Every piece of writing needs another eye.

Finished pieces of writing need even more finishing. That's where The Write Word comes in. Let me take a look at what you've written, and I'll help you whip it into shape.

I can't guarantee publication. That's left to the whims of the literary gods, especially with the world of publishing tumbling head-over-heels these days.

What I can do is spice up your work so editors might be interested and so readers won’t close the book if you self-publish. (Too many self-published authors don’t spend the money on editing, and it shows.)

What I'll Do

With novels:   I'll ride the through-lines, character arcs, pacing and plot development. Have you ever read a novel that's great until the ending? Writers get tired and sometimes just want the darn thing to end; unfortunately too many books read that way. I'll make sure your book follows through to the last word.

With nonfiction:   I'll assess if the information is conveyed in an engaging manner. With ‘how-to’ I’ll see if the steps are easy to follow.

With memoir:   I'll read with an attentive eye to the underlying story. Also, will people be interested if they don’t know you?

The Art of Clean-up

Along the way, I'll check spelling, grammar and punctuation. I'll make sure subjects and verbs lineup. I'll tidy the syntax around adverb and gerund clauses, things that often get lost in the shuffle. I’m also a stickler for passive verbs. Boy, do these slow down reading! But most writers don’t even see them.

The Art of Rearranging

I'll help with restructuring and sequence. So often writers find their stride about page 50. Let’s start there, where the book takes off and see what happens.

Cindy is quick and meticulous. I wouldn’t be where I am without her. She takes drafts of anything I write—fiction or nonfiction—and finds all the soft spots.

Anne Hillerman, Gardens of Santa Fe, Ride the Wind, Children's Guide to Santa Fe, Tony Hillerman’s Landscape and Santa Fe Flavors

Cindy makes authoritative suggestions and really reads what I’ve written. She’s encouraging and lets me bounce ideas off her.

June Marie Avery, Pride of the Pecos Valley

Cindy truly understood what I was trying to do with my book. She loves the wilderness...plus she’s been on both sides of the editor/writer balance beam.

Cinny Green, Trail Writer’s Guide

Amazon’s New Novel contest attracted 5,000 entries. With Cindy’s help, mine was a top finalist. She showed me how to weave subplots and build a good, plausible story.

Michael Chavez, Walking the Camino Sagrado