About - Cathy Borders

Twenty years of helping fiction, memoir, and nonfiction authors shape manuscripts into books that readers love.

Hi! I’m Cathy, an Author and Developmental Book Editor.

I have been a professional editor for over two decades.

And I have spent that career honing on the specifics of my craft and technique to create my Book Midwifery process.

I have MFA in Creative Writing from the New School in New York and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Critical Theory from the University of Iowa.

I specialize in fiction, memoir, and hybrids with a focus on emotional transformations, structural clarity, and symbolism. I also have a soft spot for experimentation, for the writers who do things a little differently.

Tell Me About Your Project

I think about writing a lot. I think it is something much more interesting and more important than a thing you do for money. I think art is for everyone, and to quote Henry James, “I know of no substitute for the force and beauty of its process.”

I work with nearly all genres, but I always encourage a free consultation to see if we’re a good fit. I’m excellent for authors who write literary fiction, and I have a flare for all fantasy and romance genres. Sometimes I work with poetry, but I rarely work with horror. I do love me some happy goth though.

I prefer to handwrite my edits so I require all manuscripts to be submitted double-spaced with 12 pt. font.

Please send your work in as few documents as possible.

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Bio:

Cathy Borders is the author of the Tarot for Writing Project: an online interlacing system that teaches writing through the Tarot, and teaches the Tarot through analogy using fairy tales, myths, classic literature, philosophy, film, and cartoons. Her latest book, Robin Williams Is My Uncle: And Other Stories We Possess, is a bricolage autotheory on alienation, art, and epigenetics told through the lens of Robin Williams’s children’s movies. She is also the author of A Suburb of Monogamy, a fictional translation of Roland Barthes’s A Lover’s Discourse. Suburb is an experimental romance about the invention, withdrawal, and body of a liaison. Her short fiction and academic essays can be found in various lit journals across the internet. She is the founder and owner of The Republic of Letters, an online lit hub dedicated to helping local authors get their books into the hands of local readers, as well as the quarterly reading series, Water Street Writers. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the New School in New York and a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and critical theory from the University of Iowa.

Her eldest daughter is a firecracker and an artist, and her toddler shows her all the sounds of the world. She writes experimental fantasy novels, inside-out love stories, and autotheory for fun. She loves popcorn, long walks through dense fog, and l’écriture féminine writing. She doesn’t like summer or her birthday. She’s allergic to bananas and the sun. Winter is her favorite season. The Dark Crystal and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? are her favorite movies. You can’t make her pick a favorite book. She gets a lot of migraines but she sees the art that happens inside. She’s a Ravenclaw and a Pentacles witch, and by that she just means that she writes. She believes in art, as it’s the only thing that makes sense to her. She lives in the forest with her husband, daughters, and two warring cats.

Here’s What Clients Have to Say:

“I have been working with Cathy Borders as an editor for many years, and she is literally the only person I trust to give me the real deal on my work. Indeed, I refer to her opinion to sort through the sometimes contradictory feedback of other readers of my work, and her reading always trumps the crowd. Her eye is fine, and acutely generous, able to enter into the writer’s personal universe without imposing her own upon it, always listening to the unique thread which makes a work a work, and not any other, and often making that line emerge when I myself had not been able to find it. Her line edits are deft, girded by years of deep readings of a vast array of different kinds of texts, and familiarity with the textual world and literary scene. Her capacity to grasp, sort through and propose structural shifts, cuts and additions to my work is always spot on, and her honesty is devastatingly kind. I know she will not lie to me if my work falls short, a rare and necessary quality in an editor. However, when it works, when it is good, and the work does what it has set out to do (and sometimes only she can see what that is), her support and encouragement is unflagging. 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

“With an immense knowledge and experience in the world of writing, Cathy was able to help me start to realize the potential of my own. Drawing on Greek myths to vaporwave, 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

“Cathy Borders has been my editor for some time now. She’s done an excellent job with both my poetry and children’s books. To me she’s more than an editor because she understands the direction I’m heading. Her suggestions are spot on and help build a stronger story. I like the fact that I can call her and work it out. We walk through each step to make sure I’m satisfied with the end product. She’s a fine writer in her own right so she understands the rigors of being an author. 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 voice and point of view despite having no previous background in Chinese medicine, aromatherapy, or Daoist philosophy.”
Evelyn Robert

“Cathy is an absolute joy to work with. She is a thoughtful reader who is able to offer valuable insight and guidance. I’m grateful to have found her.”
Patricia Motto

“I can’t say enough about Cathy! I am a first time fiction writer and am very lucky I found her. Honestly, I am not sure I would have continued writing without her continued support and professional help. Don’t hesitate for one moment if you need guidance of any kind for your project-you won’t regret reaching out to her!”
Liz Georgiou

“Cathy is a gift to writers and readers alike! Her approach is equal parts professional and nurturing. She is a champion, friend, and kind critic for your project. Her attention to detail, as well as her ability to excavate meaning from your fragments, sets her apart. I recommend Cathy without hesitation. I am truly honored that she has chosen to help me bring my stories to life.”
KR W

“If I had to choose a word to describe working with Cathy Borders, I’d have to use a word from my next book, which I hope she’ll be available to edit. That word would be poly-luminous. In a world where the majority of people are binary thinkers, drifting between good and bad, right and wrong, up and down, the poly-luminous thinker sees all the possibilities as things evolve. This was so true of Cathy. Whether a single word or the construction of a chapter, her approach was open, honest, and brilliant. I’ve listened to a number of my 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

“I am currently working on completing my second book and needed professional assistance. Cathy has been an amazing resource for writing, critiquing and editing my content. This process has been easy and timely. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to help me finish my project.”
Jennifer Mercier

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

“Cathy Borders is a godsend to any writer! Whether you are a seasoned pro or a new and inexperienced writer (that’s me!) Cathy is your go to. Not only is she a talented, gifted writer and editor, but also a fantastic coach. Cathy is there for you to bounce ideas off of and ignite your imagination! I am so thankful I found her and encourage any writer who needs a second set of eyes and viewpoint to reach out to her- you will not be disappointed.”
Liz

“I started writing a novel a year ago, and after writing 27,000 words, and getting a few (discouraging) comments from other authors, who had not read my work, I got completely stuck. They told me my methodology was all wrong.. I couldn’t even reread what I had written. Cathy read the whole thing and answered my question “Is this worth continuing?” She was very encouraging, and after an hour’s discussion with her, and her magic therapy, I am now back on track. With her help, I WILL finish my story, and am feeling fantastic about it!”
Joanne Telser-Frere

“I am a better writer because of Cathy.”
Kailyne Waters

“I submitted a tome of seven hundred pages to Republic of Letters for editing. This was my first submission to an editor and I’m grateful and fortunate to have worked with this organization and Cathy Borders in particular. Despite that I have limited understanding in crafting a story, I never felt like the novice that I am. Cathy supported me every step of the way, encouraging questions and answering every one of them with clarity. Her edits were abundant (exactly what I needed) and her insights are of excellent value. I especially appreciate the one-on-one time she spent with me at the end of the project. I have come away from this process a better writer and a little wiser on how to express my opinions. Considering the scope of the project, the length of time it took to complete was very reasonable. I will, without hesitation, submit my next book to Republic of Letters.”
Michael Bauch