The Free Lancer Podcast: Surviving Publishing Without Burning Out or Selling Out
The Free Lancer is a show discussing all things publishing through a queer, social justice lens. It’s for authors and editors navigating the industry in a heart-centered way—one that prioritizes care, relationship-building, and sustainable work practices over the relentless grind of capitalism, tech-bro culture, and AI promises. It explores how author and editor businesses can survive and thrive while also transforming the industry to fight for a better world.
Season Two kicks off on August 14, with new episodes on the first Thursday of the month (plus occasional bonus episodes!). Subscribe now and join the conversation.
Episodes
13 episodes
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Wish Fulfilment in Fiction
Why do you read stories? What keeps you turning the page?Wish fulfilment is one possible answer! Tune in to hear other reasons, alongside a chat about wish fulfilment in romance and dystopian fiction, the story problems it can create, an...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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14:15
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Editors Who Write, with Karen Parker
This week's ep is all about how we balance our editing, coaching, and writerly selves and businesses! 😍We discuss the query trenches, writing routines and habits, whether you need to be a writer to coach writers, and lots more besides!
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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28:47
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Literary Magazines for the Overwhelmed
This week's ep is all about lit mags! ✨If you're exploring this space and trying to figure it out, this podcast ep is for you.I discuss how to find the right magazine for your story, the importance of reading widely, and the reali...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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22:21
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Decolonizing Fiction Craft with Karen Parker
Welcome to Season 2! Yay!Today's topic is decolonizing fiction craft, and I'm chatting with the book coach and fiction editor Karen Parker. We cover everything from the hero's journey and remakes to the Iowa Writers' Workshop and how NOT...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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33:59
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Story Structure 101
Story structure is one issue fiction editors love to disagree about. At one end of the spectrum, some promote rigid templates, while others say "anything goes."In this episode, I cover ...the problem with rigid approaches to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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18:30
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Therapists in Fiction, with Aimee Walker
Psychotherapists and counsellors often feature in TV, film, and books. While there are all sorts of good story reasons to include them, they often do unrealistic things like sit in very nice offices and break boundaries with clients!In t...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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22:41
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Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Niche?
Today is all about niching! Do you need one as a book editor? What will your clients say or think?How will they find you? And are niches necessary – or always a bad thing?Tune in for some fresh perspectives on the topic and the de...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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19:47
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Marketing off Social Media
Social media marketing isn't for everyone, and for small business owners, it comes with several tricky traps and challenges attached.Junk AI content and tech bro CEOs aligned with hard-right governments stripping people of their rights a...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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21:32
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Into the Generative AI Trenches
Is generative AI making the publishing world a better place? Or is it leaving a bad taste?So far, it's pretty clear to me there's a lot of hype, stolen data, angry authors, some benefits, and a truckload of problems. But it does and will...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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19:00
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Is Your Small Business Extractive?
It's all take, take, take!This week is all about how extraction – a pattern of one-sided taking from others – can show up in our small businesses.I cover how it's hardwired into big businesses, and how things can get confusing for...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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23:07
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Prestige Traps in Fiction Publishing
Today's episode is all about how editors can get trapped in a cycle of satisfying and interesting but low-paid work for Big 5 publishers. #opensecretsI call this cycle a prestige trap, and explore the allure of high-prestige, satisfying ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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19:37
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10 Reasons I Am So Over Self-Publishing
Welcome to episode 1! Today I'm discussing all the problems I see with self-publishing from my fiction editor perspective.First, I discuss my values misalignment with the self-publishing industry.Then I dive into serious issues an...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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24:46
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The Free Lancer: Season 1 Trailer
This is a trailer for a new show called The Free Lancer.The Free Lancer is a show discussing all things publishing through a queer, social justice lens. It’s for authors and editors navigating the industry in a heart-centered way—one tha...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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4:32