The Modern Editor - Editing Tips for Freelance Editors

If you want to become a better editor without using generative AI, I’ve got your back. In this episode of The Modern Editor, I’m sharing another tool I’ve used for years to help me be productive and efficient: wildcards.

Listen in as I share what wildcards are, my opinions on them, and how they can help us in our editing.

Important Sections:

• (0:58) Explaining the Pushback Against Using Wildcards
• (4:19) Wh...

Ever ignored a gut feeling about a potential client and ended up regretting it later? Trust me, I’ve been there. After fourteen years in the freelance editing business, I’ve seen my fair share of red-flag and beige-flag clients. 

In this episode of The Modern Editor, I’m sharing what I’ve learned from not-so-great client experiences so you can avoid some of the mistakes I made early on. At the end of th...

Do you pass the mantle or mantel?

In this episode of The Modern Editor, I’m back with more commonly confused words I’ve come across in my years of editing. Some of these might be easy for you to spot, while others are trickier. Either way, it’s important to keep an eye out so these words don’t fall through the cracks.

In case you missed it, listen to part one here!

Important Sections:

(1:15) Mantel...

As an editor, I see commonly confused words all the time. There are the super common ones we all know (to/too/two, etc.), but lately I've been spotting a handful of less commonly confused words over and over again while copyediting manuscripts.

Whether it's the result of speech-to-text software, typing too quickly, or our brains simply filling in what we expect to see, these mistakes seem to be popping up for me lately. I figured I...

If you know me at all, you know I’m all about efficiency and becoming a more effective editor. There are so many repetitive tasks in editing that can steal your time and attention, which is why I’m sharing my favorite time-saving tool with you in today’s episode of The Modern Editor.

Allow me to introduce you to TextExpander, one of my favorite editing tools that doesn’t use generative AI.

Important Sect...

Curious about what my copyediting process looks like? I’m giving you a sneak peek in this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast. Listen in as I share the 10 quick searches I run every single time I start a new copyediting project. 

Something I love about editing is that everyone has a different process, and I appreciate learning from others. This is a glimpse into the process that works for me, so take what you like and s...

What does it really take to become an editor? In this short-and-sweet episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, I’m sharing how I got into the editing biz fourteen years ago. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t for the best reason 😅

This episode is for new and hopeful editors who want to learn from my experience and build a successful editing business. However, I think there are some good reminders for veterans, too. Listen in as I s...

Are you the right editor for the job? In this episode of The Modern Editor, I’m flipping the script and taking on the author’s POV. Listen in as I list what I think are the most important things authors should look for when hiring an editor. 

This episode is directed toward authors, but editors will benefit from it too. You’ll learn whether or not you’re marketing yourself correctly so that the right au...

I don’t know about you, but I could use a pep talk right about now. Things are feeling bleak in the editing and publishing industries, not to mention everything else going on in the world. 

If you’re currently feeling defeated, bitter, exasperated, or annoyed about the state of our industry right now, you’re not alone. 

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge what we’re going through in this episo...

If you thought I was done talking about generative AI, I’ve got news for you: I’m not 😅

Things are changing and advancing extremely fast, and I think it’s important for editors to be vocal about their stance on generative AI. Recently, I came across something that piqued my interest: a database of creatives who do not use generative AI in their work. 

The concept got my wheels turning, and I debated starting...

It’s been three years since I first talked about ChatGPT on the podcast, which is a lifetime in the tech world. How has generative AI progressed in those three years, and what do freelance editors need to do to protect themselves? That’s what we’re diving into on this episode of The Modern Editor.

Before we get started, it’s important to note that I hate generative AI with a fiery passion. If you’re lo...

Do you understand the difference between working ON your business and working IN your business? As a freelancer filling multiple roles, it can take time to figure this out. First things first, you’re an editor, and editing is your bread and butter. However, you’re also the head of marketing, CEO, sales rep…the list goes on.

It’s a delicate balancing act, but one thing that can help is understanding the diff...

I’ve been thinking a ton about different seasons of life lately, and it’s made me realize there are also different seasons we go through in our businesses. 

The ugly truth is that not all seasons in our businesses are positive. Just like in life, it’s completely normal to go through hard times. Unfortunately, it’s easy to feel like a failure for experiencing a less-than-incredible season, which is a nar...

Springtime comes with a sense of renewal and new opportunities that always make me feel reinvigorated. To celebrate, this episode is a re-air of a previous episode where I offered six tips to refresh your editing business. 

Of course, you don’t have to wait for a certain season to follow these tips, but it’s natural to feel the itch to do a little spring cleaning at this time of year. Taking advantage of that fresh...

Welcome to our fourth and final episode in our editor wellness series! In this episode of The Modern Editor Podcast, we’re talking all about social and intellectual wellness for freelance editors.

There’s a lot to mull over in this episode, including the difficulty of making friends as an adult, cultivating critical thinking skills, and why you shouldn’t outsource your brain.

As always, this episode could bring up...

Welcome back to our series on self-care! Our last few episodes covered physical/environmental wellness and financial health. In this episode, we’re diving into mental and emotional well-being tips for freelance editors. 

Specifically, I’m talking about how our thoughts and emotions show up in our businesses and how I process my emotions. I’m also going to share some self-care ideas that can benefit your mental...

If you want to confront your relationship with money, start a business. Have you heard this saying before? I couldn’t agree with it more. Nothing makes you get up close and personal with your finances than running your own editing business.

In this episode of The Modern Editor, we’re continuing our editor wellness series on self-care, but this time we’re talking all things money for freelance editors.

I think it&r...

Welcome to a brand-new editor wellness series on The Modern Editor Podcast all about health, wellness, and self-care. (I kind of hate those words, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important 😂) As freelancer editors, it’s easy to let our health fall by the wayside, especially in busy seasons.

In this episode, we’re exploring physical and environmental health and how we can take care of ourselves in a holist...

Instead of a typical goal-setting exercise to kick off the new year, I’m walking you through some writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing.  Think of it more as a new year vibe check to help you ease into the year.

If you want to set some goals for 2026, I encourage you to join us inside the Freelance Editors Club, where we’re running those exercises!

Important Sections:

• (0:14) Why Writing Prom...