The Modern Editor - Editing Tips for Freelance Editors

Tara Whitaker - Coach for Freelance Editors
  • 5.0 (28)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

The Modern Editor Podcast, hosted by Tara Whitaker, goes behind the scenes of what it takes to run an editorial business in today’s world. From practical editing tips and insights into book editing, she explores the real experiences of working as a freelance editor. Whether you’re a fiction editor, a book editor, or curious about the world of freelance editing, this show offers an honest look at the skills, decisions, and behind-the-scenes processes that shape an editing business. Listen in to hear conversations on how to edit books, improve your editing workflow, and develop the confidence needed to thrive as a professional freelance book editor.

  1. May 27

    A Much-Needed Pep Talk For Editors During a Chaotic Time in the Publishing Industry

    I don’t know about you, but I could use a pep talk right about now. Things are feeling bleak in the editing and publishing industries, not to mention everything else going on in the world.  If you’re currently feeling defeated, bitter, exasperated, or annoyed about the state of our industry right now, you’re not alone.  I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge what we’re going through in this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast. Listen in for a pep talk from yours truly, along with how I’m staying hopeful and focused through the muck.  Important Sections: (0:56) The Current (Meh) Landscape of the Editing Industry (4:03) How to Cope With These Challenges (10:25) Keeping Hope Alive Work with Me: Grab the Editing Contract Template Join the Freelance Editors Club

    13 min

  2. May 13

    Should There Be Databases of Editors Who Don't Use Generative AI?

    If you thought I was done talking about generative AI, I’ve got news for you: I’m not 😅 Things are changing and advancing extremely fast, and I think it’s important for editors to be vocal about their stance on generative AI. Recently, I came across something that piqued my interest: a database of creatives who do not use generative AI in their work.  The concept got my wheels turning, and I debated starting my own database for editors. In this episode of The Modern Editor, I’m going through my thought process and sharing where I eventually landed with these databases. Listen in to learn why I ultimately decided against the idea and some crucial questions you should ask if you’re considering joining a database.  Inside the Freelance Editors Club, we do have a directory of members who now have the option to include a tag that labels them as an editor who does not use generative AI with editing.  Important Sections: (0:40) What Are “No Generative AI” Databases? (5:32) Why I Got The Ick (10:18) Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Join a Database (12:42) What I’m Planning to Do Instead Mentioned in this Episode: Freelance Editors Club Member Directory Work with Me: Grab the Editing Contract Template Join the Freelance Editors Club

    17 min

  3. Apr 29

    The Progression of Generative AI and How to Protect Yourself as an Editor

    It’s been three years since I first talked about ChatGPT on the podcast, which is a lifetime in the tech world. How has generative AI progressed in those three years, and what do freelance editors need to do to protect themselves? That’s what we’re diving into on this episode of The Modern Editor. Before we get started, it’s important to note that I hate generative AI with a fiery passion. If you’re looking for a balanced approach to the topic, you won’t find that here. However, I’m also not going to spend the whole podcast ranting about it. I’m here to provide practical tips you can implement in your editing business in the age of generative AI. Important Sections: (2:00) You Need to Have a Stance on Generative AI (3:02) A Recap of the Last Three Years of Generative AI (6:25) What We’ve Learned About AI Since 2023 (12:13) My Predictions For the Future of Generative AI (16:18) How to Protect Yourself Against Generative AI as an Editor (21:34) Communicating Your AI Stance With Clients (30:04) What Do You Do When Your AI Policy is Violated? (33:13) What to Do if You’re Accused of Using Generative AI (35:16) You’re Not Behind if You Don’t Use AI Resources Mentioned: Episode 21: Will ChatGPT Replace Editors and Authors? Mystery Humming Noise Heard Across US States Bartz v. Anthropic Settlement: What Authors Need to Know AI's Effects On The Brain Is AI dulling our minds? BBC Finds That 45% of AI Queries Produce Erroneous Answers Work with Me: Grab the Editing Contract Template Join the Freelance Editors Club

    38 min

  4. Apr 15

    The Difference Between Working ON Your Business and IN Your Business

    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: Grab the Editing Contract Template Join the Freelance Editors Club

    20 min

  5. Apr 1

    How to Navigate Different Seasons in Freelance Editing

    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: Women in Publishing Summit Episode 5: Working ON Your Business vs. Working IN Your Business Work with Me: Grab the Editing Contract Template Join the Freelance Editors Club

    20 min

  6. Mar 18

    A Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Editing Business

    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: Grab the Editing Contract Template Join the Freelance Editors Club

    13 min

  7. Mar 4

    Social and Intellectual Wellness For Freelance Editors - Editor Wellness Series

    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: Grab the Editing Contract Template Join the Freelance Editors Club

    23 min

  8. Feb 18

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

    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 StongSet Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover TawwabRest is Resistance by Tricia HerseyYour Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media by Amelia HrubyHood Wellness by Tamela J. GordonThe Cure for Burnout by Emily BallesterosQuiet by Susan CainNational Institute of Mental HealthCalm app: How to regulate your nervous system and restore calm: 12 proven techniquesEpisode 3: Why Mindset is More than Just a BuzzwordEpisode 7: Why You Need Boundaries in Your BusinessEpisode 26: How to Avoid (or Recover from) BurnoutEpisode 47: Editor Self-Care: How to Use Affirmations in Your BusinessWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

    32 min
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About

The Modern Editor Podcast, hosted by Tara Whitaker, goes behind the scenes of what it takes to run an editorial business in today’s world. From practical editing tips and insights into book editing, she explores the real experiences of working as a freelance editor. Whether you’re a fiction editor, a book editor, or curious about the world of freelance editing, this show offers an honest look at the skills, decisions, and behind-the-scenes processes that shape an editing business. Listen in to hear conversations on how to edit books, improve your editing workflow, and develop the confidence needed to thrive as a professional freelance book editor.

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