freelance editor

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 control
• 05:07 – Finding joy and positivity in the small things
• 08:07 – How our work as editors does matter

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 hours
• 08:05 – 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 call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 game
• 09:32 – How one of my coaching clients realized being booked out wasn’t even a goal for her

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 plate
• 11:56 – Why it’s important to learn to recognize your signs and symptoms of burnout
• 13:08 – My two biggest takeaways from my recent burnout

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 spent
• Getting 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:

• Toggl
• Harvest

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 month
• 06:18 – The financial tool I use that gives me peace of mind
• 11:30 – The 3-2-1 backup rule that you may not have heard of
• 15:49 – A small trick that has been a game changer for me when it comes to decision-making and sticking to my goals

Discussed in the episode:

• The Visibility Method
• You Need a Budget (YNAB) (affiliate link)

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 beginning
• 08:07 – What’s a deduction, and what the IRS considers an expense
• 11:38 – 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 AB5
• IRS estimated taxes
• IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) application

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 2023
• 05:58 – One tool in CMOS that is going to be your best friend
• 08:30 – How to get your hands on my 60-page Elevate Your Editing Resource Guide, which includes 300+ commonly confused words
• 10:43 – A quick way to switch out straight quotes and apostrophes for curly

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 ChatGPT
• 11:43 – Where does ChatGPT get its content?
• 18:00 & 19:50 – My opinion on whether or not ChatGPT is ethical

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 goals
• 13:39 – How many goals should we set for each month, quarter, or year?
• 17:20 – The most important part of this whole goal-setting process

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 it
• 05:24 – How the economy could affect the editing industry
• 09:32 – My wish for the upcoming year and what I hope continues to transpire within the editing industry

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 2020
• 06:54 – One thing I’ve learned from choosing words over the past three years
• 09:32 – 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 call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 goals
• 03:18 – Why many of us skip the reflection process before setting our goals
• 04:16 – How to detach your self-worth from your goals
• 09:45 – One of my favourite questions to ask myself when self-reflecting

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara on Facebook

This week I take you behind the scenes at the Magazine Street conference. 

(You may remember my interview with Nikki Simpson, organiser of Magazine Street, back in Episode 75.)

I share my top takeaways from a few of the many brilliant speakers who shared their stories of creativity, resilience and problem-solving – relevant to all freelancers, not just those in the magazine industry. 

• A cocktail-loving couple who demonstrated the power of listening to your audience
• A brand new magazine creator with a simple idea that's already inspiring others 
• A remarkable turnaround story that goes from Dragons Den rejection to international title and the lessons learned along the way
• How a mountain biking community defeated a website hacker
• How understanding your audience can help you grow your reach
• What we can learn about writing from producing news reports for 9-year-olds.

Vox-pop quotes from other attendees and speakers will be included in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Mentioned in this Episode:
International Magazine Centre: https://internationalmagazinecentre.com/
Magazine Street Speakers: https://internationalmagazinecentre.com/magazine-street/
Episode 75: Create your own conference! (With Nikki Simpson) 

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

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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 values
• 06:06 – Some examples of business values
• 08:15 – How to use your purpose and values to determine who you should work with

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 accounts
• 03:30 – The best way to get your name out there
• 08:14 – How to ensure that you don’t end up on page 20 of a Google search
• 11:14 – Which marketing tool gains you access to another person’s audience

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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-time
• 05:24 – Why I focus so much on mindset at the beginning of your business journey
• 09:32 – How starting my editing business changed my reading-for-fun habits
• 10:45 – Why I rarely post in Facebook editing groups

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara 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 control
• 09:15 – One thing that was detrimental for me in my first years of business
• 11:08 – A huge con that almost never gets talked about

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara on Facebook