Neurodivergent and Burnt Out? Why Freelance Editing Might Fit Your Brain Better than a 9-5 Job Does

After a Yale University Press internship where a supervisor told her she had "a strange brain," and six months of applications with zero interviews, Hannah Bartlett stopped trying to fit into a system that wasn't built for her.She launched a freelance editing business instead—and has doubled her income every year since.In this episode of the Leaving Academia podcast, Hannah shares what it's like to build a business as a neurodivergent, disabled editor—and why freelancing can fit your brain in ways a traditional job never will.We discuss:🧠 How posting about neurodivergence and disability on Threads became Hannah's #1 client source🧠 The communication boundaries that protect her energy ("book editing is not an emergency")🧠 How email templates and inquiry forms eliminate the dread of client communication🧠 Why her autistic directness is a strength clients seek out—not something to hide🧠 How to unlearn academia's validation trap ("I don't need an A in freelance editing")If you've been struggling to find a job that's a fit, this conversation will show you it's the environment that's the problem—and that you can build one that truly works for you.🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share this one with an academic who needs it.Resources Mentioned:✅ Episode 89 with D. Scott (chronic illness, health insurance, and freelancing)✅ Hannah's website: https://www.hannahbartlettediting.com/**Check out Hannah's website for a link to the Writers’ Self-Care Guide and the upcoming Editors’ Self-Care Guide.✅ Hannah's Instagram and Threads: @hannahbartlettediting✅ Editor's Tea Club: https://www.editorsteaclub.org/✅ ACES: https://aceseditors.org/✅ Beeftext (free PC app for email templates): https://beeftext.org/Want to end burnout and become an academic editor or coach? Go to AcadiaEditing.com/mapIntro: Disability Pride Month + meet Hannah Bartlett1:52 Hannah's path: pandemic college and the MFA plan2:42 The Yale University Press internship3:24 "You have a strange brain"5:37 Hundreds of applications, zero interviews6:59 Landing the first clients: communities and free edits8:31 Why Threads works: marketing that fits your brain12:21 Vulnerability as marketing16:41 Full-time work vs. freelancing while neurodivergent20:42 Doubling income every year (and the AI question)23:09 "Book editing is not an emergency": communication boundaries24:58 Email templates and systems that kill the dread30:08 Neurodivergence as a strength35:40 Advice for new freelancers: community and listening to your body41:40 "I don't need an A in freelance editing" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.