We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tara Whitaker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

This is a very easy question for me to answer: I wouldn’t have tried to start my business by myself. It was the number one mistake I made when starting my freelance editing business. I’m an introvert at heart, and I have a difficult time asking for help. That combination can be a recipe for burnout, loneliness, and stress. It’s the reason why I’m so passionate about helping other freelance editors, especially those who are just starting out. Humans need community, and there are more ways than ever to find your people. It’s exactly why I started the Freelance Editors Club.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi there! I’m Tara Whitaker, and I wear a lot of hats in the freelance editing world. I’m a book editor, the founder of the Freelance Editors Club, a business coach for freelance editors, and the host of The Modern Editor Podcast. I’m also a wife, mom of two, and an avid reader and Netflix connoisseur.

My path to freelance editing was not a straight line, as is common for many freelancers. I graduated college with a degree in marketing and a minor in special event and meeting planning. I started my career as a meeting planner, then pivoted into a role as a web content manager when I realized the hospitality industry wasn’t the best fit for me. While writing and editing hotel content all day in my web content role, I got incredibly bored and started looking for a creative outlet. A college friend introduced me to book blogging, and I started my own young adult book blog in 2010.

I absolutely fell in love with the book community, and I realized people could make a career out of helping create and publish books and they didn’t have to live in New York City to do so. I was sold! I’ve always had an eye for detail, and I knew I could excel as an editor. I had no idea where to start, though, so I put on my research hat and read every website, blog post, and book I possibly could to learn how to become an editor. I’m proud to say that eleven years later, I’m still doing what I love.

I’ve also added other services to my business over the years, including business coaching and creating a community specifically for freelance editors. The most rewarding part of my career has been the privilege of working alongside editors and watching them grow and evolve into successful business owners. It never gets old watching someone achieve a goal or embrace a mindset shift!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Oof, this is something I’m still actively trying to unlearn: I don’t have to know everything about everything. I don’t have to have all the answers, especially when it comes to coaching. I think my perfectionism and drive to always be the best can get in the way of me helping others because I don’t think I’m good enough. I have to regularly remind myself that I have a wealth of knowledge and experience, I have many happy clients, and if I don’t know the answer to something, I can either help that person find the answer or find the answer myself.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020 (and we all know what happened in 2020), I had a serious and long overdue talk with myself on what I actually wanted to do in my career. I haven’t stopped editing since I started my business in 2012, but I knew I wanted to do more. I knew I wanted to help others not have to struggle the way I did. The issue was that I kept talking myself out of taking the leap. Imposter syndrome and fear got a hold of me in a big way, to the point of complete and total inaction.

But when the pandemic hit, I realized I needed to get over myself and do what I truly wanted to do. I needed to push past the fear and uncertainty because I knew I could help other editors. So in the fall of 2020, I launched a six-week group coaching program to help freelance editors launch their businesses. That program then morphed into the Freelance Editors Club, which is active and thriving to this day. It was one of the scariest but most rewarding things I’ve ever done!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tarawhitaker.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taramqwhitaker/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taramwhitaker
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taramwhitaker/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@taramwhitaker

Image Credits
Jessie Hearn Photography