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.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s really possible to leave academia and make a living as a freelance editor, you need to hear this week’s episode of Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor.

My guest, Meg Toth, was a tenured professor who walked away from her academic career, joined my program, Becoming an Academic Editor, and built a successful editing business in just a few months.

In this episode, she shares:

✨ The moment she knew she had to leave academia;

✨ How she found paying clients—without social media marketing;

✨ The biggest mistakes new editors make (and how to avoid them!); and

✨ How to make yourself indispensable so the clients keep coming back.

If you’re thinking about becoming an academic editor (or want to grow your existing business), you won’t want to miss this one!

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

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 Meg? You can get in touch here:

https://www.megtoth.com/editing

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-toth-38945b1a/

https://www.the-efa.org/memberinfo/meg-toth-40512/

0:00 - Starting Your Editing Journey

1:19 - Navigating Academic Changes

3:16 - Making the Decision to Leave Academia

8:39 - Discovering Your Passion for Editing

10:50 - Finding the Right Course for Skill Development

12:47 - Learning to Market Yourself Effectively

15:06 - Building Your Editing Business

19:24 - Establishing Trust and Credibility Online

21:01 - Balancing Academic and Creative Projects

25:02 - Offering Flexible Coaching Services

27:32 - Gaining Practical Experience with Copy Editing

30:11 - Connecting with Clients Through Your Website

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

If you’ve ever wanted to work as a freelance editor for academic presses and journals—but weren’t sure how to get started—this episode is for you. ✅

This week on Leaving Academia, I’m talking to Laura Poole, a freelance editor with 28 years of experience working with university presses and academic journals.

In this episode, Laura reveals:

🚀 The best way to land freelance work with academic publishers,

🚀 Why networking (not social media) is the key to getting hired,

🚀 How to get your first university press client—even with no formal experience, and

🚀 One strategy that can be your secret weapon for breaking in to the business.

If you’re looking for steady, reliable academic editing work, don’t miss this one! 

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

https://youtu.be/6vupRreuAf8

Want more tips to super-charge your editing business and get the clients flowing in? **Join our monthly membership, Digital Marketing for Freelance Editors:

AcadiaEditing.com/marketing

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 Laura? You can get in touch here:

https://www.archereditorial.com/

0:00 - Introduction to Academic Editing

0:36 - How I Started in Academic Editing

1:57 - Building a Career in Scholarly Publishing

4:12 - Finding Work as a Freelance Editor

5:39 - The Importance of Networking

6:55 - Strategies for Gaining Clients

8:16 - Establishing a Good Reputation

10:09 - Making Editing Decisions

11:15 - Working with Publishers vs. Authors

12:52 - Scheduling Projects and Deadlines

16:09 - Understanding Editorial Guidelines

17:51 - Connecting with Managing Editors

19:34 - Preparing for Editing Tests

22:34 - Proofreading as a Foot in the Door

31:55 - Valuing Your Work as a New Editor

34:40 - Connecting with Other Editors

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

Many editors and coaches struggle to attract clients, and they wind up in the dreaded “feast or famine” cycle. 😱

They create a website, spend HOURS trying to make it perfect… and then get frustrated because they don’t get much traffic or, if they do, the people who visit their page don’t hire them.

I’ve been there and I get it. BUT, I have good news.

There are some very easy tweaks you can make to your site that will make potential clients MUCH more likely to reach out and inquire about your services. And that’s exactly what this episode is all about.

My guest today is Jessica Freeman. Jess is a small business website designer with over a decade of making the internet a prettier (and more profitable) place.

We discuss:

👩‍💻 the basic structure of your homepage and what it should include to have the greatest impact on your audience

👩‍💻 the next two pages you should create and what info you should put there

👩‍💻 the quick-and-dirty details of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and some basic points to consider to make it easier for your clients to find you

I’m so grateful that Jess has joined me on the show, and I know you’re going to LOVE all the tips she shares to help you make your website clearer and more effective–and watch the clients start rolling in.

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

https://youtu.be/qcdgmRUNJwA

Want more tips to super-charge your editing business and get the clients flowing in? Join our monthly membership, Digital Marketing for Academic Entrepreneurs:

AcadiaEditing.com/marketing

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 Jess? You can get in touch here:

 jesscreatives.com

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

https://www.instagram.com/jesscreatives/

Check out Jess’s keyword research video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwLSO60thxI&t=7s 

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

What if you could make more money as a freelance editor—without working more hours?

That’s exactly what we discuss in this week’s episode of Leaving Academia.

My guest, Lori Paximadis, is an experienced book editor who has built a thriving freelance business.

She shares her inspiring journey from in-house editor to full-time freelancer and reveals:

💡 The systems she uses to keep projects organized and clients happy

💡 How to streamline your workflow and speed up your editing process

💡 Why improving efficiency in your business is the key to earning more (without burnout)

💡 How to build long-term client relationships through networking and being easy to work with

Whether you're a new editor or looking to level up your business, Lori’s practical advice will show you how to build a sustainable, successful freelance career.

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

Want more tips to super-charge your editing business and get the clients flowing in? **Join our monthly membership, Digital Marketing for Freelance Editors: AcadiaEditing.com/marketing

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 Lori? You can get in touch at https://www.archereditorial.com/

0:00 - Understanding the Editing Business

11:00 - Building Client Relationships

20:00 - Organizing Your Editing Workflow

30:00 - Increasing Your Editing Speed

38:00 - Investing in Professional Tools

56:00 - Embracing Continuous Learning and Change

1:00:00 - Final Thoughts and Resources

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://www.perfectit.com/wildcard-cookbook

https://www.amazon.com/Wildcard-Cookbook-Microsoft-Word-Jack/dp/1434103986

https://www.amazon.com/Macro-Cookbook-Microsoft-Word-Jack/dp/1434103323

https://www.wordmacrotools.com/

https://www.archivepub.co.uk/book.html

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

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a freelance academic editor really looks like? No filters, no fluff—just the honest, unvarnished truth.

In this week’s episode of Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my $100+/hour workday. From balancing family life to deep-focus editing sessions, I’m sharing it all.

Tune in to hear:

💻 A real look at my daily schedule—including how I balance client projects, coaching calls, and picking up my kids from school

📑 What an actual editing project looks like—from reviewing graduate theses to editing faculty research papers

📈 How I handle the “feast or famine” nature of freelancing—and why my schedule lets me work just 30 hours a week while earning a full-time income

🎯 The biggest pros and cons of freelance editing—what I love about this career and what can be a bit challenging

Whether you’re just starting to think about freelancing or you’re ready to take the leap out of academia, this episode will give you a real-life snapshot of what’s possible.

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

https://youtu.be/5b9fAlK7VyQ

Curious to find out more about freelance academic editing or coaching? Get my free video series: https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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

How do you start an academic coaching business–while you’re STILL in academia?

On this episode of Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor, my guest, Bethany Wilinski, PhD, explains how she started her business, Sabbatical Coaching for Academics.

We discuss:

🌎 how a spark of an idea during her sabbatical led to a fully booked coaching business,

🌎 what Bethany did to define her niche and identify the problem she solves for clients,

🌎 when and why you should create a website, and

🌎 how Bethany has continued to attract clients while balancing her business with her academic job and life as a mom–WITHOUT getting burned out.

Don’t miss Bethany’s helpful advice for scholars who are considering becoming an academic coach–especially her suggestion for when you should start the business (hint: it’s not what you’d expect!).

And if you’re curious about what life as an editor or coach can do for you, discover how you can make this dream a reality by going to AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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

How do you transform an academic book into one that non-academic readers will enjoy?

That question is the specialty of Caroline Malloy, PhD, my guest on today’s episode. Caroline is a former high school world history teacher who earned her PhD in art history in 2013.

After serving as an adjunct professor for a few years, Caroline learned of an opportunity to work as the Resident Historian on Viking Ocean cruises. 🌎 She jumped at the chance to travel and try something new.

In a serendipitous turn, Caroline began taking on developmental editing and book coaching projects, and the rest (here’s a bad pun) is history! 🤓

In this episode, we discuss:

🚢 the differences between academic and non-fiction texts written for a wider audience,

🚢 how editors can find joy in this business, no matter what their preferred niche is,

🚢 the importance of centering the reader when writing a book, and

🚢 marketing tips to help editors attract more clients.

Don’t miss Caroline’s helpful advice for academics who are considering becoming editors–especially her second point, which hits hard and I’m sure will hold a lot of meaning for many of you. ❤️

Listen on your favorite podcast app or watch the episode on YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/-02RpRzwO1g

If you’re an editor who wants to super-charge your business and make 2025 your best year yet, check out my membership, Digital Marketing for Academic Editors:

AcadiaEditing.com/marketing

And if you’re just dipping your toes in the water of an alt-ac life as an editor or coach, discover how you can make this dream a reality by going to:

AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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

This week is a good one, folks. I've got 5 tips to help you GTFO of academia. 😲

We're living in strange and dangerous times. Life is enough to deal with in a normal week, and now the US government and higher ed are crumbling around us. 🔥 If you're extra burned-out these days, you are not alone.

I'm active in the Facebook group Academics Say Goodbye, and I was asked by the admin to write a featured post sharing my story of leaving academia and advice for anyone who's considering doing the same. The post got great feedback, so I decided to share it as a podcast episode.

If you want to hear my full story of leaving academia, head back to episode 1 of the podcast. But here in episode 23, I give you the brief version along with 5 honest, unfiltered tips on how you can change the way you think about leaving your academic post--and make the move if you decide that's right for you.

Keep fighting to put out this growing dumpster fire, but also be sure to take care of yourselves and be with your loved ones. 💝

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to my YouTube channel, give me a review on your podcast app, and--most importantly--share this with a friend who needs to hear it.

To become an editor or coach, go to AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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

🚀 Fiction editors, this one’s for YOU!

This week on Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor, we cross the border between academic and fiction editing.

My guest, Andrew Hodges, PhD, is a cultural anthropologist who uses his academic expertise in studying societies and culture to analyze not only academic manuscripts, but also aspects of worldbuilding in fiction texts. 🌍

After working in academic roles in Croatia and Germany, Andy returned to his roots in the UK where he also gives workshops on writing and editing at local universities.

We discuss

✒️ his move out of academia and into full-time editing,

✒️ his fabulous website and how SEO has helped him attract clients,

✒️ how he began developing courses and workshops, including a Worldbuilding webinar for authors and editors, and

✒️ one of the most beautiful aspects of entrepreneurship: helping you return to your passions and incorporate them into your business.

This episode will be helpful to anyone considering a career in editing, but it’s especially encouraging for those who want to go beyond editing academic texts.

Listen on your favorite podcast app or on YouTube, and please subscribe, review, and share the episode if you find it helpful or inspiring:

https://youtu.be/7kPLS6SB36k

If you’re an editor who’s looking for community support and guidance in marketing, like what Andy and I discuss during this episode, go to AcadiaEditing.com/marketing

And if you’re just starting to think about becoming an editor or coach, go to AcadiaEditing.com/becomeaneditor

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