How a Free Writing Group Turned into Paid Clients: Building a "Plan B" Academic Business

What if your own accountability tool became a profitable business--and academic escape plan?Dr. Nicole Pettitt didn’t set out to build a business. She just wanted accountability for her own writing. So she launched a free co-writing group for women in grad school—and it quietly became a coaching business, with paid clients and real impact.Many academics want a “Plan B” but don’t know where to start. They feel stuck between their current role and the unknowns of entrepreneurship—especially when they still enjoy aspects of their job.Nicole started with what she already had: experience advising grad students, a deep understanding of writing struggles, and a Zoom link. From there, she organically built a coaching business—without quitting her tenure-line role.In this episode, she shares how she turned her Saturday morning co-writing group into a business that supports women finishing their dissertations—while staying in alignment with her values and energy.Whether you’re toying with a side hustle or looking for a sustainable exit strategy from academia, Nicole’s story will give you the clarity and confidence to begin.🔗 Learn more about the BAE program: AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditorConnect with Nicole:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-pettitt/Email: [email protected]:24 – Nicole's shift toward supporting women in academia05:14 – Balancing academic roles with entrepreneurial aspirations08:11 – Free writing group beneficial for community building09:13 – Majority of clients found through the writing group10:57 – Importance of providing community for online doctoral students12:11 – Similarities between coaching others and personal challenges14:30 – Bridging the gap between knowledge and action14:30 – The necessity of community and feedback for doctoral students16:07 – Community aspects tied to external feedback in coursework18:48 – Recognizing that information alone isn’t enough for student success22:39 – Advice to focus on one-on-one coaching first24:56 – Writing group as a funnel for attracting one-on-one clients26:03 – Clarity is key to helping clients execute their projects30:20 – Establishing boundaries between coaching and editing services36:39 – Pricing coaching services fairly based on value offered42:03 – Strategies for promoting coaching services to writing group members48:40 – Testing marketing strategies as a scientific experiment49:43 – Understanding client pain points as core to effective marketing50:53 – Providing contact information for potential clients51:21 – Encouragement for women to pursue their academic goals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.