Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor18 Dec 2025

Marketing as an Academic Editor: What No One Teaches You

🔥 Burned out in academia? Wondering how to turn your PhD into a flexible, fulfilling business?

Cara Jordan did just that—and in this episode, she reveals how she went from freelancing for artists in NYC to founding Flatpage, a thriving academic editing agency and publishing house.

So many academics feel stuck, exhausted, and unsure how to market themselves beyond word of mouth.

Cara shares exactly how she marketed her editing services, grew a team, and expanded into publishing—all while navigating relocation, burnout, and the challenges of marketing to academic clients.

Today, Flatpage serves a wide range of humanities and social science scholars. Cara teaches in the UCSD editing certificate program and co-edited the fabulous book, The Art of Academic Editing.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to attract clients, overcome fear of visibility, and build a sustainable editing business—even if you're starting from scratch.

Resources Mentioned:

Flatpage: https://www.flatpage.com/

UCSD Copyediting Certificate: https://extendedstudies.ucsd.edu/certificates/copyediting

Book: The Art of Academic Editing (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/48uH30u

Want to end burnout and become an academic editor or coach? Go to AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

00:01:00 - Cara's Academic Background

00:02:30 - Early Freelance Experience

00:04:00 - Transitioning from Academia to Freelancing

00:05:30 - Initial Client Acquisition

00:07:00 - The Importance of Word of Mouth

00:08:30 - Marketing Strategies for Editors

00:10:00 - Overcoming Marketing Hesitations

00:11:30 - Networking and Community Engagement

00:13:00 - Challenges of Marketing to Academics

00:14:30 - Creative Approaches to Finding Clients

00:16:00 - The Importance of Niching Down

00:17:30 - Growth of Cara's Editing Business

00:19:00 - Starting Flatpage and Team Expansion

00:20:30 - Differences Between Copy Editing and Developmental Editing

00:22:00 - The Value of Formal Editing Training

00:23:30 - The Role of Academic Background in Editing

00:25:00 - The Need for Professional Development

00:26:30 - Advice on Working for Free

00:28:00 - The Decision to Add Publishing Services

00:29:30 - Advocacy Through Publishing

00:31:00 - Final Advice for Aspiring Editors

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