Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor

Faculty Skills = Editing Gold: Why Scholars Make the Best Freelancers


Listen Later

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a freelance editor but wondered, “Do I really have what it takes?”—this week’s episode will show you that you DO. 💪


My guest, Katherine Wiley, is a former academic who made the leap into full-time freelance editing... and she’s thriving. In this episode, she shares why faculty members are uniquely qualified to be excellent editors (even if they don’t realize it yet).


We discuss:


💡 Why your academic skills—like writing, research, and attention to detail—make you perfectly suited for scholarly editing;


💡 The mindset shift that helps faculty transition from undervalued academics to confident business owners; and


💡 Katherine’s real talk about leaving academia behind—the challenges, the rewards, and why she’ll never look back.


If you’ve been craving more freedom, flexibility, and financial stability, this episode will show you how freelance editing can give you all three—while still allowing you to use your hard-earned academic skills.


I hope this conversation with Katherine inspires you to consider the possibilities beyond academia—and to recognize just how valuable your skills already are. 💎


Watch this episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app.  


https://youtu.be/E3msjk3TuZQ


Curious to find out more about freelance academic editing or coaching? Get my free video series on academic editing and coaching: 


https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor  



Want to work with Katherine? You can get in touch here:


https://www.goldenrodeditorial.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinewiley/

https://www.facebook.com/katherine.ann.wiley



0:00 - Understanding Developmental Editing



3:12 - Transitioning from Academia to Editing



6:34 - The Importance of Networking



9:41 - Marketing Strategies for New Editors



12:45 - Finding Your Niche in Editing



15:52 - Setting Up Your Editing Business



19:12 - Tips for Building a Client Base



23:29 - Creating Effective Content Marketing



27:13 - The Value of Offering Workshops



31:02 - Embracing Flexible Work Arrangements



36:17 - Leveraging Existing Skills for Editing



40:17 - Developing Authentic Marketing Approaches



43:04 - Achieving Work-Life Balance Outside Academia



45:00 - Measuring Success and Finding Happiness



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance EditorBy Paulina Cossette

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

10 ratings


More shows like Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor

View all
Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,129 Listeners

The Amy Porterfield Show by Amy Porterfield

The Amy Porterfield Show

4,596 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,742 Listeners

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

2,506 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,539 Listeners

Academic Writing Amplified by Cathy Mazak, PhD

Academic Writing Amplified

108 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,075 Listeners

The Editor's Half Hour by Nadia Geagea Pupa

The Editor's Half Hour

20 Listeners

Your Words Unleashed by Leslie Wang

Your Words Unleashed

43 Listeners

Academic Book Writing Simplified with Jane Joann Jones by Jane Joann Jones

Academic Book Writing Simplified with Jane Joann Jones

8 Listeners

Unicorn Girl by Apple TV / Seven Hills

Unicorn Girl

1,788 Listeners