The Modern Editor Podcast

Are you considering adjusting your use of social media? My guest on this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, Amelia Hruby, logged off social media for good in 2021 and hasn’t looked back. Now she teaches other business owners how they can still succeed without social media.Listen in as she shares her journey from Instagram content creator to podcaster and self-published author. Amelia shares her aha moment when she realized that her relationship with social media wasn’t healthy anymore, and how she avoids FOMO when it comes to keeping up with her friends.Disclaimer: We’re not saying you need to get off social media. Instead, we’re encouraging you to take a look at your relationship with social media and make a conscious choice about how you want to use it.Important Section:(2:55) From Becoming an Instagram Author to Leaving Social Media for Good(7:41) Amelia’s Aha Moment(12:19) Can You Build a Business Without Social Media?(18:16) How to Connect with People off Social Media Apps(30:40) Finding Social Media Alternatives(37:34) How Leaving Social Media Inspired Amelia’s Latest Book(54:58) Social Media Advice for Editors and AuthorsResources Mentioned:Hotshot by River SelbyJacqueline Fisch’s Substack article Connect With the GuestOff the Grid podcastAmelia’s Book: Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social MediaWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

If you’re anything like me, your relationship with social media is a bit on the rocks right now. So let’s talk about it: the good, the bad, and the ugly of social media. Listen in as I share about my hot-and-cold relationship with social media, my plan for moving forward, and some reflection questions to help you navigate your own relationship with social media.Important Sections:(2:50) My Hot-and-Cold Relationship With Social Media(5:39) Why I Decided to Take a Social Media Break(15:38) You Get to Decide Your Own Social Media Boundaries (16:13) Social Media Reflection Questions(21:10) What if Your Business Relies on Social Media Marketing?(23:37) Join My Social Media Challenge(27:21) Join the Freelance Editors Club in Going Off the GridResources Mentioned:Opal appYour Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media by Amelia Hruby Off the Grid podcastOff the Grid ToolkitOff the Grid episode with Cody Cook-ParrottWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

We’ve all been there: You start working with a new client and it immediately feels like a bad fit. You might have missed or ignored some red flags that predicted this situation. Don’t beat yourself up; you’re not alone and can learn from these experiences.In this episode, we’re discussing the top client red flags that have me running for the hills. We’ll also go over some common beige flags and tips for avoiding these situations as much as possible.Important Sections:(1:09) Top 11 Red Flags to Avoid(18:06) New Client Beige Flags(21:09) How to Prevent Red Flags(26:58) Don’t Be Afraid to Say NoResources MentionedEditorial Freelancers Association directoryACES directoryWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

Does your business need a reset? In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m sharing six quick-and-dirty ways to freshen up your business for the back-to-school season. But don’t worry, this episode can still apply to you even if back to school doesn’t impact your schedule, or if you’re listening to it at a different time of year.These six easy tips will make you feel reinvigorated, more organized, and get you starting off a new season on the right foot.Important Sections:(1:38) Tip One: Clear Your Workspace(3:11) Tip Two: Organize Your Computer Desktop(4:39) Tip Three: Clear Out Your Bookmarks and Extensions(5:26) Tip Four: Unsubscribe From Email Lists(7:32) Tip Five: Review Your Subscriptions and Memberships (8:45) Tip Six: Clean Out Your Social Media Following(10:07) There’s No Perfect Time For a Business Reset(10:55) Free Course: Keep Your Digital Life OrganizedResources Mentioned:You Need a Budget appWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

In 2021, I took a major leap of faith and launched the Freelance Editors Club, an online community where editors can learn and grow their businesses. I’m amazed at how far our community has come since then, so in this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, we’re looking back at the history of FEC.Listen in as we talk through how it all started, where the membership is at today, and the exciting things in store for the future. Important Sections:(1:27) How the Freelance Editors Club Came to Be(9:00) From Then to Now: What the Freelance Editors Club Offers Today(12:27) What’s Next For FEC?(16:16) FEC Member Wins(22:00) Try FEC For Free For 14 DaysMembers Mentioned:Neva Talladen: Otherwordy EditorialAudrey Hodge: Hodgepodge SolutionsPhilippa Hammond: Philippa Hammond EditorialDeborah Taylor: The Blue PencilRosalinda Alcalá: Word BouquetWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

Ever wish you could hit pause on the day and just breathe for a minute? This special episode of The Modern Editor Podcast is your invitation to do exactly that—with a whispered twist.I’m exploring ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) for the very first time, combining soothing sounds with editing insights for a brief but blissful moment of calm. And yes, I’m whispering this entire episode thanks to a timely cold that made my voice unexpectedly ASMR-ready.I’m personally a big fan of ASMR and have always wanted to try my hand at it, so I thought it would be fun to do an entire ASMR episode. I am by no means an ASMR artist, but I love watching and listening to ASMR to help me relax.Important Sections:(1:15) What is ASMR?(3:43) ASMR TriggersASMR Artists I Recommend:Moonlight Cottage ASMRShili ASMRGibi ASMRASMR Münür ÖnkanThe ASMR DarlingAngelo Shoe ShineWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

Ready to get into the nitty-gritty of copyediting? In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m following up on my most popular episode to date: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Copyediting Process.I’m sharing ten tips and practices for copyediting manuscripts, like how to spell “blonde” and whether or not you should capitalize the word “god.” I hope you can apply these tips to your copyediting process, and stay tuned for future episodes in this series for more! Edit With Me WorkshopIf you want to learn more about my process and pick up some editing tips, I have an Edit With Me workshop inside the Freelance Editors Club. You can essentially sit over my shoulder and watch me edit! Join with a 14-day free trial to access the workshop. Important Sections:(2:33) Create Your Own Copyediting Process(4:11) Tip One: Blonde or Blond?(7:23) Tip Two: Okay or OK?(8:07) Tip Three: Is God Capitalized? (9:13) Tip Four: Damnit, Dammit, or Damn it?(10:31) Tip Five: Mouthed Words(11:14) Tip Six: Gestures and Facial Expressions(12:55) Tip Seven: Searched Terms(13:36) Tip Eight: Google as a Noun and Verb(14:05) Tip Nine: Off Of (14:54) Tip Ten: 911, 9-1-1, or Nine-One-One?(16:21) Edit With Me WorkshopResources Mentioned:Episode 22: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Copyediting ProcessWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

Are you using PerfectIt? If not, I can’t recommend it to freelance editors enough. For years, I let fear and intimidation stop me from taking advantage of this software, and now I wish I could get that time back. On this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I sat down with Daniel Heuman, CEO of Intelligent Editing and creator of PerfectIt, to talk about how this program can help editors. Listen in as he shares about PerfectIt’s origin story, its many features, and an exclusive announcement about what’s next for the program. Important Sections:(1:03) What is PerfectIt?(5:45) PerfectIt Frees Up Editors to Focus on What They Love(10:28) What Does PerfectIt Actually Look Like?(16:02) What Type of Document is PerfectIt Best Suited For?(24:37) How to Start Using PerfectIt (Especially if You’re Feeling Intimidated)Resources MentionedPerfectItPerfectIt Video GuidesJoin the Style Works beta testing listWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

Ready for a quick-and dirty-business chat? I recently returned from the Craft + Commerce Conference by Kit, and in this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m sharing my top two takeaways you can implement in your editing business.Kit (formerly known as ConvertKit) is a platform for business owners that started as an email service provider. I’ve used it for several years, but this was my first year attending this conference. While it wasn’t exclusively for editors, the takeaways can absolutely help us grow our editing businesses.Important Sections:(1:03) All About the Kit Craft + Commerce Conference(3:04) Why Consistency Is So Critical for Business Owners(6:23) Storytelling Will Beat AI Every Time Resources Mentioned:Craft + Commerce Conference by KitEpisode 45: How Editors Can Create Habits That StickWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

You can do all the right things to plan for a break in your business, but coming back to work will still be hard. In this episode, we’re continuing our discussion on taking breaks as a business owner. Listen in as I share three major lessons I learned about my life and business after coming home from a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. This is the third installment in my series on taking breaks. You can check out the previous conversations in episode 33, where we covered taking time off as a freelancer, and in episode 42, where we talked about why it can be difficult to step away from your business for a well-deserved break.Important Sections of the Conversation(0:38) Why Is It So Hard to Come Back From a Break?(2:25) Navigating the Vacation Hangover(5:39) Seeing Work Tasks in a New Light(6:57) Recognizing My Mental Load is Too HeavyResources MentionedEpisode 33: How to Take Time Off as a FreelancerEpisode 42: Why Is It So Tough to Take Breaks?Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals by Oliver BurkemanWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

What does the publishing world look like from a first-time author’s perspective? As editors, it’s important for us to understand the process they go through as they publish their first book.In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m joined by first-time author Sam Vander Wielan. Her new book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy, is a practical and transparent guide for online entrepreneurs.We dive into choosing the right book title, working with a book coach, the editor-author relationship, how your online platform plays a role in landing a book deal, and so much more. You’re going to love this jam-packed episode!Important Sections:(2:00) From Corporate Lawyer to Entrepreneur: Meet Sam Vander Wielan(6:38) Build Your Business Around a Great Idea, Not What You Love Doing(8:27) Behind the Scenes of Choosing a Book Title(12:27) How a Birth-Chart Reading Led to a Book Deal(17:09) All Roads Lead to the Email List(20:42) The Writing Process as a First-Time Author(27:17) Writing From a Place of Transparency(31:46) The Editor-Author Relationship(37:37) The Perks of Being a Second-Time Author(44:37) Lead With CuriosityConnect With Sam:Book: When I Start My Business, I’ll Be HappyPodcast: On Your TermsWebsite: samvanderwielen.comResources Mentioned:Kit StudiosRichelle FredsonWendy ShermanManyChatKit (formerly ConvertKit)Work with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

We’ve officially hit fifty episodes of The Modern Editor Podcast! I’ve never been great at slowing down enough to celebrate achievements, so I want to take a moment to reflect on this milestone instead of rushing toward the next goal. Listen in as we celebrate The Modern Editor Podcast by the numbers. Don’t worry, there’s no math involved!Important Sections:(2:20) The Modern Editor by the Numbers(4:03) Top Five Downloaded Episodes(6:40) How Many Times I Took a Break(8:34) My Apple Podcasts Rating(10:55) Top Two Lessons I’ve Learned From Podcasting(13:38) What Do You Want to Hear in Future Episodes?Resources MentionedWriting an Identity Not Your Own with Alex TembladorElevate Your Business Processes with Akua KonaduBorrow the Mic with Haylee GaffinFive Things I Wish I’d Known When I Started My Editing BusinessRunning a Business During Tough TimesHow Many Hours a Day Can You Edit?How to Find Time to Get Things DoneA Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Copyediting ProcessGaffin CreativeWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

Could appearing on a podcast help grow your editing business? Not only can it grow your brand, but it can set you up as an expert in your field. In today’s episode, Haylee Gaffin of Gaffin Creative joins us to explain why editors should consider leveraging podcasts as a marketing tool in their business.Listen in as we talk all about why freelance editors should pitch themselves as podcast guests, the power of borrowing someone else’s audience, and what makes a great podcast pitch.Ready For More Podcast Training?If you want to dive deeper into podcasts, whether that’s as a host or a guest, join us inside the Freelance Editors Club. Haylee is leading a podcast training in May 2025, where we’ll talk more about pitching yourself as a guest and how to use podcasts to grow your business.(Seeing this after May 2025? You can still access the video recording when you join the club!)Important Sections:(1:08) Are Podcasts Still Relevant in 2025?(10:51) The Power of Borrowing Someone Else’s Mic(13:10) How to Pitch Yourself as a Podcast Guest(18:52) The Key to Finding the Right Podcasts to Pitch Yourself to as a Guest(27:48) Pitch Yourself With Clear Goals in Mind(35:57) Where to Find New Podcasts(39:57) What to Do After You Appear on a Podcast(47:47) Ready For More Podcast Training?Resources MentionedListen NotesRephonicConnect With the GuestGaffin Creative@hayleegaffinClocking In podcastWork with Me:Grab the Editing Contract TemplateJoin the Freelance Editors Club

(Note: As expected, this episode became out of date within 24 hours of recording…but the same overall ideas still apply. If nothing else, I want this episode to get you thinking about what you have control over and help you prepare for what is going to be a roller coaster of economic BS in the future. If you want up-to-date financial and small business info, here are my favorites: The Broke Black Girl, Ramit Sethi, The Budgetnista, Her First 100K, and Ellyce Fulmore.)How will tariffs impact your editing business? In this episode, I’m going to share what my family is doing to alleviate stress when it comes to tariffs, as well as what I predict is going to happen. However, I hope I’m wrong…I’m not a financial expert or economist, so please don’t take anything I say as advice. I’m simply sharing my experience and how it relates to us editors who rely on a steady income stream and encounter expenses required to run their businesses. Important Sections:(1:48) Replace Your Electronics(3:55) Get Intentional With Your Money(6:15) My Tariff Predictions(7:44) Lean Into Your CommunityResources MentionedYou Need a BudgetWork with Me:Join the Freelance Editors ClubGrab the Editing Contract Template

Affirmations are short statements that help anchor you to the present moment. I actually prefer to call them anchor thoughts for this very reason. I’ve found myself relying on anchor thoughts more than usual lately, so I thought I would share my favorites with you. I’m also going to share the purpose behind anchor thoughts. The world has been a stressful place recently, and these anchor thoughts are great tools that help me maintain perspective. Important Sections(1:52) What’s the Point of an Anchor Thought?(2:55) The TEARA Process(5:52) My Five Favorite Anchor Thoughts(8:06) We Have to Take Care of OurselvesResources MentionedWhy Mindset is More Than Just a Buzzword episodeNadia Geagea Pupa’s Affirmation Cards for EditorsWork with Me:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubBook a 1:1 coaching session

Did you read this episode title and immediately check out? Trust me, I get it, but I’m here to change your mind about macros.I came late to the game on macros because of several limiting beliefs that held me back. I didn’t think I was tech-savvy enough to use them, so I wrote them off for a long time. Now that I’ve started using them, I can confidently say that macros have saved me tons of time as an editor. I’m still a baby user, but macros have positively impacted my editing in such a short time that I feel like I have to shout it from the rooftops. If you’ve never used macros before and think they aren’t your thing, this episode is for you.Important Sections(1:45) What are Macros? Resources to Get You Started(3:30) Why Use Macros?(6:30) My Top Three Favorite Macros(10:39) Join the Macros Workshop Inside the Freelance Editors ClubResources MentionedWord Macro ToolsPaul Beverley’s YouTube ChannelPaul Beverley’s blogEditorial Freelancers Association Macro of the Month by Jennifer YankopolusWork with Me:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubBook a 1:1 coaching session

Are you looking to make small changes with big impact in your editing business? In this episode, we’re talking about how editors can create habits that make their businesses better with the Tiny Habits® Method. This isn’t about creating tons of to-do lists and optimizing every second of your life—it’s about forming achievable habits you look forward to completing because they help your business run smoother and make you feel good. Listen in as I share how I figured out I needed to start small with basically everything in my life, including habits. We’re also going to talk about the concept of habits and the habit-forming method that works best for me. As always, take what works for you from this episode and leave or tweak the rest.Important Sections:(1:16) Small Changes Equal Big Results(4:48) The Tiny Habits® Method(7:29) Three Tiny Habits® Recipes for Editors(13:23) Emotions Create Habits(17:05) Tiny is PowerfulResources MentionedTiny HabitsTiny Habits® bookRest is Resistance bookWork with Me:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubBook a 1:1 coaching session

If you’re anything like me, you know the impact that conferences (both in-person and virtual) can make on your business and education, yet as an introvert, it takes a bit of preparation. As I gear up for an online summit, I want to share a few tips to not only prepare for an event and manage your energy during the event, but also get the most out of the event.Note: This is from the perspective of a neurotypical introvert. Everyone’s experiences are going to be unique, and I’m simply sharing what works for me!Important Sections:00:17 - Prepping for a Conference as an Introvert02:09 - Set Aside Time to Recharge06:22 - Set Your Priorities08:41 - Check Your Tech11:00 - Remember Your Manners11:28 - Ask Questions13:21 - Follow Up AfterResources MentionedCMOSWomen in Publishing SummitWork with Me:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubBook a 1:1 coaching session

If you’re anything like me, there are times when you’ve been deep in your editing cave. In those heavy editing times, I always find myself reaching for my trusty Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) to confirm my work. With so many rules, it’s impossible to remember them all, but there are some I check all. the. time. In this episode, I’m sharing the five rules I always double-check while editing.This episode was recorded in January 2025, after the release of CMOS 18 in September 2024. All references made are based on CMOS 18.For fun: Are you constantly in your editing cave? Check out my sticker pack that includes my signature editing cave sticker! Important Sections:(3:20) CMOS Hyphenation Guide(5:57) Glossary of Problematic Words and Phrases(8:01) Titles and Offices(9:14) Commas(10:36) PossessivesResources MentionedCMOSThe Editing Sticker PackWork with Me:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubBook a 1:1 coaching session

There’s an emotional side to taking breaks from work that not enough people talk about. The truth is that we’re so used to working (and feeling guilty when we don’t) that our brains fight us every step of the way. We end up either never taking breaks or taking breaks that aren’t restorative. How do you prepare your mindset to take the break you deserve as both a small business owner and a human?Important Sections:(1:37) My Experience With Taking Breaks(4:35) Rest is a Right (7:04) Rest Doesn’t Cancel Out Hard Work(8:24) Explore Your Mindset Around Taking BreaksResources MentionedRest is Resistance bookWork with Me:Book a free 15-minute callJoin the Freelance Editors ClubBook a 1:1 coaching session