Book Midwife, Story Therapist, and Writing Witch.

Professional author, editor, and teacher.


Helping authors bring out the best in their writing for over twenty years.  

Become a better writer using the Tarot.

The Tarot for Writing Project is an online tool that teaches both writing and the Tarot’s symbolic language through analogy using fairy tales, myths, classic literature, philosophy, film, and cartoons. 


I help people find the heart of their writing.

Local to the Fox Valley? See what RoL offers.

Writing classes and workshops for all ages.


If you are going to hire an editor…

You need to find someone who understands your project.

Who hears to your voice.

Who sees your vision.

And who works hard to maintain them both.

Writing a book can be overwhelming.

On the one hand, a book is an intricate machine, on the other, writing is pure magic. To finish a project, you have to find your style somewhere between the two.

In this enclosed space, you get to practice your art, you get to create. But there comes a point in every writer’s life where they turn from writing just for themselves and start to turn their pens toward being read. With readers in mind, the once cathartic hobby turns into something more stressful. There are a lot of elements that go into making a solid book, and a good editor should make sure each of them are on point for your project’s goals. We’ll look at your characters, their plots and arcs, your setting, symbols, language, and tone. We’ll talk about genre and audience, and the reader’s journey, that necessary part that will help you write books that readers will love. If this feels like too much, you’re not alone. Suddenly this once awesome hobby turned into a migraine of a task. It doesn’t have to be so messy.

It can be a lot to process and organize, but together, we can piece your disparate writing fragments into a lovely book. 

This process is personalized, there’s no other way.

For some of my clients, we work together from inception to publication.

But before publication, you have to make sure the writing’s perfect.

Better than perfect, you have to make sure it’s good.

Together, we can shape your text into exactly what you want.

Whether this is something for you, your grandchildren, your community, or because you have those big five publication star eyes, let’s make your art as good as it can be.

I promise it’ll be fun.

Do you have a project in mind but are just getting started?

If you’re looking for intensive one on one attention and are interested in getting your ducks in a row before you’ve finished your first draft. Great! I highly recommend booking a story therapy session with me. In these sessions we’ll talk about everything you want to accomplish with your writing, we’ll set actionable goals and set you on a path to achieving them. Together, we’ll find what makes your writing your writing. We’ll find your voice, your themes, your symbols and metaphors, and we’ll showcase what you do best. We’ll also focus on where the piece is weak or may need some work. But most importantly, this is a space for you to talk with an expert about your writing. That alone can shape the course of a project’s life. Let’s champion and love on your work together.

Already have a project?

How’s it going?

Did it start off amazing but now you’re stuck?

Is it a word salad?

Is it done but not quite right?

Does the piece need line edits or more comprehensive structural edits?

Is it having trouble finding a home?

All this and more could mean you need an editor.

If you’re having trouble finishing, then maybe you need a midwife.

This process is for writers who wish to delve deep into the art of their writing. At the end, you will have a story that is yours and ready to be read.

Want to become a writer but don’t know where to start?

Classes are great if you’re just starting out, or the nerd in you enjoys getting technical and taking the time to contemplate your craft. You can explore styles as you learn about all the elements that go into good writing.

Workshops are for when you’re ready to share your work with some other writers and are open to their feedback. There you can explore different voices, techniques, and styles, and help others as they do the same. Whether you’ve got a large project in mind or you’re just tinkering around, a good workshop will help you sharpen your writing skills.

I offer a variety of workshops and classes for kids and adults, both irl and online.

In their words:

“I am a better writer because of Cathy.”

Kailyne Waters

“Cathy is awesome and brilliant and not afraid to be honest with me which is why she is my editor.”

Heather Lynn

“I can very genuinely say that I would not have come this far, or indeed, gone anywhere at all as a writer, without her help. Sometimes I think I should list her as co-author.”

Lily Robert-Foley

“I especially appreciate the one-on-one time she spent with me.”

Michael Bauch

“Cathy Borders is more than an editor because she understands the direction I’m heading. Her suggestions are spot on and help build a stronger story. I highly recommend her and I’m glad she’s on board with my writing endeavors. Five stars from me!!”

Leo Zarko

“Cathy Borders skillfully and patiently birthed my book while managing to maintain my point of view despite having no previous background in Chinese medicine, aromatherapy, or Daoist philosophy.”

Evelyn Robert

“With immense knowledge and experience in the writing world, Cathy was able to help me start realize the potential of my own. Drawing on Greek myths to vaporware, she is familiar with almost any kind of narrative there can be, and will be able to guide your project to the best it can possibly be.”

Liam

“I’ve listened to a number of writer friends complain about their books being edited but frankly, I have no complaints. In fact, it was joyful and inspiring. She made my book better and helped me think about the way I write. Anyone who has the opportunity to work with her will be lucky.”

Michael Foley

Once upon a time…

When you began to write you may have found the words pouring out of you. The experience was transcendent, a magic moment of divine inspiration. Maybe that passed, what goes up must, alas, come down. So now you have some pages pure gold! stacked in front of you, but something nags. Do the sentences feel pretty enough? Clever enough? Too clever? Is the plot interesting enough? Are the characters engaging enough? How does your reader feel as they fall into your story? *Gasp* You think, nearly faint, Is this worth reading?

Writing is words that stay. So a book is a complex system of thought made concrete. How wonderful and special! To make it worth writing, you have to make it worth reading.

There is always a give and take,

a back and forth between author and reader.

As a book midwife, I collapse the distance between reader and text.

Together, we’ll go through the experience of reading your story.

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Contact

(630) 567-5410
Cathy.r.borders@gmail.com