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Artwork for Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor

Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor

Paulina Cossette
Academic Editing
Freelance Editing
Freelancing
Developmental Editing
Book Development
Editing
Editing Workshops
Social Justice
Academic Authors
Freelance Work
Teachers Transitioning To Freelance
Academia
Burnout
Coaching
Networking
Career Transition
Sabbatical Coaching
Coaching For Academics
Website Design
Search Engine Optimization

In 2019, I was a political science professor who was fed up with the stress and hostility of academia–not to mention the low pay. I left my tenure-track job and went from barely surviving to thriving as a freelance academic editor. Today, I own Acadia Editing Services, an editing and coaching business that brings in six figures a year.

In this podcast, I’ll discuss the challenges of academia, wha... more

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Artwork for Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor

Latest Episodes

Burnt out by content creation? Glued to your phone, cranking out posts that barely get engagement? You're not alone—and there’s a better way.

Academics starting their businesses often fall into the trap of chasing social media trends—thinking they h... more

YouTube

Are you afraid to leave academia because you've “invested too much” or feel like it’s “too late” to start over?

In this episode, master life coach and midlife mentor Suzy Rosenstein shares how to regret-proof your life, especially if you’re over 50... more

Why does investing in your academic business feel terrifying?

You've spent tens of thousands of dollars on your education—but when it comes to starting your academic editing or coaching business, you're trying to do it with zero investment, zero too... more

YouTube

“You Can’t Eat Prestige.”

It’s a brutal truth that haunts many academics—but what does it actually mean?

In this raw and radically honest episode, I sit down with coaches Tory Wobber and Jen Polk to unpack one of the hardest parts of leaving academ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Meg Toth
Former tenured professor turned successful freelance academic editor
Birchwood Editing
Episode: How a Tenured Professor Left Academia and Built a Booked-Out Editing Business... in Just 2 Months
Laura Poole
Freelance editor with 28 years of experience working with university presses and journals
Episode: How to Land Steady Editing Work from University Presses and Journals
Jessica Freeman
Small business website designer with over a decade of experience.
Jess Creatives
Episode: The 3-Page Website Formula that Turns Visitors into Paying Clients
Lori Paximadis
An experienced book editor who transitioned from in-house roles to a successful freelance business.
Episode: Want to Earn More Money as an Editor? These Systems Will Change EVERYTHING
Acadia Editing Services
Paulina's own editing and coaching business, generating six figures annually.
Episode: Want to Earn More Money as an Editor? These Systems Will Change EVERYTHING
Bethany Wilinski
Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University and Sabbatical Coach.
Michigan State University
Episode: From Sabbatical to CEO: How One Scholar Created a Thriving Coaching Side Hustle
Caroline Malloy
Former high school world history teacher and PhD in art history turned developmental editor and book coach
The Write Malloy
Episode: The Secret to Success in Writing Nonfiction: Insights from a PhD Turned Editor
Andrew Hodges
Cultural anthropologist who works in academic and fiction editing.
Self-employed editor and workshop facilitator
Episode: Fiction or Fantasy? How to Bring Your Passions into Your Editing Work
Ellen Morgan
Former middle school English teacher and academic editor
Wise Oak Consulting Collaborative
Episode: Can Middle School Teachers Become Academic Editors? Here’s how…

Host

Paulina Cosette
Host of Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor, sharing insights from her own transition from academia to a freelance editing career.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 15 ratings
  • A must-listen!

    If you’re an academic thinking about entrepreneurship, this podcast is a must-listen. Paulina and her guests offer practical, grounded strategies that are useful whether you’re just getting curious or already building your scholarpreneur path.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr_JMac
    Netherlands23 days ago
  • Great and useful podcast

    I'm glad I found this podcast. Paulina finds interesting guests, and the conversation is full of useful info for the aspiring or mid-level editor.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    zachmauris
    United States7 months ago
  • Clinician

    Very informative and interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Farybar
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Great stuff!

    These episodes are full of great content. The host knows exactly how to connect with the audience. No fluff, all good stuff! ~ Nata

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NSPhotobook
    United States10 months ago
  • Essential Listening for Academics Ready to Go Freelance

    Paulina provides such a refreshing and practical perspective on transitioning from academia to freelancing. Her insights into the editing world, along with her honest advice, make this podcast a must-listen for anyone thinking about making the leap. She truly understands the challenges (and possibilities) of leaving academia and shares valuable strategies to build a thriving freelance career. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    emily reagan
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many find the discussions to be refreshingly honest about the challenges of leaving academia and transitioning to freelance work.
Listeners appreciate the practical insights and relatability of the content, highlighting the host's ability to connect with the audience.
There is a strong appreciation for the actionable advice that helps aspiring editors build their careers.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Deep Dive into Developmental Editing: How to Find Academic Clients, Set Your Rates, and Deliver the Final Product
Q: What are a couple of pieces of advice you have for anyone who is thinking about becoming an editor?
I would recommend that people start by dipping their toes in, doing some editing. Also, I probably would recommend an informational interview with an editor who works in that area or works in that way.
How to Escape High School Teaching: Work 100% Remotely as an Academic Editor
Q: Can you tell us a little bit more specifically what type of editing you do?
Nicole focuses mainly on copy editing but also engages in line editing for non-native English speakers and enjoys projects that align with social justice values.
How to Escape High School Teaching: Work 100% Remotely as an Academic Editor
Q: What are some tips that someone can think about to know if they might actually be good at this or this is the right path for them?
Nicole suggests getting low-stakes experience through volunteer work and connecting with editing communities to assess interest and capability.
Fiction or Fantasy? How to Bring Your Passions into Your Editing Work
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting out as an editor?
Get some editing experience to know if you enjoy it and listen to your heart about leaving academia if you're having doubts.
Can Middle School Teachers Become Academic Editors? Here’s how…
Q: What would you say to a K-12 teacher who doesn't have a PhD, who is thinking about academic editing?
Ellen reassures that a PhD is not necessary for success in editing and shares insights on what teachers can do to explore this career.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides valuable insights into the transition from academia to freelance editing, catering specifically to those considering or navigating this path. Focused on sharing personal stories and practical advice, various episode topics address key challenges faced by former academics and freelancers alike, such as client acquisition, work-life balance, and systems for efficient editing. Notably, the host emphasizes the potential to thrive outside academia, promoting the idea that freelance opportunities can be both fulfilling and profitable. Listeners can expect to hear from experienced guests who share their journeys and offer pragmatic tips for establishing a successful editing business.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Daily
2. The Amy Porterfield Show
3. Your Words Unleashed
4. Deep Questions with Cal Newport
5. Heavyweight

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched a year ago and published 64 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Meg Toth
2. Laura Poole
3. Jessica Freeman
4. Lori Paximadis
5. Acadia Editing Services
6. Bethany Wilinski
7. Caroline Malloy
8. Andrew Hodges

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