Cindy Marsch

Cindy Marsch – Editor

I help make dreams come true – deep guidance for developing writers and a final polish for seasoned authors.

Overview

(Now scheduling projects for May 2023 and beyond--recommending the popular Manuscript Assessment. Summer Special--10% off my usual rates for contracts beginning April 15 - September 1.)


"If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend working with Cindy. Her guidance is invaluable, and she is truly a pleasure to work with. . . . You will be in good hands." -- RF, a happy Reedsy client


I'm Cindy M., an author and editor with an undergraduate degree in creative writing (short stories primarily) and a master's in literature, and I have been editing professionally for seven years and teaching writing for more than three decades. I work with writers according to your needs, making the most of your strengths and working at your direction. Because I am an author myself, I know you are looking for what an editor to enhance your own voice.

Do you have a draft and a dream but know your work is not up to your own high standard? My popular, economical Manuscript Assessment will give you a true overview of what is most promising and what needs most work as you revise. One potential client commented that my sample edit showed how I could take her modern romance "from garage band to gold record."

Can you trust me to help you realize your dream? Take a look at my Reedsy reviews below!

Note: Although I am open to some sensuality, violence, and strong language, I prefer not to edit extensive erotic content, graphic violent content, gratuitous strong language, nor occult material.

"I feel very fortunate to have worked with Cindy on both a developmental and copy edit of my manuscript. She is a consummate professional whose insightful feedback and suggestions helped transform my rough draft into a novel that I am excited to share. . . . Like any excellent teacher, Cindy is adept at asking just the right questions to prompt a writer to dig deeper into the 'why' of their craft. She makes you think, which is a good thing!"

--More from RF, a happy Reedsy client

Services
Fiction
Anthologies Cultural & Ethnic Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Short Story
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Education & Reference Writing & Publishing
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Editorial Freelancers Association Member
  • Alliance of Independent Authors Partner Member

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 2015 — Present

I am an author of historical, biographical, literary fiction and short stories thus far, with plans for cozy mysteries and contemporary fiction in the years to come. I have found my favorite work offering professional editorial services, with enthusiastic acceptance from small presses and individual authors as soon as they see what I can do for them.

Grove City College

Aug, 2016 — Dec, 2019 (over 3 years)

(Still on the rolls for future need of the college.) Taught one or two sections each semester of Foundations of Academic Discourse in the Writing Department to freshman students from all academic disciplines. Curriculum included critical thinking, grammar and style instruction, and the principles of academic writing of several types: exposition, persuasion, synthesis, and critical review, with a professional standard and citation of sources.

Veritas Academy Online

Sep, 2010 — May, 2015 (over 4 years)

Developed and taught Composition 2 to students in grades 8-12 for this online school, helping students learn grammar, style, and basic essay forms for description, persuasion, comparison, and narrative. Much of my instruction was in the form of individual essay evaluation in extensive comments for each student.

Writing Assessment Services

May, 1996 — Jun, 2022 (about 26 years)

As a young mother watching the growth of homeschooling all around me and hearing the desires of homeschooling parents for quality writing instruction for their older children, I began teaching online when the technology allowed only exchange of simple files and emails. I developed many writing courses using the Great Books, ancient rhetoric exercises (Progymnasmata), and other high-quality resources, and in time I became a consultant for many private schools for their writing programs. In 2022 I sold my domain and instructional materials to another entrepreneurial writing teacher.

Florida State University, Auburn University, Tallahassee Community College, Los Positas College

Aug, 1982 — May, 1995 (over 12 years)

In these different colleges, taught courses including remedial writing lab, freshman composition, freshman article and essay workshop, sophomore literature, written business communications, and business report writing part time (FSU, TCC, LPC) or full time (Auburn University) intermittently through these years.

Cindy has 81 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Michael L.

Michael L.

Apr, 2023

Best price. Very Professional. Very timely. Very Helpful.
Cindy M.
It was great fun engaging with Michael's imaginative recasting of the old David-and-Goliath story. I felt we were having lively conversation back and forth about the details of the original sources...
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Ward S.

Ward S.

Mar, 2023

Cindy has been great to work with. She has stayed with us through a four book series. Her comments have been thorough and useful for greatly improving the final quality of our books. She has been very much worth the cost of her services.
Cindy M.
It has been a pleasurable adventure following the ancient events with Ward's manuscripts, and I'm proud of what we've done together over the series.
Evelyn R.

Evelyn R.

Jan, 2023

Cindy was very punctual and professional. I had a great experience working with her!
Cindy M.
I have enjoyed working with Evelyn on two stages of her 19th-century crime/suspense/family novel, and she's been amazingly professional for someone her age!
richard N.

richard N.

Jan, 2023

Cindy is frank and constructive in her manuscript review..she has given me sound advice in reframing my first novel.
Cindy M.
I enjoyed working through Richard's fascinating novel based on his own experiences in the Pacific in the 20th century, and I hope my feedback will help him take this work (and its planned series) t...
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Robert R.

Robert R.

Jan, 2023

I proposed a tight time frame with high expectations, and Cindy met them, and exceeded them in some cases. My MS is much improved, and I had thought it couldn't get much better. It did. Cindy made some rare comments on living conditions missionaries endured in China in 1950. Many editors would assume they knew the answer, and other editors would ignore the issue. Cindy drew attention to some ...
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Cindy M.
It was a real pleasure to get this taste of Robert's fine story, and as I told him, I'd love to read the rest of it! I do hope we can work together again in the future.