It’s the spring semester and, if you’re unhappy in academia, you’re probably dreading facing down another 15 weeks–let alone another whole YEAR–of dealing with administrators, AI, and burnout in general.

In today's episode of Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor, I give you four easy steps you can take to dip your toes in the waters of editing and coaching to see if it feels right for you. 🏊‍♀️

You’ll find out:

🧐 one simple step to get your name in front of grad students who need help editing their dissertation

🧐 how to land your first freelance editing jobs and try them out with just a few hours a week

🧐 how to discreetly spruce up your LinkedIn profile and connect with scholars who need an editor

🧐 why you should start finding clients through your existing academic network

I also share insights on translating your existing academic experience into an editing context and the importance of taking small, manageable steps toward building this new career or side hustle.

Don’t wait until summer, when you’re already committed to teach in the fall, to decide that you don’t want to go back. 😭

And DEFINITELY don’t put yourself through another year of misery because you feel obligated or you’re scared to take the leap.

Watch this episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app to find out how you can start feeling out this opportunity now and be ready to roll come summer. ☀️

Ready to take the leap into freelance academic editing or coaching? Download my free video series: 

https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor  

Links mentioned in the episode:

The companies below are just examples. My mention of them is not an endorsement.

Scribendi: https://www.scribendi.com/jobs

Edanz: https://freelancers.edanz.com/course/index.php?categoryid=3

Editage (now owned by Cactus): https://jobs.cactusglobal.com/jobs

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In this episode I talk with developmental and line editor Ellen Tilton-Cantrell, PhD.

After serving as a visiting assistant professor at a local college for a year, Ellen decided that she wanted a more flexible career that would allow her to be at home with and available for her children. A mentor recommended that she try editing, so she enrolled in an editing certificate program and some other editing courses and got to work.

But the meat of this episode centers on Ellen’s process for developmental editing. We cover:

⚡ How clients find her and hire her

⚡ Two services she offers–a manuscript assessment and a structural edit–and what’s included in each

⚡ How she prices each service and the several project tiers she offers clients to accommodate their diverse needs and budgets

⚡ The deliverables she provides clients that keep them coming back and referring her to their colleagues

Ellen also shares information about the book development workshop she ran this summer, and her plans for a repeat in 2025. This 8-week course and group coaching program helps academic authors to finish their book manuscripts during their summer “down time” by helping them stay focused and accountable.

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

Ready to take the leap into freelance academic editing? Get my free video series on academic editing and coaching:

https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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

https://tiliaeditorial.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-tilton-cantrell/

To learn more about Ellen's book development and other workshops, go here: https://tiliaeditorial.com/writing-workshops. You can sign up for her workshop interest list (https://tiliaeditorial.com/interest-list) to receive an email when enrollment opens and to schedule a 20-minute Q&A call with Ellen to learn more about the workshops.

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This episode is extra special and is absolutely packed with information that will help you get started as a freelance editor or expand your business.

Nicole Halper is a former high school physics teacher who became disillusioned with the bureaucracy of teaching and wanted to have a greater impact, especially in terms of social justice issues, outside the classroom.

Four years ago she took an editing course, created a profile on Upwork, and the rest is history. Her copy editing work runs the gamut from academic research to reports for nonprofits to business and website editing.

The most important takeaways from our conversation are:

+ If you’re unhappy in teaching, you DON’T have to stay–and how to figure out if editing is right for you

+ Once you do find success as an editor, there are ways you can scale your business to continue to grow your income without spending all your time working–and how Nicole is doing this in 2025 with an agency model.

I absolutely loved our conversation, and I know you’re going to enjoy all the valuable nuggets Nicole drops about how to dip your toes in the water of freelance editing and how to build a business that is profitable and philosophically rewarding.

Connect with Nicole through her website or LinkedIn:

Website: https://sites.google.com/proofedandproven.com/proofedproven

Email: [email protected]

linkedin.com/in/nicoleahalper

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

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This week I wrap up 2024 with our 16th episode.

I give you all the juicy stats on

🎯 the number of clients I've worked with,

🎯 the projects I've completed, and

🎯 the top strategies I used to attract a steady stream of clients and start earning $10k per month.

I also discuss my website traffic, email list growth, total 2024 earnings, and what's on deck for 2025.

Above all, I am so incredibly grateful that so many of you have joined my little corner of the internet. I've received so many kind messages from people who are struggling in academia and who have found solace in hearing my story. 🙏

No matter what 2025 brings, remember that you're not alone. I'm just a DM or an email away, and I'm always happy to talk.

Best wishes to you and yours,

Paulina

Ready to take the leap into freelance academic editing? Download my free video series on academic editing and coaching: https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

Already an academic editor and want to up your game (and your earnings) in 2025? Join our membership here: AcadiaEditing.com/marketing

Catie Phares, the Savvy Editrix: https://www.csphares.com/the-savvy-editrix

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This week’s episode will be particularly helpful for anyone interested in working with editing clients in Europe.

I talk with Marieke Krijnen, a political science PhD and academic copy editor who’s lived all over the world but is now located in Poland. 🌏

Marieke shares how she decided to leave academia at the end of a postdoc and how her connections with scholars around Europe continue to bring her a steady stream of editing projects–seven years after she started her business. 😮

We discuss different marketing strategies, from social media to cold emails, and how truly freeing it is to be your own boss–especially if you have children.

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review and share it with a friend.

And if you’re curious about becoming an academic editor or coach, you can find out more by going to https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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

www.mariekekrijnen.com

www.linkedin.com/in/mariekekrijnen

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

Do you need more free time–for yourself, your family, and your hobbies? Have you been thinking about making the leap from academia to freelance editing or coaching?

In this episode, I chat with Tom Smith, PhD, a social scientist who recently took his editing side hustle full-time. Tom’s journey from academia to editing spans multiple countries and reflects the challenges and rewards of forging a new path outside the ivory tower.

Tom shares his story of navigating the demands of postdoc positions–and frequent relocations with a family–while building his editing side hustle. He also explains how he ultimately made the leap to full-time freelance work.

We dive into:

👉 The reality of leaving academia and the crossroads many PhDs face

👉 How to get started as a freelance editor, even without certifications

👉 Navigating platforms like Upwork and building a sustainable client base

👉 How editing can help you stay connected to your passions while offering freedom and flexibility

Tom also offers practical advice on managing imposter syndrome, learning to self-promote, and building a business that aligns with your values.

Listen on your favorite podcast app or watch this episode on YouTube.

Ready to take the leap into freelance academic editing? Get my free video series on academic editing and coaching:

https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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

https://www.dr-smith-editing.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-smith-079293201/

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In today’s episode I talk with Katrina Oko-Odoi, PhD, co-owner of the dissertation editing and coaching agency, Editing Worm. Katrina earned her PhD in Literature from UC San Diego and began freelance editing while she was in grad school. Observing various challenges of academic life, from departmental politics to student behavior, Katrina realized early on that she wanted to have more control over her career and her life than a traditional academic job would offer.

So she and her husband started their company, Editing Worm, in 2011. Over the last 13 years, Editing Worm has grown into a boutique editing and coaching agency that employs five freelance academic editors and two research methodologists who guide graduate students through the dissertation-writing process and through graduation.

In our conversation, Katrina shares her journey from graduate student to freelance editor and fully fledged entrepreneur. Here are a few steps she recommends to new business owners that we discuss in this episode:

🖋️ Join a community of entrepreneurs (even if they’re not editors or academics) to learn the ins and outs of business ownership

🖋️ Assess your level of interest in academic editing and your writing skills and start small, by taking on one or two projects to see if you really want to make this a career

🖋️ Don’t worry about competition between editors; there’s enough work out there for everyone

🖋️ Specialize and establish your niche

Finally, Katrina tells us what she thinks about whether or not AI tools will pose a threat to academic editors in the years to come.

To work with Katrina and the editors and coaches at Editing Worm, go to: https://editingworm.com/

You can also connect with Katrina on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaokoodoi-contentwriter/

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Do you want to explore life beyond academia? 🌈 

In this episode, I talk with Leslie Castro Woodhouse, PhD, founder of Origami Editorial, about how she transitioned from academic life to building a successful freelance editing and book coaching business. 

With a PhD in History from UC Berkeley and professional experience spanning corporate marketing, graphic design, and coaching student writers, Leslie brings years of knowledge and expertise to help academics refine their ideas and accelerate their publishing.

Leslie shares her candid story, including the challenges of leaving academia, learning the ins and outs of editing, and finding her niche as a book coach. 

She also offers practical advice for anyone considering freelancing--from starting small while still in academia to gaining the confidence to build a sustainable business. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

📌 How Leslie transitioned from adjunct teaching to freelancing 

📌 The steps she took to sharpen her editing skills and grow her business 

📌 Why editing is a great fit for academics who love ideas but want to work outside academia

📌 Tips for finding clients and creating a sustainable freelance career 

Watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app to hear Leslie’s story and discover what’s possible beyond academia!

YouTube: https://youtu.be/R5sYKjR01Xo 

Want to start your own freelance editing journey? 

Get my free video series on academic editing and coaching at https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

Links mentioned in this episode: 

The Art of Academic Editing: A Guide for Authors and Editors: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Academic-Editing-Authors-Editors/dp/B0CMJ1B58S

Catie Phares’s Savvy Editrix workshop (I HIGHLY recommend!): https://www.csphares.com/the-savvy-editrix

Poynter ACES Certificates in Editing: https://aceseditors.org/training/online-training

Laura Portwood-Stacer’s courses: 

https://manuscriptworks.com/how-i-work

Connect with Leslie:

https://www.origamieditorial.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-castro-woodhouse/

Personal email: [email protected]

Business email: [email protected]

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

Today’s podcast guest, Lea Popielinski, PhD, shares her journey from academia to an unexpected editing role–with a twist.

Lea earned her PhD in Women’s Studies from Ohio State and began her career in academia by copy editing dissertations for other graduate students. She then transitioned to full-time freelance editing and, through a surprising opportunity, found a job that combines her academic skills with a hobby she discovered in grad school.

In this episode, we cover:

✅ The types of academic editing and how to get started as a freelancer: Learn from Lea’s hands-on experience about breaking into freelance editing, even without formal certification.

✅ Why leaving academia doesn’t mean leaving your skills behind: Hear how Lea leveraged her background in research and copy editing to thrive in a new field.

✅ Overcoming the challenges of freelancing: Lea reveals the practical steps she took to find her place outside academia, including how she developed the skills and confidence to succeed in freelance and full-time roles.

If you’re a PhD considering a career switch, an academic editor, or simply curious about unique editing roles, this conversation will inspire you to open up to new possibilities.

And if you want to start your own freelance journey, check out my free video series on academic editing and coaching: https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

Enjoyed this episode? Please give me a five-star rating and let me know how the show has helped you by leaving a review!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Geeks Who Drink:

https://www.geekswhodrink.com/

https://www.facebook.com/geekswhodrink

https://www.instagram.com/geekswhodrink

Editing Groups:

Academic Editors: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1679310092297801

Editors’ Association of Earth: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442424952497363

Connect with Lea:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-popielinski-41a80b57/

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This week I talk with Molly Mullin, PhD, a tenured professor who left academia to move across the country with her family and found joy again in academic editing.

For many scholars, one of the most difficult aspects of academic life is living in a place you don't like or far from your loved ones. Many of us are not prepared for how challenging this can be when we accept our first academic job, and we eventually realize that our personal lives--family, community, cultural or political preferences--contribute far more to giving us a healthy quality of life than academia does (quite the opposite, actually!).

In this episode, Molly explains how she left her tenured position, began work as adjunct faculty after her cross-country move, and started building her editing business on the side. Eventually she realized that she could earn more money as an editor than as faculty, and she decided to make it a full-time business.

Molly's bio:

An "author's editor" with a PhD in cultural anthropology (Duke) and a BA in history (Wellesley College), Molly specializes in working with authors in the humanities and social sciences (including STS and the history of architecture and planning). She provides substantive editing of book chapters, entire book manuscripts, and journal articles. She also works on book and grant proposals and job application letters.

To work with Molly, go to https://www.mollymullin.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-mullin-phd-86b61b79/

To learn how to become an academic editor or coach, go to https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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