The Modern Editor Podcast

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 control05:07 – Finding joy and positivity in the small things08:07 – How our work as editors does matterConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 hours08:05 – 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:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

In this short-and-sweet episode, we’re going to talk about what “booked out” means to you 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 game09:32 – How one of my coaching clients realized being booked out wasn’t even a goal for herConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

*Content warning: This episode discusses depression, anxiety, and eating habits.*When you’re a solopreneur and wear all the hats, 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 plate11:56 – Why it’s important to learn to recognize your signs and symptoms of burnout13:08 – My two biggest takeaways from my recent burnoutConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 spentGetting 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:TogglHarvest Connect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

It’s time to put on your CEO hat! I’m walking 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 month06:18 – The financial tool I use that gives me peace of mind11:30 – The 3-2-1 backup rule that you may not have heard of15:49 – A small trick that has been a game changer for me when it comes to decision-making and sticking to my goalsDiscussed in the episode:The Visibility MethodYou Need a Budget (YNAB) (affiliate link)Connect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 beginning08:07 – What’s a deduction, and what the IRS considers an expense11:38 – 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:California AB5IRS estimated taxesIRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) applicationConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 202305:58 – One tool in CMOS that is going to be your best friend08:30 – How to get your hands on my 60-page Elevate Your Editing Resource Guide, which includes 300+ commonly confused words10:43 – A quick way to switch out straight quotes and apostrophes for curlyConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 ChatGPT11:43 – Where does ChatGPT get its content?18:00 & 19:50 – My opinion on whether or not ChatGPT is ethicalConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 goals13:39 – How many goals should we set for each month, quarter, or year?17:20 – The most important part of this whole goal-setting processConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

Trends in business are constantly changing, especially in the online business world. It can sometimes be hard to keep up. 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 it05:24 – How the economy could affect the editing industry09:32 – My wish for the upcoming year and what I hope continues to transpire within the editing industryConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 202006:54 – One thing I’ve learned from choosing words over the past three years09:32 – 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!Connect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 goals03:18 – Why many of us skip the reflection process before setting our goals04:16 – How to detach your self-worth from your goals09:45 – One of my favourite questions to ask myself when self-reflectingConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

Defining your 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.In this episode, you’ll learn the following:01:49 – How to determine your purpose and values06:06 – Some examples of business values08:15 – How to use your purpose and values to determine who you should work withConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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?”Connect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 our business marketing. 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 accounts03:30 – The best way to get your name out there08:14 – How to ensure that you don’t end up on page 20 of a Google search11:14 – Which marketing tool gains you access to another person’s audienceConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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. 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.Connect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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!Hindsight is 20/20, and this couldn’t be truer as I reflect on my entrepreneurial journey and talk about five things I wish I had known when I started.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-time05:24 – Why I focus so much on mindset at the beginning of your business journey09:32 – How starting my editing business changed my reading-for-fun habits10:45 – Why I rarely post in Facebook editing groupsConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 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 control09:15 – One thing that was detrimental for me in my first years of business11:08 – A huge con that almost never gets talked aboutConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook

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 conference07:02 – Where to look to find local or non-local conferences you can attend07:55 – How I decide if a conference is a good fit for meConnect:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubTara on InstagramTara on Facebook