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Scott Carbonara 10/2/25 Scott Carbonara 10/2/25

How Much Does a Ghostwriter Cost?

A ghostwriter is a paid professional who gives each client their time, expertise, and talent to complete a writing project to the best of their ability in exchange for compensation for their skills. Ghostwriters are paid in money; clients get to have their story told in the most engaging way possible.

But how much does a ghostwriter cost?

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

The Truth, Your Truth: Navigating the Ethics of Memoir Writing

Knowing how to share the truth in your memoir can feel muddling. Let me demystify this process from a book editor’s perspective.

We’ve provided editing and ghostwriting for authors with trauma and abuse. Just as often, we help authors tell stories of entrepreneurial success. One of the top concerns we hear from all memoir authors is: How much of the truth should I tell? And how should I do it?

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.

George Stevens 9/10/25 George Stevens 9/10/25

Ye Will Be Judged: Preparing for Book Design

When it comes to the editorial process, most authors inherently understand that they are expected to play a role. After all, it’s your name at the top of that document. But what about design?

The good news is that you don’t need to have a creative bone in your body to meaningfully contribute. In fact, you can impact the results even before you hire your designer. What follows are three pieces of advice to better prepare you for a productive and satisfying book design phase of your publishing journey.

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!