Cindy Marsch - Editor
Slippery Rock, United States
Specializing in historical and literary fiction – deep guidance for new writers and a final polish for seasoned authors and small presses.
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Overview
(Now booking projects for October 2018 and beyond)
I'm an author and editor with an undergraduate degree in creative writing (short stories primarily) and a master's in literature and have been teaching writing for more than three decades. I work with each writer according to his or her needs, making the most of each one's strengths and following or leading according to each client's direction. Because I am an author myself, my first novel and short story published in 2016, I know you are looking for what an editor can do to enhance your own writing, to help you get from where you are to where you want to be.
Are you a confident writer and self-editor and just want that final pair of fresh eyes on your manuscript? Or are you a small press with a busy schedule? I can provide careful proofreading and copy editing, helping you clear away any snags that might keep you from providing your reader the smoothest reading experience possible. As one client prospect commented, I showed how my editing could take her modern romance "from garage band to gold record."
Do you have a draft and a dream, but you know your work is not up to the high standard you want? Are you struggling with the big-picture issues of consistent characterization, story arc, style, and overall impression? I can work with you in developmental editing, drawing on my thirty-odd years of teaching writing to come alongside and coach you in the things you can do that will make the most difference the fastest. In even more streamlined help, I can give you an editorial assessment, a true overview of what is most promising and what needs most work from you before you come to closer editing work.
As a lover of beautiful writing and as a novelist and short story writer myself, I have a deep commitment to beautiful fiction, and I am active in online groups of independent authors and historical fiction writers and editors. But as a long-time educator and writer and editor of curriculum and organizational documents, I bring the savvy of long experience to the needs of non-fiction writers as well. I have provided editorial services for a sweeping novel of African history, individual titles in a fantasy series, a developing private detective novel, the English translation of an Italian novel, and individual essays in anthologies of inspiring memoir and entertaining mystery author anecdotes--for both independent authors and small presses. I am also an active volunteer reviewer both privately and for reviewing organizations--particularly historical fiction, thrillers and suspense, literary fiction, and short stories. Over previous years I have developed writing, literature, history, and other curriculum for high school and college students and curriculum plans for schools in several U.S. states, and I've written and edited documents and procedure manuals in many venues of business, education, churches, charities, and government. Everywhere I go I find my writing and editing in demand.
I look forward to the opportunity to work with you on whatever your writing dream might be!
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.
Cindy Rinaman Marsch
"Highly Recommended! . . . Her attention to typographic and grammatical detail proved to be exquisite." - Annie Pearson, of Jugum Press
"Scrupulous, Prompt, Knowledgeable, and Thoughtful" - Suzanne Fox, of Stories of You Books
"I have used Cindy as an editor for several books now and have been extremely happy with the service provided. I have found her extremely capable, insightful, and professional and I have no hesitation in recommending her [to take] your books to the next level." - Samuel C. Stokes, author of A Coronation of Kings, USA Today Bestselling Author in Fantasy
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Anthologies
Historical Fiction
Literature
Short Story
Women's Fiction
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Education & Reference
Certifications
- Editorial Freelancers Association Member
- Alliance of Independent Authors Partner Member
Work experience
Guest Lecturer
Grove City College
August, 2016
–
Present
(almost 2 years)
Teaching one or two sections each semester of Foundations of Academic Discourse in the Writing Department to freshman students from all academic disciplines, conducting class lectures and exercises, interacting on a class message board for essay discussions, and extensively evaluating three essays and a final exam. Our curriculum includes critical thinking, grammar and style instruction, and the principles of academic writing of several types: process, persuasion, synthesis, and critical review, with a professional standard and citation of sources in all essays with journalistic attribution and MLA, Chicago, APA, and CSE style sheets.
Editor, Proofreader, Writer
Self-employed
October, 2015
–
Present
(over 2 years)
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 recently begun offering professional editorial services and found immediate enthusiastic acceptance from small presses and individual authors as soon as they saw what I could do for them. One special offering is what I call "instructional editing," like developmental editing but designed to be done a chapter or two at a time, the writer applying each segment's evaluation and improvements to the work of later drafts. I also offer limited free beta reading and reviews upon request.
Instructor of Writing
Veritas Academy Online
September, 2010
–
May, 2015
(over 4 years)
Developed and taught Composition 1 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. In our online live class meetings I managed groups of up to 22 students, engaging them in discussion, writing exercises, peer critique, and imitation of great writing samples. Much of my instruction was in the form of individual essay evaluation in extensive comments for each student.
Writing Tutor, Writing Evaluator, Curriculum Developer
Self-employed
May, 1996
–
Present
(about 22 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. It is wonderful to work with students throughout their secondary education and then watch many of them go on to become important writers, educators, and other professional in their own right.
Instructor of English
Florida State University, Auburn University, Tallahassee Community College, Los Positas College
August, 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 (8 selected works)
The Mentor That Matters: Stories of Transformational Teachers, Role Models and Heroes, Volume 1
Suzanne Fox, Laura Steward Atchison
In every life, there is at least one “mentor that matters”: a person whose insights spark change and whose influence endures. It might be an educator whose knowledge ignites new passion. A family member whose wisdom steers us away from irreparable mistakes or encourages our boldest dreams. An expert whose training spurs us to do more than we could have imagined. A leader who elicits strength o... read more
Nzinga: African Warrior Queen
Moses L. Howard
Across the savannah and into the green mountains, people shouted her name: “Nzinga, Nzinga, Child of the Flame!” “Nzinga, Daughter of the Old Ngola, Savior of Ndongo!” In the governor’s palace Luanda, the Portuguese courtiers whisper in shock: A woman! Sent to make a treaty with the invaders, Nzinga of Angola is swept into world history, a generation after Elizabeth I ruled England. For forty ... read more
Writers of historical fiction face a daunting creative challenge: that of shaping fresh and original stories from a verifiable and sometimes familiar past. Again and again, today's gifted historical fiction authors meet that challenge brilliantly. But readers rarely get to see how they tackle such an intricate task, or what happens to transform the first glimmer of an idea and a set of histori... read more
Blizzard: A Story of Dakota Territory
Cindy Rinaman Marsch
A homesteading farmer, his pregnant wife, their daughter, and the grandmother wake to a beautiful winter morning on the prairie. And then it descends upon them - the infamous Children's Blizzard of 1888. Who will survive? With characters from Rosette: A Novel of Pioneer Michigan, “Blizzard: A Story of Dakota Territory” captures in one sod shanty the dramatic effects of a storm on the bodies an... read more
Rosette: A Novel of Pioneer Michigan
Cindy Rinaman Marsch
Why did she edit her wedding-day journal? Almost-spinster schoolteacher Rosette Cordelia Ramsdell married Otis Churchill on a Michigan farm in 1857. Her real-life journal recounts two years of homesteading, history hints at the next six decades, and the novel explores the truth. We meet Rosette in 1888 as she revises the wedding-day page of her journal. In lush detail, in the voices of Rosette... read more
1 Photo 50 Authors 100 Words: Flash Fiction
Madison Woods
100-word flash fiction stories by 50 authors from around the globe, all based on one photo prompt. Compiled by Madison Woods. Authors include Stephanie Ayers, Holly Suzanne Beckman-Filbert, Sarah Paige Berling, Vincent J Bracco, JK Bradley, Jan Brown, Michelle Bunt, Sandra Crook, Marilyn Kay Dennis, Phyllis Anne Duncan, Sean Fallon, Nathan Filbert, Michael B. Fishman, Abraham Gumba, Sarah Ann ... read more
A Kindom Divided: Books 1 - 3 in S.C. Stokes' Epic Fantasy Adventure
Samuel Stokes, S.C. Stokes
Watching from the window, Tristan screamed, “Father!” Tears streamed down his face as he fell to his knees. Without mercy the bandits closed in, torches blazing against the night sky. Tristan watched in terror as the Manor caught fire…with him inside it.With his home in ashes and his world on fire, Tristan has to make a choice…Fight or die. Tyranny and civil war threaten to consume the island ... read more
Bring Me Back Home
D. R. Thatcher
D. R. Thatcher is recently retired with a loving wife and grown children. Adjusting to a different pace of life, he yearns to reconnect with his childhood memories. His Mom, Dad, and only bother have passed away leaving a lingering sense of regret and the realization that maybe life’s priorities should have been different. In his retrospective memoir, Douglas reflects on the experiences he had... read more
Cindy has 7 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
Cindy is great! She really helped straighten out a lot of things with my manuscript. Her corrections and suggestions were invaluable. Joe Mullarkey
Read moreJoe Mullarkey, June 2018
It was a pleasure to work with you, Joe. Thanks for the affirming words!
Reply from Cindy Marsch
As a copy editor, Cindy made both my story and my writing better. Reading her feedback, I felt like she deliberately considered every line, word, and punctuation mark within the broader context of the story. Going above and beyond, she worked with my compressed schedule, finished the job early, and came in under budget on a fixed bid (who knew that was possible?). Cindy's feedback makes me want...
Read moreSteve Snyder, April 2018
I enjoyed very much working with Cindy. She is a highly qualified professional, communicates in a clear and responsive manner, and provides me with her extremely helpful inputs to my draft novel. I will need her assistance again in the future.
Read moreTrudy NT, April 2018
It was delightful working with you, Trudy, and I appreciate your patience with my unexpected delay at one point in the work.
CRM
Reply from Cindy Marsch
Cindy was very helpful in reviewing my manuscript and telling me exactly what areas needed improvement and all other needed suggestions to help me craft a better story. I highly recommend her!
Read moreMya M, February 2018
Cindy Marsch is a great editor! Knowledgeable, professional, and encouraging--just what I'd hoped for. She delivered her critique in a timely manner and was quick to respond to all my questions. Not only did she improve my story, but she taught me much about writing in general. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her.
Read moreKathryn McLendon, January 2018
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