What my clients have to say about working with me . . .
Working with Marlies was an absolute pleasure. Not only did she find numerous ways to make my book better, her willingness to explain the rationale for even the smallest changes made the editing process so easy. When making her recommendations, Marlies always looked for and found the right balance between the rules of grammar and my style as an author. I look forward to the opportunity to work with her again in the future! (Kit Olmstead, urban fantasy romance author of This Sweet Magic).
Marlies is an accomplished, brilliant and talented editor. I needed a guide to teach, encourage, and stretch me. Her gifts and expertise were invaluable. She is organized, efficient, knowledgeable, honest, yet kind. I have learned so much from her. There were days a story would reach an impasse and somehow she would provide that little insight to help me through the rough patch seeing what I couldn’t in the moment. When I needed to find a story, get ideas, find the words she prompted and guided my way. Her keen eye would pick up spelling, grammar, and words that would only leap off the page after she pointed them out! The best decision I ever made was to enlist the services Marlies provided through Working Words. She told me that her job was to be the liaison between the writer and the reader. I know my readers will be better off because Marlies contributed her time and knowledge to help me with my book Honeydew Melon and Ice Cream. (Donna Klaassen, nonfiction author of Honeydew Melon and Ice Cream: A collection of Stories from Around the Kitchen Table.)
Marlies from Working Words was a joy to work with when she proofread/edited my novel. She is friendly and approachable (so important when you’re handing over your ‘baby’ for review) but she was also highly professional. Marlies’ feedback was delivered promptly and was thoughtful, thorough, and always helpful. Marlies goes the extra mile for her clients. Although she was primarily providing technical feedback, she very generously gave me constructive ideas on plot and characterization. Thanks so much for all your help, Marlies! (Julie Baker, romance and short story author.)
Marlies stepped into the erratically flowing, rock-strewn stream of my creative writing effortlessly, almost as if she had read the story before and already knew her way. Her enthusiasm for my first-time attempts at writing was exactly what I needed, and her astute critiques and corrections, though warm and friendly, had an iron core of decisiveness about them that left me knowing I needed to implement them as soon as possible. I believe there was only one time I disagreed with her, but then realized she couldn’t possibly have known the meaning of the background to that feature because I hadn’t yet written it. Above all, Marlies made me very aware that writings need to be read, and that a writer must be very aware of how readers will navigate the course of those writings and strive to ensure their experience is smooth and the content captivating, even breathtaking. Thanks, Marlies! (Doug Hunter, fantasy author.)
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