Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor10 Apr 2025

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

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

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

We discuss:

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://youtu.be/E3msjk3TuZQ

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

https://AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

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

https://www.goldenrodeditorial.com/

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

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

0:00 - Understanding Developmental Editing

3:12 - Transitioning from Academia to Editing

6:34 - The Importance of Networking

9:41 - Marketing Strategies for New Editors

12:45 - Finding Your Niche in Editing

15:52 - Setting Up Your Editing Business

19:12 - Tips for Building a Client Base

23:29 - Creating Effective Content Marketing

27:13 - The Value of Offering Workshops

31:02 - Embracing Flexible Work Arrangements

36:17 - Leveraging Existing Skills for Editing

40:17 - Developing Authentic Marketing Approaches

43:04 - Achieving Work-Life Balance Outside Academia

45:00 - Measuring Success and Finding Happiness

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