Helping authors prepare for publication, realize their potential, and

make writer’s block a thing of the past.

The publishing industry doesn’t have to be terrifying. We are, after all, in the business of telling stories. Who doesn’t like a good story?

Feel Safe

As a writer, it can feel vulnerable and nerve-wracking to show your work to someone—especially to an editor! This will be a safe relationship where your strengths as a writer will be noticed and opportunities for growth will make sense. We’re going to honor and love both you and your manuscript through the process.

Move Past Doubts

You’ve got a dream inside you that can become a reality. Whether your manuscript is a hefty final draft or just an idea, we can get it to the next level together. Maybe you’re halfway through your draft and stumped, or your secondary character feels one dimensional. All writing issues have a solution and can be worked out.

Know What to Expect

It’s agonizing to give your work to someone and sit around anxiously waiting for their feedback. Once we have a timeline established, you will have a clear understanding of how long each cycle of edits will take. Most clients are surprised by how quickly the process can move. You get to set the pace as we work together.

                 Why Work With Cynthia Merrill?

Stories connect, shape, and inspire us. Your story, or the story you long to write, matters.

But the publishing industry feels mysterious and impossible to navigate sometimes. It can be intimidating, and without the right support, many valuable stories will go untold. Writers who could offer exactly what someone needs to hear instead get overwhelmed by uncertainty.

As a writer myself, I constantly face the same doubts, insecurities, and setbacks as my clients. Writing is not for the faint of heart! You are putting a piece of yourself on the page, offering readers a glimpse of your soul. It is a strangely intimate experience to invite readers into that place, and not everyone can handle the beauty of that vulnerability.

You, dear writer, have what it takes. You wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t.

Brianne Córdova
Brianne Córdova
May 31, 2022.
Cynthia helped me with a query letter for one of my manuscripts. Her feedback was helpful and specific as she explained why the changes might strengthen my letter, and she was sure to emphasize what I’d already done well with it. I loved having her read it! Having anyone read anything you’d created is very vulnerable, but Cynthia is encouraging and respectful and gives feedback without making you feel inadequate. If anything, I felt more energized to continue the arduous process! I’d love to work with her again!
Jessica Perkinson
Jessica Perkinson
May 31, 2022.
Querying is HARD! Cynthia gave me a safe space to share my query letter and seek feedback on how to improve. Her genuine, non-judgmental, and supportive approach is invaluable to new writers like myself. I've sent out a new round of queries with all fingers crossed we made the golden changes!
Hannah Call
Hannah Call
May 30, 2022.
I was able to have my query letter looked over by Cynthia. She gave great tips (which I immediately implemented) and I left feeling so much more confident about both my letter and my manuscript. Thank you Cynthia!!!
Dylan Cannon
Dylan Cannon
May 26, 2022.
Cynthia was so great to work with. She had wonderful ideas and really helped sculpt the flow of my book. I would recommend to anyone to use her. She was a huge help!
Jason Jones
Jason Jones
April 26, 2022.
Cynthia was wonderful to work with. Very encouraging and helpful!
Christina Danos
Christina Danos
April 13, 2022.
Cynthia is an excellent writing coach. The Finishers Club was exactly what I needed, and I didn't even know it. She provides writers with a safe place to discover and cultivate their craft, which is the worth it's weight in gold. I was able to turn my concept into a full fledged novel under her helpful hands. I appreciate the skills that Cynthia shared with me and what she helped me to discover about myself. I am so grateful for her program.
Mary Furse
Mary Furse
March 14, 2022.
Cynthia is awesome to work with! I met her at a convention and was impressed with her insight on a panel about being prepared to seek an agent. Afterwards, I sent her my first chapter for an edit. She gave helpful feedback on things to clarify and pace better, and also gave really encouraging positive remarks. She was open to questions and discussing ideas for how to work out the bugs. I feel inspired and encouraged to keep at it and to share this story! Thanks, Cynthia!
Sabrina Nilsson
Sabrina Nilsson
February 25, 2022.
I had a great experience with Cynthia. She provided me with the encouragement I needed to keep moving forward while also providing me with constructive feedback. She answered all my questions about finding an agent and even ways to improve my writing/novel. If you're needing someone to help with your writing projects who will pump you up, reach out to Cynthia!
Dakotah Gumm
Dakotah Gumm
February 14, 2022.
Cynthia worked with me on a query letter for my fantasy novel, and her advice was invaluable. We did a Zoom meeting where she screen-shared and edited the letter with me, explaining her reasoning for each suggested edit. She really got to the heart of my story and was super personable to work with. Working with her helped me feel more confident in my query letter and my story, and helped me better understand how to formulate query letters for the future. I highly recommend her services.
How Does It Work?
First, I need to know a little about you and your project to make sure we’re a good fit. What genre is your novel? What are some of your biggest concerns right now? What do you hope to accomplish by working together? Reach out to me by clicking on any of the “Get Started” buttons on this page and filling out a brief form with your information. I review most messages in just a few days and will let you know if I can offer you what you need. We will establish a revision plan to get your project from where it is to where you want it to be. Our plan will last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on your needs.

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Schedule a free 30-Minute Discovery Call Below

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Work together on the call to make a plan you feel good about

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Make your writing dreams a reality
How Much Does It Cost?
By working alone, you miss out on partnering with someone who will see the absolute best in your writing. Spellcheck will not be able to tell you if that amazing scene you’ve crafted will fit better three chapters later. Or if that frustrating plot hole is actually the key for the main character’s transformation. Without proper encouragement, your story will collect dust in your mind, notebook, or computer and never to fully reach its stunning conclusion. You owe it to yourself and the story to see this through.
Each manuscript and revision plan has a price as unique as the project. While some services have a fixed price, most services are priced depending on the length of the manuscript and the type of work needed. In the form below, you can specify if you’re working with a budget, and I’ll show you what fits within that amount.
About Cynthia

I’m an editor by profession and a writer by nature.

My mission is to guide you through the writing and publishing process and make it as encouraging and successful as possible. I believe that the world heals and grows through stories, and there are many writers who don’t know they have something pivotal to share. To this day, I am still cheering on writers I worked with years ago, watching their successes with excitement.

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