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Jocelyn Carbonara 3/21/25 Jocelyn Carbonara 3/21/25

Put the Pen Down: When to Get Away

A professor in college once told my Soviet studies class, “Sometimes you have to go away to get close.” I can’t remember the reference, but the meaning behind the quote stuck to me permanently.

Writing can provide great therapy. It’s often an effective negotiation tool. It’s a means of making a living for many. For others, it’s a way to build a legacy or document a story. But there are times when putting the pen down for a while is the healthiest—and even most productive—choice. Here are a few of those times.

Jocelyn Carbonara 2/13/25 Jocelyn Carbonara 2/13/25

How to Trim a Manuscript That’s Too Long

Trimming words is often the hardest part of writing—which builds a case for a solid outline up front to organize your ideas and prevent “rambling” too far off track. Still, every book goes through a process where some material is left on the cutting room floor. If your manuscript needs to be trimmed based on your publisher’s or industry-standard guidelines, read on for strategic cutting tips.

Jocelyn Carbonara 1/30/25 Jocelyn Carbonara 1/30/25

When Reality Is Fading, Write in Vivid Color

What is real?

With AI infiltrating everything we do, and politics convincing us that hatred and vindication are desirable traits, and change coming at a pace that induces whiplash, reality becomes hard to distinguish. At best, reality is blurry—and blurring.

Does it matter?

Scott Carbonara 1/9/25 Scott Carbonara 1/9/25

For the Love of Descriptors!

For the love of everything holy, please stop inserting words that do nothing but clutter your writing.

Before littering your writing with a slew of meaningless descriptors, ask yourself these questions:

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 12/26/24 Jocelyn Carbonara 12/26/24

Seven Down-and-Dirty Tips to Transform Your Writing

As a book editor, I spend much of my time in “heavy lifting” work—assessing a manuscript for overall flow, shoring up gaps, and ensuring clarity and consistency. But the rest of my effort goes toward sentence-level changes that will impact the reader’s understanding and experience. A few are so easily accessible that anyone can apply them. I’ll share seven of those with you now. Applying them can elevate your writing, and even help you make better use of the time and money you spend on editing.