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 November 2023 and beyond--recommending the popular Manuscript Assessment.)


"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 an editor who can 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 contemporary fiction and maybe cozy mysteries 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.

Portfolio

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Red Bishop

Yuan, Robin T W

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
IRON MEDICINE

Brady, Richard

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Copy Editing
The Gift of the Seer

Laugheed, K.B.

Copy Editing
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment

Cindy has 88 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jim M.

Jim M.

Mar, 2024

Let me not bury the lead, working with Cindy has been a pleasure. I am writing a deeply personal memoir about my wife who recently passed away after a struggle with cancer. I want to honor my wife, her struggle, and our life together. Cindy has absolutely helped move the story forward. Cindy has respectfully pushed me out of my comfort zone while mixing praise with challenging questions that h...
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Cindy M.
I am honored to work alongside Jim as he walks through this memoir and the grief that accompanies it. I look forward to seeing the next versions of the work for his different audiences. He has less...
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Terrel B.

Terrel B.

Jan, 2024

Cindy was professional, reliable, and most important, thorough. She gave honest feedback along with constructive critique. She pointed out holes in my plot that I didn't know existed, while also helping me see my strengths. Her contributions to my work cannot be overstated. I highly recommend her services to any author.
Cindy M.
I am thrilled that Terrel resonates with my suggestions for his work, and I hope he gets a lot of mileage from the feedback. It is so gratifying to be able to come alongside and make a difference.
Martin E.

Martin E.

Dec, 2023

Cindy is so much more than a mere editor. She is a teammate, a partner and works shoulder-to-shoulder with the author to help a given work reach its full potential. Whether it’s a relatively small detail (like describing the best way to start a motorcycle engine) or a larger issue (like straightening out a chronologically convoluted part of the story) Cindy will be there to offer insightful gui...
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Cindy M.
Martin Elsant is a wonderful client writing important books, and I was delighted when he asked for editing on this third novel! Our collaboration has taught me a lot, and I have been especially hon...
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Robert R.

Robert R.

Nov, 2023

Cindy is professional, thorough, and concerned about the writer's project. She researched some items I hadn't considered, such as Maryknoll nuns overseas are called "missioners" and not "missionaries" and they "evangelize" and don't "proselytize." Small things, but they demonstrate the care she puts into her assignment. My MS came back with Track Changes all over the place, and a great majority...
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Cindy M.
I am grateful that Robert appreciated my contributions to his work, and it was a privilege to labor alongside him to get this important family story out to a wider audience. I know Edith/Sister Mar...
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Sharon C.

Sharon C.

Nov, 2023

Cindy was amazing to work with. We had a few initial emails so I could clarify the audience for my novella. Then she meticulously noted sections of the manuscript that required "clean up" in terms of POV. She was also kind enough to note parts of the novella that worked well. So all in all, her comments and feedback were extremely informative and guided me to to amend the manuscript where ne...
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Cindy M.
I enjoyed the lovely brief collaboration with Sharon and enjoyed the imaginative and beautfiul world she has created with this story. I am so glad my comments were helpful to her, and I look forwar...
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