The Modern Editor - Editing Tips for Freelance Editors

The Difference Between Working ON Your Business and IN Your Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Do you understand the difference between working ON your business and working IN your business? As a freelancer filling multiple roles, it can take time to figure this out. First things first, you’re an editor, and editing is your bread and butter. However, you’re also the head of marketing, CEO, sales rep…the list goes on.

It’s a delicate balancing act, but one thing that can help is understanding the difference between working on your business versus in your business. Today, we’re revisiting one of the very first podcast episodes I ever released where I explain this difference and offer tips to make it all work. This episode is just as relevant today as it was when it was first released, so let’s dive in.

Important Sections:

(1:09) Why is it Important to Know the Difference?
(2:32) What Does it Mean to Work in Your Business?
(3:34) What Does it Mean to Work on Your Business?
(4:08) Working on Your Business Helps You Avoid Burnout
(8:03) The Perfect Balance Doesn’t Exist
(10:08) Time-Blocking Tips
(17:00) The Importance of Accountability Partners

Work with Me:

How to Navigate Different Seasons in Freelance Editing

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

I’ve been thinking a ton about different seasons of life lately, and it’s made me realize there are also different seasons we go through in our businesses.

The ugly truth is that not all seasons in our businesses are positive. Just like in life, it’s completely normal to go through hard times. Unfortunately, it’s easy to feel like a failure for experiencing a less-than-incredible season, which is a narrative that needs to be rewritten.

In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m walking you through the variety of seasons you may experience in your editing business so that you can normalize it instead of wondering if you’re doing something wrong.

Important Sections:

(1:44) Not All Business Owners Experience the Same Seasons
(3:07) The Learning Season
(3:50) The Planning Season
(4:23) The Networking Season
(7:25) The CEO Season
(9:02) The Pivot or Expansion Season
(9:58) The Maintenance Season
(11:23) The Dry Season
(14:29) The Back-End Season
(15:52) The Front-End Season
(16:50) The Burnout Season

Resources Mentioned:

Work with Me:

A Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Springtime comes with a sense of renewal and new opportunities that always make me feel reinvigorated. To celebrate, this episode is a re-air of a previous episode where I offered six tips to refresh your editing business.

Of course, you don’t have to wait for a certain season to follow these tips, but it’s natural to feel the itch to do a little spring cleaning at this time of year. Taking advantage of that fresh spring energy is the perfect way to set yourself up for success in quarter two. Consider this your spring cleaning checklist for your editing business.

Important Sections:

(2:23) Clean Up Your Workspace
(3:56) Declutter Your Desktop
(5:23) Refresh Your Bookmarks and Extensions
(6:10) Clean Up Your Email Subscriptions
(8:13) Organize Your Subscriptions and Memberships
(9:29) Declutter Your Social Media Following
(10:52) Spring Cleaning Your Business = Quick-and-Easy Wins

Resources Mentioned:

You Need a Budget app

Work with Me:

Social and Intellectual Wellness For Freelance Editors - Editor Wellness Series

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our fourth and final episode in our editor wellness series! In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, we’re talking all about social and intellectual wellness for freelance editors.

There’s a lot to mull over in this episode, including the difficulty of making friends as an adult, cultivating critical thinking skills, and why you shouldn’t outsource your brain.

As always, this episode could bring up some emotions. Please take what works for you and leave the rest. Give these concepts time to sink in so you can apply them to your life in phases rather than all at once.

Important Sections:

(2:08) The Social Downside of Working Solo
(8:50) The Challenge of Making New Friends as an Adult
(11:33) What Is Intellectual Wellness?
(14:56) Don’t Outsource Your Brain
(19:11) Our Brains Are Our Superpower
(20:14) Your Wellness Is the Core of Your Editing Business

Work with Me:

Mental and Emotional Well-Being Tips for Freelance Editors - Editor Wellness Series

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome back to our series on self-care! Our last few episodes covered physical/environmental wellness and financial health. In this episode, we’re diving into mental and emotional well-being tips for freelance editors.

Specifically, I’m talking about how our thoughts and emotions show up in our businesses and how I process my emotions. I’m also going to share some self-care ideas that can benefit your mental and emotional health.

It goes without saying that this can be a loaded topic, so please remember that I’m not a medical or mental health professional in any way. I’m simply sharing what I’ve learned from fourteen years of running my own editing business so that you can take the insights you like and make them work for you.

Resources Mentioned:

Jessica Stong
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media by Amelia Hruby
Hood Wellness by Tamela J. Gordon
The Cure for Burnout by Emily Ballesteros
Quiet by Susan Cain
National Institute of Mental Health
Calm app: How to regulate your nervous system and restore calm: 12 proven techniques
Episode 3: Why Mindset is More than Just a Buzzword
Episode 7: Why You Need Boundaries in Your Business
Episode 26: How to Avoid (or Recover from) Burnout
Episode 47: Editor Self-Care: How to Use Affirmations in Your Business

Work with Me:

Cultivating Financial Well-Being for Freelance Editors - Editor Wellness Series

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

If you want to confront your relationship with money, start a business. Have you heard this saying before? I couldn’t agree with it more. Nothing makes you get up close and personal with your finances than running your own editing business.

In this episode of The Modern Editor, we’re continuing our editor wellness series on self-care, but this time we’re talking all things money for freelance editors.

I think it’s safe to assume that most of us didn’t learn about money the way we should’ve and likely have complicated relationships with our finances. We’re diving into how our upbringing affects our relationship with money, how to improve our money mindset, and I’m giving you practical tips on how to run your freelance business as financially effective as possible.

Important Sections:

(2:45) The Systemic and Political Issues Involved in Owning a Business
(4:23) How to Improve Your Money Mindset
(8:09) Money Tips For Freelancers
(16:15) Take Your Business Finances Seriously
(18:00) How Often Should You Change Your Rates?
(19:52) It’s Okay to Seek Financial Aid
(20:48) Buy Back Your Time
(21:52) Three Money Mantras

Resources Mentioned:

Work with Me:

Taking Care of Your Physical and Environmental Health as a Freelance Editor - Editor Wellness Series

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a brand-new editor wellness series on The Modern Editor Podcast all about health, wellness, and self-care. (I kind of hate those words, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important 😂) As freelancer editors, it’s easy to let our health fall by the wayside, especially in busy seasons.

In this episode, we’re exploring physical and environmental health and how we can take care of ourselves in a holistic way. Content warning: We’ll be talking about food and exercise.

Important Sections:

(0:56) Why You Need to Take Care of Yourself as a Freelancer
(3:51) The Importance of Sleep
(9:56) Drink Your Water
(10:56) Eat to Feel Good
(16:00) Move Your Body
(18:00) Fix Your Posture
(20:31) Take Care of Your Eyesight
(22:22) Take Deep Breaths
(23:22) Creating a Healthy Work Environment
(27:00) How to Incorporate Positive Health Changes With Tiny Habits®

Resources Mentioned:

Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg

Work with Me:

Seven Writing Prompts to Help You Ease Into the New Year as a Freelance Editor

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Instead of a typical goal-setting exercise to kick off the new year, I’m walking you through some writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing. Think of it more as a new year vibe check to help you ease into the year.

If you want to set some goals for 2026, I encourage you to join us inside the Freelance Editors Club, where we’re running those exercises!

Important Sections:

(0:14) Why Writing Prompts?
(2:45) Prompt One
(3:17) Prompt Two
(3:42) Prompt Three
(3:58) Prompt Four
(4:23) Prompt Five
(5:29) Prompt Six
(5:55) Prompt Seven
(6:18) 2026 is Not a Race

Work with Me:

The Top Six Lessons I Learned in 2025 as a Freelance Editor [Editing Tips]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

I can’t believe I’m typing this, but we’ve made it to the final episode of The Modern Editor of 2025. Naturally, I decided to use this episode to reflect on what I’ve learned this year, both personally and in my business.

I could easily talk about all the things that went wrong and the goals I didn’t hit this year, but I want to focus on the good instead. Two things can be true at once: The world can feel like it’s on fire, and I can be excited about my business. I can feel proud of what I’ve built and also wish it were growing faster.

I think it’s important to hold space for the good and the bad, but celebrating the good doesn’t mean you're ignoring the bad. So without further ado, let’s celebrate the best of 2025.

Important Sections:

(4:07) Lesson One: The Importance of Systems
(7:00) Lesson Two: It’s Okay for Priorities to Shift
(9:53) Lesson Three: My Business Comes After My Family and Loved Ones—Always
(11:25) Lesson Four: Things Are Going to Take Longer than You Expect or Want
(13:48) Lesson Five: Find Something Outside of Your Business That Lights You Up
(16:05) Lesson Six: Action is Always Going to Win

Work with Me:

From the Vault: Freelance Editing Contracts 101

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Do you have clear professional boundaries for your business? In this episode, we discuss what boundaries you should have as an editor, why they’re important, and how you can enforce them using contracts.

Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. I’m not a lawyer, but I am related to one, and we created an editing contract template that you can use with your editing clients. Find it here.

This episode originally aired on 9/25/24 as episode 37.

Important Sections:

(1:48) Do Boundaries Destroy Creativity?
(3:28) The Basic Definition of a Contract
(4:58) Adding Boundaries to Your Contracts Through Scope of Work
(6:52) Setting Boundaries With Payment Arrangements
(8:36) Creating Boundaries Around Deadlines
(10:42) Boundaries Around Communication
(13:15) Setting Boundaries Around Generative AI
(15:31) Defining Boundaries Around Acknowledgments
(18:31) How to Handle Contract Termination
(19:52) Introducing My Editing Contract Template

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

Why You Need Friction in Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

As today’s fast-paced world races toward AI and hyperproductivity, I find myself wanting to slow down and take a different route. However, every once in a while, I start to second-guess myself. Am I making things harder by not maximizing every minute of my life? Should I be doing things faster?

This is a topic that’s been on my mind for a while, so I wanted to open up an honest discussion about it in this episode of The Modern Editor. Specifically, let’s talk about when friction can be good for our lives and editing businesses.

Important Sections:

(1:42) Does Convenience Drain Meaning Out of Life?
(4:30) How Friction Adds Humanity to Our Editing Businesses
(6:27) Experience Can’t Be Rushed
(7:22) You Don’t Need to Take Friction Out of Your Business
(8:10) When Friction is Unhelpful
(10:10) There Are No Shortcuts to Experience
(12:20) Find Your Community in the Freelance Editors Club

Resourced Mentioned

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Does Your Editing Business Need a Newsletter? [Email Marketing]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Are you utilizing email marketing for your editing business? Unlike social media, your newsletter subscriber list is something you own that no one can take away from you.

In this episode of The Modern Editor, we’re getting back to the basics of what a newsletter is, what it entails, and whether or not you need one for your business. Listen in as we explore a powerful communication tool that can help free you from the social media circus.

Important Sections:

(1:10) What is an Email Newsletter?
(3:35) Do You Need a Newsletter?
(5:36) Newsletter Ideas For Freelance Editors
(7:00) The Importance of Consistency
(8:12) How to Pitch Your Services in Your Newsletter
(11:57) Keep Your Newsletter Simple in the Beginning
(13:36) Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start a Newsletter
(17:53) You’re In Control of How You Market Your Business

Resources Mentioned:

Work with Me:

The Receipts: Here’s What Happened In My Editing Business Without Social Media Marketing

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Is social media marketing the right marketing engine for your editing business? In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, we’re wrapping up our series on social media, so make sure you catch up on the first two episodes where we dive into the pros and cons of social media and how to market your business without it.

I’m sharing my favorite lessons and giving you a behind-the-scenes look into what’s happened with my business since I’ve been off social media for the past month.

Important Sections:

(1:16) My Social Media Break Timeline
(4:24) My Social Media and Marketing Stats Over the Last Month
(7:26) How I Feel After Being Off Social Media For a Month
(14:38) The Importance of Diversifying Your Marketing Strategy

Work with Me:

Marketing Your Editing Business Without Social Media with Amelia Hruby [Social Media Marketing]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Are you considering adjusting your use of social media in your editing business? My guest on this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, Amelia Hruby, logged off social media for good in 2021 and hasn’t looked back. Now she teaches other business owners how they can still succeed without social media marketing.

Listen in as she shares her journey from Instagram content creator to podcaster and self-published author. Amelia shares her aha moment when she realized that her relationship with social media wasn’t healthy anymore, and how she avoids FOMO when it comes to keeping up with her friends.

Disclaimer: We’re not saying you need to get off social media or avoid social media marketing. Instead, we’re encouraging you to take a look at your relationship with social media and make a conscious choice about how you want to use it.

Important Section:

(2:55) From Becoming an Instagram Author to Leaving Social Media for Good
(7:41) Amelia’s Aha Moment
(12:19) Can You Build a Business Without Social Media?
(18:16) How to Connect with People off Social Media Apps
(30:40) Finding Social Media Alternatives
(37:34) How Leaving Social Media Inspired Amelia’s Latest Book
(54:58) Social Media Advice for Editors and Authors

Resources Mentioned:

Connect With the Guest

Work with Me:

Should You Use Social Media Marketing for Your Editing Business?

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

If you’re anything like me, your relationship with social media is a bit on the rocks right now. So let’s talk about it: the good, the bad, and the ugly of social media marketing for your editing business.

Listen in as I share about my hot-and-cold relationship with social media, my plan for moving forward, and some reflection questions to help you navigate your own relationship with social media.

Important Sections:

(2:50) My Hot-and-Cold Relationship With Social Media
(5:39) Why I Decided to Take a Social Media Break
(15:38) You Get to Decide Your Own Social Media Boundaries
(16:13) Social Media Marketing Reflection Questions
(21:10) What if Your Business Relies on Social Media Marketing?
(23:37) Join My Social Media Challenge for Your Editing Business
(27:21) Join the Freelance Editors Club in Going Off the Grid

Resources Mentioned:

Work with Me:

Editor Beware: Client Red Flags to Watch For [Editing Tips]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

We’ve all been there: You start working with a new client and it immediately feels like a bad fit. You might have missed or ignored some red flags that predicted this situation. Don’t beat yourself up; you’re not alone and can learn from these experiences.

In this episode, we’re discussing the top client red flags that have me running for the hills. We’ll also go over some common beige flags and tips for avoiding these situations as much as possible.

Important Sections:

(1:09) Top 11 Red Flags to Avoid
(18:06) New Client Beige Flags
(21:09) How to Prevent Red Flags
(26:58) Don’t Be Afraid to Say No

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

Six Ways to Refresh Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Does your editing business need a reset? In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m sharing six quick-and-dirty ways to freshen up your business for the back-to-school season. But don’t worry, this episode can still apply to you even if back to school doesn’t impact your schedule, or if you’re listening to it at a different time of year.

These six easy tips will make you feel reinvigorated, more organized, and get you starting off a new season on the right foot.

Important Sections:

(1:38) Tip One: Clear Your Workspace
(3:11) Tip Two: Organize Your Computer Desktop
(4:39) Tip Three: Clear Out Your Bookmarks and Extensions
(5:26) Tip Four: Unsubscribe From Email Lists
(7:32) Tip Five: Review Your Subscriptions and Memberships
(8:45) Tip Six: Clean Out Your Social Media Following
(10:07) There’s No Perfect Time For an Editing Business Reset
(10:55) Free Course: Keep Your Digital Life Organized

Resources Mentioned:

You Need a Budget app

Work with Me:

Launch Before It's Perfect: A BTS Look at the Freelance Editors Club

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In 2021, I took a major leap of faith and launched the Freelance Editors Club, an online community where editors can learn and grow their businesses. I’m amazed at how far our community has come since then, so in this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, we’re looking back at the history of FEC.

Listen in as we talk through how it all started, where the membership is at today, and the exciting things in store for the future.

Important Sections:

(1:27) How the Freelance Editors Club Came to Be
(9:00) From Then to Now: What the Freelance Editors Club Offers Today
(12:27) What’s Next For FEC?
(16:16) FEC Member Wins
(22:00) Try FEC For Free For 14 Days

Members Mentioned:

Neva Talladen: Otherwordy Editorial
Audrey Hodge: Hodgepodge Solutions
Philippa Hammond: Philippa Hammond Editorial
Deborah Taylor: The Blue Pencil
Rosalinda Alcalá: Word Bouquet

Work with Me:

Tapping, Typing, and Turning Pages: Exploring the Soothing Side of ASMR

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 6 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Ever wish you could hit pause on the day and just breathe for a minute? This special episode of The Modern Editor Podcast is your invitation to do exactly that—with a whispered twist.

I’m exploring ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) for the very first time, combining soothing sounds with editing insights for a brief but blissful moment of calm. And yes, I’m whispering this entire episode thanks to a timely cold that made my voice unexpectedly ASMR-ready.

I’m personally a big fan of ASMR and have always wanted to try my hand at it, so I thought it would be fun to do an entire ASMR episode. I am by no means an ASMR artist, but I love watching and listening to ASMR to help me relax.

Important Sections:

(1:15) What is ASMR?
(3:43) ASMR Triggers

ASMR Artists I Recommend:

Work with Me:

Ten Copyediting Tips For Book Editors [Editing Tips]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Ready to get into the nitty-gritty of copyediting? In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m following up on my most popular episode to date: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Copyediting Process.

I’m sharing ten tips and practices for copyediting manuscripts, like how to spell “blonde” and whether or not you should capitalize the word “god.” I hope you can apply these tips to your copyediting process, and stay tuned for future episodes in this series for more!

Edit With Me Workshop

If you want to learn more about my process and pick up some editing tips, I have an Edit With Me workshop inside the Freelance Editors Club. You can essentially sit over my shoulder and watch me edit! Join with a 14-day free trial to access the workshop.

Important Sections:

(2:33) Create Your Own Copyediting Process
(4:11) Tip One: Blonde or Blond?
(7:23) Tip Two: Okay or OK?
(8:07) Tip Three: Is God Capitalized?
(9:13) Tip Four: Damnit, Dammit, or Damn it?
(10:31) Tip Five: Mouthed Words
(11:14) Tip Six: Gestures and Facial Expressions
(12:55) Tip Seven: Searched Terms
(13:36) Tip Eight: Google as a Noun and Verb
(14:05) Tip Nine: Off Of
(14:54) Tip Ten: 911, 9-1-1, or Nine-One-One?
(16:21) Edit With Me Workshop

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 22: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Copyediting Process

Work with Me:

How to Use PerfectIt to Enhance Your Editing Workflow with Daniel Heuman [Editing Tips]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 9 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Are you using PerfectIt? If not, I can’t recommend it to freelance editors enough. For years, I let fear and intimidation stop me from taking advantage of this software, and now I wish I could get that time back.

On this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I sat down with Daniel Heuman, CEO of Intelligent Editing and creator of PerfectIt, to talk about how this program can help editors. Listen in as he shares about PerfectIt’s origin story, its many features, and an exclusive announcement about what’s next for the program.

Important Sections:

(1:03) What is PerfectIt?
(5:45) PerfectIt Frees Up Editors to Focus on What They Love
(10:28) What Does PerfectIt Actually Look Like?
(16:02) What Type of Document is PerfectIt Best Suited For?
(24:37) How to Start Using PerfectIt (Especially if You’re Feeling Intimidated)

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

How to Harness the Power of Consistency and Storytelling for Your Freelance Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Ready for a quick-and dirty-business chat? I recently returned from the Craft + Commerce Conference by Kit, and in this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m sharing my top two takeaways you can implement in your editing business.

Kit (formerly known as ConvertKit) is a platform for business owners that started as an email service provider. I’ve used it for several years, but this was my first year attending this conference. While it wasn’t exclusively for editors, the takeaways can absolutely help us grow our editing businesses.

Important Sections:

(1:03) All About the Kit Craft + Commerce Conference
(3:04) Why Consistency Is So Critical for Business Owners
(6:23) Storytelling Will Beat AI Every Time

Resources Mentioned:

Work with Me:

Why is Coming Back From a Break So Hard in Your Editing Business? [Break from Business Series]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

You can do all the right things to plan for a break in your business, but coming back to work will still be hard. In this episode, we’re continuing our discussion on taking breaks as a business owner. Listen in as I share three major lessons I learned about my life and business after coming home from a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

This is the third installment in my series on taking breaks. You can check out the previous conversations in episode 33, where we covered taking time off as a freelancer, and in episode 42, where we talked about why it can be difficult to step away from your business for a well-deserved break.

Important Sections of the Conversation

(0:38) Why Is It So Hard to Come Back From a Break?
(2:25) Navigating the Vacation Hangover
(5:39) Seeing Work Tasks in a New Light
(6:57) Recognizing My Mental Load is Too Heavy

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

Behind-the-Scenes of Becoming a First-Time Author With Sam Vander Wielen

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 28 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000

What does the publishing world look like from a first-time author’s perspective? As editors, it’s important for us to understand the process they go through as they publish their first book.

In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m joined by first-time author Sam Vander Wielan. Her new book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy, is a practical and transparent guide for online entrepreneurs.

We dive into choosing the right book title, working with a book coach, the editor-author relationship, how your online platform plays a role in landing a book deal, and so much more. You’re going to love this jam-packed episode!

Important Sections:

(2:00) From Corporate Lawyer to Entrepreneur: Meet Sam Vander Wielan
(6:38) Build Your Business Around a Great Idea, Not What You Love Doing
(8:27) Behind the Scenes of Choosing a Book Title
(12:27) How a Birth-Chart Reading Led to a Book Deal
(17:09) All Roads Lead to the Email List
(20:42) The Writing Process as a First-Time Author
(27:17) Writing From a Place of Transparency
(31:46) The Editor-Author Relationship
(37:37) The Perks of Being a Second-Time Author
(44:37) Lead With Curiosity

Connect With Sam:

Book: When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy
Podcast: On Your Terms
Website: samvanderwielen.com

Resources Mentioned:

Work with Me:

Celebrating 50 Episodes By the Numbers

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 14 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000

We’ve officially hit fifty episodes of The Modern Editor Podcast! I’ve never been great at slowing down enough to celebrate achievements, so I want to take a moment to reflect on this milestone instead of rushing toward the next goal. Listen in as we celebrate The Modern Editor Podcast by the numbers. Don’t worry, there’s no math involved!

Important Sections:

(2:20) The Modern Editor by the Numbers
(4:03) Top Five Downloaded Episodes
(6:40) How Many Times I Took a Break
(8:34) My Apple Podcasts Rating
(10:55) Top Two Lessons I’ve Learned From Podcasting
(13:38) What Do You Want to Hear in Future Episodes?

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

Borrow the Mic: How Being a Podcast Guest Can Grow Your Editing Business with Haylee Gaffin

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Could appearing on a podcast help grow your editing business? Not only can it grow your brand, but it can set you up as an expert in your field. In today’s episode, Haylee Gaffin of Gaffin Creative joins us to explain why editors should consider leveraging podcasts as a marketing tool in their business.

Listen in as we talk all about why freelance editors should pitch themselves as podcast guests, the power of borrowing someone else’s audience, and what makes a great podcast pitch.

Ready For More Podcast Training?

If you want to dive deeper into podcasts, whether that’s as a host or a guest, join us inside the Freelance Editors Club. Haylee is leading a podcast training in May 2025, where we’ll talk more about pitching yourself as a guest and how to use podcasts to grow your business.

(Seeing this after May 2025? You can still access the video recording when you join the club!)

Important Sections:

(1:08) Are Podcasts Still Relevant in 2025?
(10:51) The Power of Borrowing Someone Else’s Mic
(13:10) How to Pitch Yourself as a Podcast Guest
(18:52) The Key to Finding the Right Podcasts to Pitch Yourself to as a Guest
(27:48) Pitch Yourself With Clear Goals in Mind
(35:57) Where to Find New Podcasts
(39:57) What to Do After You Appear on a Podcast
(47:47) Ready For More Podcast Training?

Resources Mentioned

Connect With the Guest

Work with Me:

How Tariffs Could Affect Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +0000

(Note: As expected, this episode became out of date within 24 hours of recording…but the same overall ideas still apply. If nothing else, I want this episode to get you thinking about what you have control over and help you prepare for what is going to be a roller coaster of economic BS in the future. If you want up-to-date financial and small business info, here are my favorites: The Broke Black Girl, Ramit Sethi, The Budgetnista, Her First 100K, and Ellyce Fulmore.)

How will tariffs impact your editing business? In this episode, I’m going to share what my family is doing to alleviate stress when it comes to tariffs, as well as what I predict is going to happen. However, I hope I’m wrong…

I’m not a financial expert or economist, so please don’t take anything I say as advice. I’m simply sharing my experience and how it relates to us editors who rely on a steady income stream and encounter expenses required to run their businesses.

Important Sections:

(1:48) Replace Your Electronics
(3:55) Get Intentional With Your Money
(6:15) My Tariff Predictions
(7:44) Lean Into Your Community

Resources Mentioned

You Need a Budget

Work with Me:

How Freelance Editors Can Use Affirmations in Their Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 2 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Affirmations are short statements that help anchor you to the present moment. I actually prefer to call them anchor thoughts for this very reason. I’ve found myself relying on anchor thoughts more than usual lately in my life and editing business, so I thought I would share my favorites with you so you can take advantage of them as a freelance editor.

I’m also going to share the purpose behind anchor thoughts. The world has been a stressful place recently, and these anchor thoughts are great tools that help me maintain perspective.

Important Sections

(1:52) What’s the Point of an Anchor Thought?
(2:55) The TEARA Process
(5:52) My Five Favorite Anchor Thoughts
(8:06) We Have to Take Care of Ourselves

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

What the Heck is an Editing Macro? [Editing Tips for Freelance Editors]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Did you read this episode title and immediately check out? Trust me, I get it, but I’m here to change your mind about macros.

I came late to the game on macros because of several limiting beliefs that held me back. I didn’t think I was tech-savvy enough to use them, so I wrote them off for a long time. Now that I’ve started using them, I can confidently say that macros have saved me tons of time as an editor.

I’m still a baby user, but macros have positively impacted my editing in such a short time that I feel like I have to shout it from the rooftops. If you’ve never used macros before and think they aren’t your thing, this episode is for you.

Important Sections

(1:45) What are Macros? Resources to Get You Started
(3:30) Why Use Macros?
(6:30) My Top Three Favorite Macros
(10:39) Join the Macros Workshop Inside the Freelance Editors Club

Resources Mentioned

Word Macro Tools
Paul Beverley’s YouTube Channel
Paul Beverley’s blog
Editorial Freelancers Association
Macro of the Month by Jennifer Yankopolus

Work with Me:

How Freelance Editors Can Create Habits That Stick [Editing Tips]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 5 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Are you looking to make small changes with big impact in your editing business? In this episode, we’re talking about how editors can create habits that make their businesses better with the Tiny Habits® Method. This isn’t about creating tons of to-do lists and optimizing every second of your life—it’s about forming achievable habits you look forward to completing because they help your business run smoother and make you feel good.

Listen in as I share how I figured out I needed to start small with basically everything in my life, including habits. We’re also going to talk about the concept of habits and the habit-forming method that works best for me. As always, take what works for you from this episode and leave or tweak the rest.

Important Sections:

(1:16) Small Changes Equal Big Results
(4:48) The Tiny Habits® Method
(7:29) Three Tiny Habits® Recipes for Editors
(13:23) Emotions Create Habits
(17:05) Tiny is Powerful

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

An Introvert’s Guide to Attending Editing Conferences for an Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

If you’re anything like me, you know the impact that conferences (both in-person and virtual) can make on your business and education, yet as an introvert, it takes a bit of preparation. As I gear up for an online summit, I want to share a few tips to not only prepare for an event and manage your energy during the event, but also get the most out of the event.

Note: This is from the perspective of a neurotypical introvert. Everyone’s experiences are going to be unique, and I’m simply sharing what works for me!

Important Sections:

00:17 - Prepping for a Conference as an Introvert
02:09 - Set Aside Time to Recharge
06:22 - Set Your Priorities
08:41 - Check Your Tech
11:00 - Remember Your Manners
11:28 - Ask Questions
13:21 - Follow Up After

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

My 5 Favorite Editing Rules to Reference in CMOS [Editing Tips]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 5 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

If you’re anything like me, there are times when you’ve been deep in your editing cave. In those heavy editing times, I always find myself reaching for my trusty Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) to confirm my work. With so many rules, it’s impossible to remember them all, but there are some I check all. the. time. In this episode, I’m sharing the five rules I always double-check while editing.

This episode was recorded in January 2025, after the release of CMOS 18 in September 2024. All references made are based on CMOS 18.

For fun: Are you constantly in your editing cave? Check out my sticker pack that includes my signature editing cave sticker!

Important Sections:

(3:20) CMOS Hyphenation Guide
(5:57) Glossary of Problematic Words and Phrases
(8:01) Titles and Offices
(9:14) Commas
(10:36) Possessives

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

Why Is It So Tough to Take Breaks from Your Editing Business? [Break from Business]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

There’s an emotional side to taking breaks from work that not enough people talk about. The truth is that we’re so used to working (and feeling guilty when we don’t) that our brains fight us every step of the way. We end up either never taking breaks or taking breaks that aren’t restorative.

How do you prepare your mindset to take the break you deserve as both a small business owner and a human?

Important Sections:

(1:37) My Experience With Taking Breaks
(4:35) Rest is a Right
(7:04) Rest Doesn’t Cancel Out Hard Work
(8:24) Explore Your Mindset Around Taking Breaks

Resources Mentioned

Rest is Resistance book

Work with Me:

5 Reasons to Join a Book Club as a Freelance Editor

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Are you on the fence about joining a book club? Over the years, I’ve had both good and bad experiences with book clubs, and I currently host one inside the Freelance Editors Club. In this episode, I’m sharing my top five reasons to join a book club and tips on finding the right one for you.

I’d love for you to join us in the Freelance Editors Club and be part of our book club. We mostly read books that center around editing, writing, business building, and personal development. We also read a fun fiction book every December. You can find out more about it and join us here.

Important Sections

(1:04) 1: Educational Opportunities
(2:00) 2: Community and Connection
(3:31) 3: Accountability
(4:38) 4: Reading Outside Your Usual Choices
(5:42) 5: Hearing New Perspectives
(6:48) How to Find a Book Club
(11:37) Create Your Own Book Club
(12:31) Join the Freelance Editors Club Book Club

Resources Mentioned

Freelance Editors Club Book Club

Work with Me:

Elevate Your Editing Business Processes with Akua Konadu ft. HoneyBook’s 2025 Growth Guide

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 6 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Do you see other entrepreneurs seamlessly taking on new clients while you’re piecing together your processes like a puzzle? In today’s episode, Akua Konadu, host of the Independent Business Podcast, joins us to share valuable insights on how you can grow your business. Listen in as she breaks down some of the major findings that came out of the research behind Honeybook’s 2025 Growth Guide, along with key takeaways that’ll help you harness more business growth in 2025.

Important Sections

(1:34) The Quick and Dirty Summary of Honeybook and How it Can Help Grow Your Business
(7:02) Understanding Honeybook’s Growth Guide
(10:03) The Importance of Diversified Revenue Streams
(14:13) Why You Need to Build Client Loyalty
(19:48) How to Use the Revenue Benchmarking Tool
(21:51) How Editors Can Leverage Retainer Clients to Grow Their Revenue
(25:47) The Future of Entrepreneurship

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Akua

Website: https://akuakonadu.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akuakonadu_/

Work with Me:

How to Add a New Product or Service to Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Are you ready to expand your offerings? Maybe you've elevated your skill set and you want to add a different type of editing, or maybe you want to create a product that'll meet more of your clients’ needs.

In this episode, we’re diving into everything you need to think through before you introduce a new product or service to your editing business. Is now the right time? How do you create new products? Then, how do you launch them? Let’s get into the nitty-gritty!

Important Sections

(1:03) Why Not to Launch a New Product or Service
(3:19) Do You Really Want to Create a New Product or Service?
(5:27) Is the Product or Service Needed in the Industry?
(7:57) Does This Product or Service Fit Into Your Existing Business
(10:16) How to Create Your New Product or Service
(13:56) Picking a Launch Date
(15:42) Promoting Your New Product or Service
(19:47) Assessing Your New Product or Service

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

Four Ways to Get Unstuck in Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 9 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Have you ever felt “stuck” in your business or personal life? I’ve experienced this lately, so I wanted to share some tactics I use to help myself feel unstuck. I’m sharing these tips to illustrate that even coaches need coaches, just like editors need editors. I want to normalize the fact that everyone needs help.

Sometimes I need someone else to tell me something in a different way or from a different perspective. I want to be up front that while I’m using these tactics I’m sharing with you, I’m also talking to my two coaches about my situation. I want this podcast to be supportive and help you move forward, but I also encourage you to ask for help when you need it.

Important Sections

(2:03) Start With Getting Curious
(3:26) Tactic One: Take a Break
(4:53) Tactic Two: Do a PITA Audit
(9:04) Tactic Three: Create a New Habit
(11:25) Tactic Four: Try Something New
(14:58) Get Coached by Me

Resourced Mentioned

Work with Me:

Professional Boundaries: How to Protect Your Editing Business with Contracts

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Do you have clear boundaries for your editing business? In this episode, we discuss what boundaries you should have as an editor, why they’re important, and how you can enforce them using editing contracts.

Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. I’m not a lawyer, but I am related to one, and we created an editing contract template that you can use with your editing clients. Find it here.

Important Sections:

(1:48) Do Boundaries Destroy Creativity?
(3:28) The Basic Definition of a Contract
(4:58) Adding Boundaries to Your Contracts Through Scope of Work
(6:52) Setting Boundaries With Payment Arrangements
(8:36) Creating Boundaries Around Deadlines
(10:42) Boundaries Around Communication
(13:15) Setting Boundaries Around Generative AI
(15:31) Defining Boundaries Around Acknowledgments
(18:31) How to Handle Contract Termination
(19:52) Introducing My Editing Contract Template

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

Why I No Longer Review Books as a Freelance Editor

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Should you review books as an editor? Back in the day, I used to be a book blogger (which is now called a book reviewer), but I stopped when I became an editor. Why? In today’s episode, I’m telling you exactly why.

Disclaimer: I am not saying that editors cannot review books. Some people can do both and it works really well for them. I think you should do what feels right for you and your business. I’m simply sharing my experience and thoughts with you, and this is a judgment-free zone.

This episode was inspired by the discourse I saw on Threads about this subject, so I hope my experience can add to the discussion.

Resources Mentioned

Episode 35 with Alex Temblador

Work with Me:

Author Chat: Writing an Identity Not Your Own With Alex Temblador

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

When authors write about characters from different backgrounds, it’s important they do the research to understand why they’re writing the way they do—avoiding biases they may not realize they have. It’s our job to review this work, and today’s guest has created the tool and resource to make you a better editor. Alex Temblador joins us to share about her new book called Writing an Identity Not Your Own.

This is Alex’s first nonfiction book, but she’s previously published two fiction books: Secrets of the Casa Rosada and Half Outlaw. She received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a contributor to Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America, and Speculative Fiction for Dreamers: A Latinx Anthology.

She is an award-winning travel, arts, and culture journalist who specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion, publishing in the likes of Condé Nast Traveler, Outside, and Travel + Leisure, and speaking about such topics at SXSW, the Society of American Travel Writers, and the World Travel Market.

Alex lives in Dallas, Texas, where she runs a literary panel series called LitTalk and is the executive director of Write Here DFW.

Want a chance to win her book? St. Martin’s has kindly given me a copy to give away to a lucky podcast listener. Click here to enter.

Important Sections

(0:38) Meet Alex Temblador
(2:53) Alex’s Writing Journey
(9:17) How to Feel Confident Writing Other Identities
(15:33) Confronting Your Biases to Grow as a Writer
(20:58) The Editing Process For Writing an Identity Not Your Own
(27:08) The Responsibility of Editors
(31:29) How to Approach Writing Different Identities Based on Genre
(39:16) Confronting Your Biases is a Continual Journey

Connect with Alex

Writing an Identity Not Your Own on Bookshop.org
Alex’s website: https://www.alextemblador.com/
Book website: https://www.writinganidentitynotyourown.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_temblador/
X: https://twitter.com/alex_temblador
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@alex_temblador
Enter the giveaway to win the book here!

Work with Me:

Five Things My Kids Have Taught Me About Running My Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000

What do kids and editing have in common? In this episode, I’m sharing five nuggets that my kids have taught me that have helped me become a better editor and business owner. I always say that my kids teach me more than I teach them every day, but I didn’t expect there to be an overlap with my business.

Disclaimer: you don’t need to have kids, want kids, or even like kids to get anything out of this episode. Now let’s dive in!

Important Sections

(0:56) Lesson One: Practice Makes Progress
(3:28) Lesson Two: You Don’t Know How to Do Something…Yet
(6:20) Lesson Three: Approaching New Things With a Growth Mindset
(8:19) Lesson Four: Nothing Will Go According to Plan
(10:31) Lesson Five: Things Don’t Take as Long as I Think They Do
(13:44) Episode 35 Teaser

Resources Mentioned

Work with Me:

How to Take Time Off as a Freelance Editor [Break from Business Series]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Do you struggle with taking time off as a freelancer? When you’re your own boss and wear several hats, vacation time often gets put on the back burner. However, it’s up to us to take care of ourselves.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to take both planned and unplanned time off as a freelancer. We’re going to talk about how to arrange your schedule so it's more conducive to taking breaks, how to work with some trusted colleagues, and how to honor your time off.

Important Sections:

(1:08) Taking Time Off is Easier Said Than Done
(1:43) How to Schedule Time Off and Communicate it With Your Clients
(6:05) Prepping For Your Time Off
(8:50) Budgeting For Your Time Away
(10:47) How to Take Unplanned Time Off
(14:39) Give Yourself Grace and Honor Your Boundaries
(17:55) Time Off Doesn’t Have to be a Vacation

Resources Mentioned:

YNAB app

Work with Me:

When Comparison Helps and When It Hurts Your Freelance Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 3 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Do you struggle with comparison in your freelance editing business? I believe we all compare ourselves to others throughout our lives. However, my hot take is that it’s not always a bad thing.

In this episode, we’re talking about the positives and negatives of comparison. We’ll dig into when comparison hurts your editing business and discuss when and how to compare yourself to others in a beneficial way.

Important Sections:

(1:00) Why Am I Talking About Comparison?
(4:44) Is Comparison the Thief of Joy?
(7:03) How to Avoid Negative Comparison
(8:43) How to Use Comparison in a Positive Way

Resources Mentioned:

Work with Me:

Seven Editing Business Books For Freelance Editors

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0000

If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for a great book to read. Over the past few months, there have been a lot of amazing new books published about editing, writing, and the publishing industry, and I wanted to share my recommendations with you today.

The following books are listed in order of publication dates, and they’re linked to my Bookshop.org affiliate account. However, make sure you check out your local library or bookstores too.

I chose books that can be read at any stage of your editing career. Some of them may seem like they’re for a specific type of editor, but I always encourage editors at all stages of their business to read outside of their specific skill set or preferred genre. For example, even though I’m a copyeditor, I still read books about developmental editing because a well-rounded editor makes for a great editor.

Important Sections:

(1:08) Why you should read all types of editing books
(1:44) Book One: How to Enjoy Being Edited by Hannah de Kieijzer
(2:25) Book Two: Developmental Editing by Scott Norton
(3:06) Book Three: The Design of Books by Debbie Berne
(3:38) Book Four: The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors by Erin Brenner
(4:25) Book Five: The Conscious Style Guide by Karen Yin
(4:57) Book Six: Writing an Identity Not Your Own by Alex Temblador
(5:40) Book Seven: The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition

Resources Mentioned:

Work with Me:

How to Ask for Help In Your Editing Business (To Avoid Burnout)

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker, Coach for Freelance Editors) — Wed, 5 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0000

There is a fine line we walk when we approach burnout in our editing business. I know this all too well, which is why today’s episode is our first release in seven months. After facing my own spout of burnout and still actively recovering from it, I knew I had to ask for help in my business and it has made all the difference. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a little about that journey and what you should consider if you’re ready to ask for help!

Important Sections of the Conversation:

1:04 - Discussing Burnout and Recovery

3:58 - The Importance of Asking for Help

6:40 - Tips for Delegating and Hiring Help

16:19 - Personal Life and Final Thoughts

Mentioned in This Episode:

Work with Me:

Running an Editing Business During Tough Times

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 1 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

With so much turmoil going on in the world, it can be hard to stay focused and find the motivation to continue with business as usual. Recently, I’ve often found myself asking, What’s the point? Who cares where this Oxford comma goes? None of this matters when atrocities are happening every day. We can feel helpless and hopeless. So, how do we keep moving forward?

In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things that I’m doing to help me move forward every day. A few highlights from today’s episode are:

04:11 – Remembering the things we can control
05:07 – Finding joy and positivity in the small things
08:07 – How our work as editors does matter

Connect:

How Many Hours a Day Can A Freelance Editor Work?

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000

As a coach for freelance editors, one of the most common questions I get asked is about how many hours a day editors should be editing. And the answer is one of my favorites—it depends!

In this episode, we’ll dive into specific questions you need to ask yourself that’ll help you figure out how many hours you should be editing in a day. Because (surprise, surprise!) it varies greatly for everyone. Here are some highlights below:

03:49 – Looking at what a typical workday looks like for you, including downtime, interruptions, and caregiving requirements, and how they’ll play a factor in your editing hours
08:05 – One question that may seem funny and irrelevant but is super important!
16:01 – How you can use your editing hours to help determine your editing rate

*Disclaimer: The math I attempted in this episode makes zero sense. I’m an editor, not a mathematician 🤣

Connect:

What Does “Booked Out” Really Mean for Freelance Editors?

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Are you booked out in your editing business? In this short-and-sweet episode, we’re going to talk about what “booked out” means to you as a freelance editor and if it’s something you even want to work toward (it might not be!). I want to stress that being booked out is not bad or wrong. And for anyone new here, when one of us succeeds, we all succeed!In this episode, I’ll touch on the following:

03:20 – What does being “booked out” mean?
04:05 – Why it doesn’t help to play the comparison game
09:32 – How one of my coaching clients realized being booked out wasn’t even a goal for her

Connect:

How to Avoid (or Recover From) Burnout in Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 9 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000

*Content warning: This episode discusses depression, anxiety, and eating habits.*

When you’re a freelance editor and wear all the hats in your editing business, you can get too much on your plate very quickly. It accumulates fast, sneaks up on you, and suddenly you’re stretched way too thin. Your energy, motivation, and capacity quite literally burn out.

In this episode, I talk about my recent experience with burnout, some warning signs and symptoms to look out for, and provide you with some tips that helped me return to my version of normal. You’ll hear the following:

03:23 – Why I ignored the signs and kept adding to my plate
11:56 – Why it’s important to learn to recognize your signs and symptoms of burnout
13:08 – My two biggest takeaways from my recent burnout

Connect:

How to Find Time to Get Things Done as a Freelance Editor

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

It’s the million-dollar question: Where does all our time go? To help answer that question, I’m going to walk you through my process for figuring out where our time goes, what we spend our time doing, and how we can “earn” some of our time back.

Here’s what we’re going to cover:

What’s a time audit, and how I use it to see where my time is spent
Getting real with the results of your time audit. Is this really how you want to be spending your time?
How a time audit can help you discover areas you can redistribute your time

Discussed in this episode:

Connect:

How to Review and Reset Your Editing Business Every Month

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 14:20:00 +0000

Are you constantly moving in your editing business and forgetting to take the time to reset? It’s time to put on your CEO hat so that you actually review your business as a freelance editor! Listen in as I walk you through my monthly process of how I review my business in order to stay organized and wrap up each month.

We’re going to cover a lot in this episode, but keep an eye out for these highlights:

02:37 – How I ensure that a particular CEO task gets done every month
06:18 – The financial tool I use that gives me peace of mind
11:30 – The 3-2-1 backup rule that you may not have heard of
15:49 – A small trick that has been a game changer for me when it comes to decision-making and sticking to my goals

Discussed in the episode:

Connect:

Common Business Expenses for Freelance Editors

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Tax season—that time of year dreaded by most. And while filing your taxes as a freelance business owner is a much different ball game than doing them as a W2 employee, if you get organized, stay organized, and follow my tips, tax time will go smoother than you think.

In this episode, you’ll learn the following:

04:37 – My number one tip to keep your finances organized from the beginning
08:07 – What’s a deduction, and what the IRS considers an expense
11:38 – A surprising expense that can be deducted from your taxes if you work from home (I had no idea!)
15:43 – Books are considered a business expense?! (Use your common sense and good judgment and ask your accountant first)

Discussed in the episode:

Connect:

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Copyediting Process in My Editing Business [Editing Workflow]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 1 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

It’s always helpful to get a glimpse into how others approach their editing projects. No two editors are the same, and there isn’t one right way to get the job done. So whether it’s for new tips, things you haven’t thought of, or just to make your process more efficient, I’m sharing ten prechecks I do at the beginning of every copyediting project I take on.

In this episode, you’ll learn the following:

03:35 – The number one rule I check for and we should all be following in 2023
05:58 – One tool in CMOS that is going to be your best friend
08:30 – How to get your hands on my 60-page Elevate Your Editing Resource Guide, which includes 300+ commonly confused words
10:43 – A quick way to switch out straight quotes and apostrophes for curly

Connect:

Will ChatGPT and AI Replace Book Editors and Authors?

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Whenever a new type of technology emerges, there’s always an initial surge of panic, followed closely by people worrying it’ll take over their jobs and their livelihoods are in jeopardy. Usually, once the panic has worn off, we can see a little clearer and be able to do our due diligence and learn more about the new trend.

Some juicy highlights from the episode are below:

04:55 – What the heck is ChatGPT?
07:58 – What can we use ChatGPT for?
10:19 – The outline for a romance novel created by ChatGPT
11:43 – Where does ChatGPT get its content?
18:00 & 19:50 – My opinion on whether or not ChatGPT is ethical

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Goal-Setting Part 2: Strategy and Process for Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 1 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

As a follow-up to Episode 17, Goal-Setting Part 1: Reflection, this episode will take you through my process of creating intentional goals but with a slight twist (hint: it’s not actually about the goals).⁠ I’ve found this process incredibly effective, and it’s completely changed how I approach goal-setting in my editing business. My hope is that these tips will take the ick out of goal-setting and perhaps even make it fun.

In this episode, we’re going to discuss some of the following:

07:47 – How I use the Wheel of Life to help me set goals
13:39 – How many goals should we set for each month, quarter, or year?
17:20 – The most important part of this whole goal-setting process

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2023 Predictions for the Freelance Editing Industry (From a Freelance Editor)

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Trends in business are constantly changing, especially in the online business world and in freelance editing. It can sometimes be hard to keep up as a freelance editor. Based on current trends I’m seeing in the editing industry, I’ve created a short list of my predictions and hopes for freelance editors for 2023 and what you can expect to see more (or less) of.

In this episode, you’ll learn the following:

01:46 – What is the “cozy web” and how the Freelance Editors Club is part of it
05:24 – How the economy could affect the editing industry
09:32 – My wish for the upcoming year and what I hope continues to transpire within the editing industry

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How Choosing a Word of the Year Can Help Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 4 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Around the end of every year, this buzz phrase starts getting tossed around in abundance: “word of the year.” If you’ve never heard this buzz phrase before and are starting to freak out, don’t sweat!

In this episode, I talk all about choosing a word (or words), why it can be important for your business, and how to do it in a way that will actually help you reach your goals.

Check out some highlights below:

02:57 – How I coincidentally chose the word “community” for the year 2020
06:54 – One thing I’ve learned from choosing words over the past three years
09:32 – Why having a word of the year helps me make big decisions in my business (and how I came to this realization)
16:43 – Why it’s imperative to write your words everywhere!

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Goal-Setting Part 1: Reflection in Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Reflection, no matter when it’s done, is an important tool when it comes to prioritizing and setting goals. After reviewing the reflection process, I share some thought-provoking questions to help you pause, reflect, and analyze before you start setting new goals. Grab a pen and paper for this episode!

In this episode, we’ll talk about the following:

01:50 – Why there’s no perfect time to reflect or set goals
03:18 – Why many of us skip the reflection process before setting our goals
04:16 – How to detach your self-worth from your goals
09:45 – One of my favourite questions to ask myself when self-reflecting

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How to Simplify Your Decision-Making Process as a Freelance Editor

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Defining your editing business’s purpose and values will make your decisions that much easier to come to terms with. Your purpose and values are two key components in making business decisions and keeping your goals in alignment with what you truly hold dear as a freelance editor.

In this episode, you’ll learn the following:

01:49 – How to determine your purpose and values
06:06 – Some examples of business values
08:15 – How to use your purpose and values to determine who you should work with

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The Power of “Why?” for Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The number of decisions we have to make daily seems to keep going up…and up…and up…

So in this episode, we’re talking about the one simple question you can ask yourself to help you stay intentional in your business and your life. We’re channeling our inner three-year-old today and learning to ask ourselves “Why?”

Here are a few things you’ll hear in the episode:

03:11 – How asking ourselves “Why?” can help us decide when we should act on our ideas.
06:33 – If you’re considering adding a new service to your roster, you may want to try this first.
07:45 – How to prevent getting irritated with all the “Whys?”

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11 Ways to Market Your Editing Business Outside of Social Media [Marketing]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 8 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

With the growing instability of social media platforms, it’s become even more apparent than ever that we shouldn’t rely solely on social media for marketing our editing business. There are many ways to market your business outside of social media, and we’re going to look at eleven ways to market your freelance editing business.

In this episode, you’ll learn the following:

01:34 – A friendly reminder that we don’t own our social media accounts
03:30 – The best way to get your name out there
08:14 – How to ensure that you don’t end up on page 20 of a Google search
11:14 – Which marketing tool gains you access to another person’s audience

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10 Things I've Learned After 10 Years in Business as a Freelance Editor

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

It’s my anniversary month (October 2022)! This month marks ten years I’ve been in business as a freelance editor. Ten years! To celebrate, I’m doing a podcast series on lessons I’ve learned, pulling back the curtain on the freelance editing industry, and sharing all the things—the good, the bad, and everything in between. So, grab a coffee (or whatever your favorite beverage is) and let’s jump right in!

We’re going to look at ten things I’ve learned over the last ten years in business as a freelance editor. It was interesting to reflect on my business, see how far I’ve come, and acknowledge all that I’ve learned. My first lesson for you: don’t wait ten years to sit down and look at your journey!

In this episode, you’ll hear me talk about the following:

02:28 – How procrasti-learning might be stopping you from succeeding.
05:00 – Why I focus so much on thoughtwork and mindset in my coaching and the Freelance Editors Club.
07:15 – There’s a big difference between an explanation and an excuse. I’ll give a sneak peek into how to tell the difference.
13:10 – Just because we fail at something doesn’t mean we’re a failure.

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5 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started My Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Hindsight is 20/20, and this couldn’t be truer as I reflect on my entrepreneurial journey running an editing business. Listen in as I share five things I wish I had known when I started as a freelance editor.

In this episode, I’m diving into the following:

01:46 – The number one thing I wish I would have done BEFORE starting my business full-time
05:24 – Why I focus so much on mindset at the beginning of your business journey
09:32 – How starting my editing business changed my reading-for-fun habits
10:45 – Why I rarely post in Facebook editing groups

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The Best (and Worst) Things About Freelance Editing

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 4 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

We see a lot of business owners talk about what it’s like to run your own business. This is fantastic, but these anecdotes often swing one of two ways—they’re either super positive and make being a CEO of your own business look easy as pie, or they’re completely negative and only talk about the hardships. In reality, owning your business is a little of both.

In this episode, you’ll hear about the following:

03:37 – The many ways in which owning your own business gives you back control
09:15 – One thing that was detrimental for me in my first years of business
11:08 – A huge con that almost never gets talked about

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Are Editing Conferences Worth It for Your Editing Business?

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

I attended the ACES Accelerate conference for editors, and it got me thinking about whether or not attending editing conferences (or business conferences in general) is beneficial for your business. The short answer is: absolutely! Of course, there are many variables at play for every individual and why you may or may not be able to attend a conference. However, with the pandemic and the rise of virtual conferences, they may be more accessible to you than you think!

In this episode, we’ll talk more about the different variables and why I think attending a conference will benefit you and your business. We’ll dive into these topics:

02:58 – One of my favorite things about attending an editing conference
07:02 – Where to look to find local or non-local conferences you can attend
07:55 – How I decide if a conference is a good fit for me

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A Balancing Act: Time vs. Money in Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

How do we know when we should be investing our time to accomplish a task or investing our money to have someone else complete it for us? Since we can always make more money, but we can’t make more time (at least as far as I know), we often hear that we should invest our money in order to save time. BUT this isn’t always possible for everyone.

In this episode, we’ll talk about the following:

04:50 – Paying with our time when starting our businesses
09:37 – The one thing that you can never outsource
10:04 – Indicators that let you know it’s time to let the experts handle it
12:19 – Ideas of tasks you can outsource in your business

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How to Embrace Your Freelance Editing Journey

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

It’s so easy to get caught up in the comparison game when starting and running a business—whether it’s comparing our beginning to someone else’s middle or feeling like we should be running our business in a way that aligns with how others are running theirs. We have to remind ourselves that everyone is different, and each person is on their own path. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, I’d love to see more of us congratulating others for their success and lifting others who may need more support.

In this short-and-sweet episode, we’ll talk about the following:

01:46 – Why the highlight reels on social media are not real life
05:24 – The similarity between our journey and books
09:32 – The magical hack to starting a business (hint: there isn’t one!)

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Why You Need Boundaries in Your Editing Business

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

When we think of boundaries, we often think of borders, gates, or walls—something to keep people out. But when it comes to our business or personal lives, boundaries are more of a safety net—something to protect us, our businesses, and our reputations. We need to have clear boundaries that set the expectations within our business. If we let these boundaries go unenforced (and let too many people cross them), this can lead to burnout, resentment, and potentially the loss of client relationships.

In this episode, we talk about what boundaries are, why they’re important, and how to enforce them.

Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll hear:

02:08 – What exactly are boundaries?
04:42 – My favorite quote that hit me right in the gut while I was experiencing burnout
06:52 – Why boundaries can be so difficult to enforce
08:14 – How boundaries left unenforced is really just a form of disrespecting yourself…and how I learned this lesson the hard way
11:38 – Examples of specific boundaries you can start setting in your business TODAY

Resources Discussed in This Episode:

Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab (affiliate link)

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The Stories We Tell Ourselves

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

As we grow up, we internalize certain stories about ourselves. I’m too short. I’m not creative. I can’t start a business because I’m not smart enough. I’m too loud. I’m bad at networking because I’m too introverted. In actuality, these are just thoughts and beliefs that we’ve said to ourselves so many times that we don’t even think about them anymore. We just accept them as fact. But are they true? How do we determine whether we should believe them or not? And if they aren’t true, how do we rewrite the story?

In this episode, we’ll chat about the following:

02:03 – What are these “stories” we tell ourselves
04:35 – Something I experienced too often when I worked in the corporate world, which contributed to one of my stories
08:04 – Indicators that help you determine whether or not a story is true for you
12:34 – My tried-and-true method for rewriting the story you’re telling yourself

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Working ON Your Editing Business vs. Working IN It as a Freelance Editor

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Freelancers wear many hats—we’re the accountant, the marketer, the employee, and the CEO. In order to be able to manage each of these positions (and maintain our mental health), it’s important we know how to work both *on* and *in* our businesses. I talk about the differences between each and why they’re important, plus I share my tips on how to maintain “balance” at any stage of your business.

In this episode, you’ll learn the following:

02:05 – What working *in* your business is all about
04:48 – Why working *on* your business is the key to long-term success
07:15 – My one challenge for you TODAY that takes no longer than 5 minutes
10:17 – Get a sneak peek into how I timeblock my days
15:29 – *BONUS* My new favorite timeblocking term

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Say What? Words to Think Twice About Before Using as a Freelance Editor [Editing Tips]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Tue, 9 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Words are powerful, and the words we use affect others. As a modern editor, it’s our responsibility to stay educated on current language trends—not only to best assist our clients, but also when advertising our business and for use in our everyday lives.

In this episode, we’ll talk about the following:

03:25 – Three words that set unrealistic expectations in the editing industry
06:39 – Why I don’t believe in the phrase “Charge what you’re worth”
08:27 – My alternative to using the very harmful grammar N*zi (among other words and phrases that are not just problematic but hurtful to others)

Resources Discussed in This Episode:

The Editing Podcast: Why editing is NOT about being “a bit OCD”

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Why Mindset is More Than Just a Buzzword for Freelance Editors

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Mon, 1 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

We’re talking about one of my favorite things to talk about when discussing business. And that is MINDSET! When I first started my business 10 years ago, mindset was not even a blip on my radar. No one was talking about it. And if they had talked about it, I would’ve thought it was ridiculous. I would have thought mindset has nothing to do with running a business. How wrong was I! Nowadays, mindset has become a bit of a buzzword—it’s everywhere you look. But I’m here to tell you why there are valid reasons it has become so popular and why it needs to be the foundation of your business.

In this episode, we’re going to talk about the following:

02:21 – What mindset is and isn’t
05:46 – Why mindset is super important when starting and running your business
08:23 – My favorite—the TEARA process! What it is and how to use it to shift your mindset
13:14 – I’ll walk you through an example of the TEARA process so you can start implementing it TODAY

Resources Discussed in This Episode:

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3 Tips for Finding Freelance Editing Education [How to Edit Books]

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

So you’ve decided that this freelance editing journey is something you want to pursue. Where do you start? What do you need to learn on how to edit books? And for those who have been editing for a while—how do you elevate your skills? There is no one way to become a freelance editor, but I do have recommendations on where to find quality education and how to vet the organizations and educators you choose to learn from.

In this episode, you’ll learn the following:

01:46 – One of the most important things you need to have as an editor (Pst! It’s not a master’s degree!)
05:24 – Where to look for editing education
09:32 – The vetting process I use to ensure I’m receiving quality education

Resources Discussed in This Episode:

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Welcome to The Modern Editor Podcast for Freelance Editors!

tara@tarawhitaker.com (Tara Whitaker) — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the very first episode of The Modern Editor Podcast!

Have you ever thought of becoming a freelance editor? Wondering what it takes to start your own editing business? Perhaps you’ve started your editing journey but are missing a key component—community! If any of this sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

In my new podcast, The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m talking about all things relating to business, mindset, coaching, how our values and our ethics dictate how we run our businesses, trends in the editing industry, marketing strategies, and current events that are applicable to editing, publishing, and working with authors. There will be guest interviews with other editors and professionals. And, of course, we’ll talk about editing tips and best practices.

In this episode, you’ll learn the following:

01:25 – Who am I, how did I get started as an editor, and what I’m up to now
06:05 – Why I decided to create The Modern Editor Podcast
10:55 – What is a “modern” editor?
12:01 and 15:39 – How I’m slashing the age-old stereotypes and busting down the gates to ensure that editing and publishing are accessible to every person who wishes to be a part of it

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