters Club used them? And if you’re a fan of Ian Fleming’s James Bond books or the works of Robert Ludlum, you’re already familiar with the work of ghostwriters.

Instead of outing our most cherished authors who used ghostwriters, let’s explore the scenarios where a ghostwriter makes sense, to see if ghostwriting is right for you.

Jenny Lisk 10/31/24 Jenny Lisk 10/31/24

How to Research and Evaluate a Hybrid Publisher

If you’re currently writing a book, or even have a finished manuscript in hand, you’ve probably thought about the next step: How will it be published?

Maybe you’ve struck out in the search for an agent or traditional publisher. Perhaps the prospect of self-publishing feels daunting. You may have heard about “hybrid publishing” and wondered if it’s the solution you’re looking for.

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.

Jocelyn Carbonara 9/12/24 Jocelyn Carbonara 9/12/24

Can My Journalist Friend or Former English Teacher Edit My Book?

Can your neighbor or journalist friend edit your book? Maybe, but someone who isn’t trained in how to edit a book—meaning how to ensure that it holds engagement, continuity, and clarity across 35,000 to 100,000 words versus, say, 800 words—may be leaving opportunities, and likely errors, on the table.