Carolyn Murnick - Ghostwriter
Critically-acclaimed Simon & Schuster author, veteran magazine editor, ghostwriter, and book proposal expert.
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Overview
I'll help you hone your voice and craft a story that makes publishers—and readers—take notice. I'm a veteran magazine editor with over a decade of experience and a Big-Five published author with a passion for storytelling. We'll work together to take your story to the next level, from the proposal stage all the way to completed manuscript. I'm experienced with ghostwriting, developmental editing, and book coaching and I'd be thrilled to discuss your next project with you. Say hello!
Praise for my memoir, The Hot One
"Carolyn Murnick’s insights into the freighted complexities of youth, beauty, and sexuality, and how these forces collide within long, close female friendships, turn an already affecting murder mystery into a story for our time. Never morbid or sentimental, always honest, The Hot One is a wholly original memoir that explores and unpacks the often vexing reality of what it means to be a young woman in the 21st century."
—Kate Bolick, bestselling author of SPINSTER: Making a Life of One’s Own
"A journalist’s investigation into her childhood friend’s murder—a riveting subject on its own—is so much more in writer Carolyn Murnick’s hands. Murnick exposes the sticky complexity of female friendship and identity. She questions what our debts are to the dead and forces us to look at ourselves. Three pages in and I knew that I wouldn’t get anything else done. I inhaled The Hot One in 24 hours, riveted from its haunting preface to its heartbreaking final sentence."
—Susannah Cahalan, bestselling author of BRAIN ON FIRE: My Month of Madness
Praise for my memoir, The Hot One
"Carolyn Murnick’s insights into the freighted complexities of youth, beauty, and sexuality, and how these forces collide within long, close female friendships, turn an already affecting murder mystery into a story for our time. Never morbid or sentimental, always honest, The Hot One is a wholly original memoir that explores and unpacks the often vexing reality of what it means to be a young woman in the 21st century."
—Kate Bolick, bestselling author of SPINSTER: Making a Life of One’s Own
"A journalist’s investigation into her childhood friend’s murder—a riveting subject on its own—is so much more in writer Carolyn Murnick’s hands. Murnick exposes the sticky complexity of female friendship and identity. She questions what our debts are to the dead and forces us to look at ourselves. Three pages in and I knew that I wouldn’t get anything else done. I inhaled The Hot One in 24 hours, riveted from its haunting preface to its heartbreaking final sentence."
—Susannah Cahalan, bestselling author of BRAIN ON FIRE: My Month of Madness
Services
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits
Entertainment
Home & Garden
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Sex & Relationships
Travel
True Crime
Awards
- Emerging Writer Fellow, Aspen Institute
Work experience
Author
Simon & Schuster
August, 2017
–
Present
(about 4 years)
Author of The Hot One: A Memoir of Friendship, Sex, and Murder, recommended by NPR, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Entertainment Weekly, and named a best book of the year by Buzzfeed and The New York Post.
Collaborative Writer, Editor, Book Coach
Self-employed
January, 2014
–
Present
(over 7 years)
I've worked with veteran and debut authors alike helping them hone their story and connect with readers. I'm adept at ghostwriting and editing everything from personal essays and book proposals to full-length manuscripts, and my clients have been published by Big Five publishers including Riverhead, Simon & Schuster, and Penguin Random House. As a ghostwriter, I'll work with you to tell your story in a compelling, evocative, and powerful way that, most importantly, sounds like you. As a co-writer, editor, or book coach, I'll walk you through the steps to make your story shine and enhance your own writing in the process. I'm particularly passionate about memoir, family sagas, personal history, and stories from underrepresented voices.
Senior Editor
New York Magazine
February, 2008
–
April, 2019
(about 11 years)
Over more than a decade at New York magazine, I was an editor for both print and web specializing in culture, restaurants, travel, and events. I have edited, assigned, and written content for our award-winning verticals including Vulture, The Cut, Grub Street, and I've overseen numerous pop-up blogs on topics ranging from Paris to Sex and Relationships.
Portfolio (7 selected works)
The Hot One: A Memoir of Friendship, Sex, and Murder
Carolyn Murnick
Recommended by NPR, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, New York Magazine, New York Post, and Bustle A gripping memoir of friendship with a tragic twist—two childhood best friends diverge as young adults, one woman is brutally murdered and the other is determined to uncover the truth about her wild and seductive friend.As girls growing up in rural New Jersey in the late 1980s, Ashley and... read more
True stories about New York before and after September 11―written by the people for whom the city is the stage set for their lives. Some of the voices to be found in its pages are those of well known writers―Michael Cunningham, Jeannette Winterson, Phillip Lopate, Luc Sante, Megan Daum, Sam Lipsyte, Thomas Beller―and many more are from people who may not even consider themselves writers, but w... read more
True stories from the Naked City―a tour of the subterranean psyche of New York. Acclaimed fiction writer Thomas Beller culls a new volume of essays, vignettes, and tales of the city from the literary Web site Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood, one of the premier venues for the urban sketch on the Internet. Lost and Found, Volume II of the series, is a mosaic of voices, drawing on the diverse experienc... read more
A Day in the Life of the American Woman: How We See Ourselves
Sharon J. Wohlmuth, Carol Saline, Dawn Sheggeby
Fifty of the world's most talented photographers spend a full day recording key moments in the lives of a wide diversity of American women--their daily lives, challenges, joys and accomplishments, and roles in the workplace, family, and community--in a remarkable assortment of photographs, accompanied by essay-length personal profiles, narrative captions, and extended quotes. 150,000 first pri... read more
This magazine is edited for those interested in critical examination of news, style, contemporary ideas and trends. It regularly deals with politics, business, literature, the fine arts, entertainment, home furnishings, food, wine and fashion.
The world of food is huge, and Food & Wine magazine covers it thoroughly. From tasty gourmet recipes you can make at home to the best food lover's destinations, from handy tools that belong in every kitchen to a rundown of the world's most exciting new liquors and wines, Food & Wine Magazine brings you exciting and useful articles and features. Each issue includes several long features and reg... read more
Carolyn has 2 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
I'm incredibly thankful to the universe for helping me find Carolyn! I knew I had a solid idea for a book but attempting to write a proposal myself felt daunting and impossible. Carolyn patiently listened to my ideas, helped me narrow my focus, and ultimately walked me through a collaborative writing process that was approachable, fun and authentic to my writing style and voice. I couldn't be h...
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Chelsey Glasson, October 2020
Carolyn was an absolute pleasure to work with.
She was patient, kind and understanding to my needs and wants a first time writer. Her comments were clear and concise and I feel that she brought out he best in my writing and helped me learn so much in a short amount time.
I really felt that Carolyn cared about my writing and what I had to say with it just as much as I did.
Highly recommend...
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Ricky Michiels, September 2020
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