| Every time someone asks me what I did with a client's | | | | month's worth of paperwork is awaiting your attention. |
| file or how to find the invoices in my records, I want to | | | | ::Collecting Money |
| scream at them, "I'm a writer! Not a business | | | | It doesn't matter what kind of writing you do, there |
| executive!" | | | | may come a time when you have trouble collecting |
| But the fact is that writers must be business savvy as | | | | money you are owed. This is perhaps the worst part |
| well because writing is a business. Unless you're the | | | | of the business side of writing, especially if you have |
| beneficiary of an enormous trust fund, you probably | | | | trouble asking for money. |
| write to make a profit, and whether you are a | | | | Make sure that you have a clause in your contract |
| ghostwriter, a copywriter, a novelist or a freelancer, | | | | that penalizes clients for non-payment. It is important to |
| you have to keep things straight if you want to make | | | | give your clients some leeway - if they are a few |
| a living writing for other people. | | | | weeks behind on several thousand dollars, you'll retain |
| ::Computer Files | | | | their business if you give them an opportunity to pay. |
| For most writers, their computer is the altar at which | | | | However, if several months have passed on a |
| they worship, and if you've ever had a computer | | | | $200.00 bill, it is time to take action. |
| crash, then you know our pain. If you are unable to | | | | Use litigation as a last resort for collection of money |
| effectively manage your computer files, you will lose | | | | owed to you. First, make sure that you have |
| work and invoke the anger of clients or editors. | | | | contacted your client and requested payment both on |
| My computer files are organized by the names of my | | | | the phone and in writing. If that doesn't work, hire an |
| clients. Each client has their own individual folder into | | | | attorney or a collection agency to send a letter or to |
| which I put all documents pertaining to their work. | | | | phone them requesting payment. Your final step should |
| Within those files are subfolders such as Drafts, | | | | be small claims or civil court. |
| Invoices, Correspondence, and the like so that I can | | | | To avoid this scenario in the first place, I recommend |
| easily find things when I need them. | | | | charging an up-front fee for your services. Unless you |
| I also have a folder on my computer for documents | | | | are writing "on spec" for a magazine or newspaper, |
| pertaining to my business at large. The templates for | | | | you shouldn't have any problem charging a 10-30% fee |
| my invoices, contracts and receipts are there, as well | | | | up front, and charging the rest at regular intervals until |
| as copies of my newsletters, articles and e-books. For | | | | the project is finished. |
| the first few years that I worked as a ghostwriter, I | | | | ::Taxes |
| simply saved random documents to my hard drive, not | | | | One of the most difficult aspects of the business side |
| bothering to organize. | | | | of writing is taxes, which you will have to handle |
| Take it from me, a seasoned veteran: if you aren't | | | | yourself. A freelance or self-employed writer doesn't |
| organized, you will fail. | | | | have taxes taken out of paychecks, but as to pay |
| ::Hard Copy Files | | | | taxes quarterly or at the end of every year. |
| No matter how much you love your computer, you | | | | My advice is to set up a savings account into which |
| should always keep hard copies of every document | | | | 20% of all your earnings is placed every month. That |
| that crosses your desk. Even items that I receive as | | | | way, when tax time rolls around, you'll have all of the |
| hard copies and later scan into my computer folders | | | | money you need to pay back the government. |
| get filed away in my filing cabinet for future reference. | | | | Further, save your receipts. Dinners with clients, rent |
| But it's the technology age, you argue emphatically. | | | | payments (for your office only), Internet access, office |
| You won't feel that way when a virus takes over your | | | | supplies, automobile payments and more can be |
| hard drive and you lose all of the information that you | | | | deducted from your final taxes owed. Just make sure |
| worked so hard to create. Or, even worse, you lose a | | | | that you save all receipts. |
| signed contract that could cost you thousands of | | | | ::Professionalism |
| dollars. | | | | All writers who make a living through the pen (or the |
| I recommend setting up a reliable filing system in your | | | | computer keyboard, as the case may be) must |
| office, with extra file folders for future use. Label each | | | | always project an air of professionalism. This means |
| folder clearly and place them all in alphabetical order, | | | | having a businesslike message on your voice mail or |
| and make sure to file documents every day so you | | | | answering machine; business cards to hand out to |
| don't lose track. | | | | people you meet; business letterhead for professional |
| I have two filing cabinets: one is for my personal use | | | | correspondence; and the punctual return of messages |
| (taxes, receipts, insurance information, etc.) while the | | | | left from clients. |
| other is used exclusively for my work. Each of my | | | | All of these things make up the business side of |
| clients gets a file folder here, as well, and I have extra | | | | writing, but please remember that you will learn as you |
| folders for copies of documents as well as bank | | | | go along. Much of writing is about trial and error, and if |
| information and cancelled checks. | | | | you make a mistake, you'll have learned for the future. |
| I am the queen of allowing paperwork to build up on | | | | Don't fret if you think you've handled a situation badly, |
| my desk trays, leaning to one side and crinkled on the | | | | or if you worry that you haven't met all of your |
| edges, so I won't preach to you here. However, I will | | | | obligations. It will come to you as you go, and you just |
| say that it is much better to spend time every day or | | | | have to have faith that it will all work out. |
| every couple of days on your filing than to wait until a | | | | |