#Throwback Thursday
It’s Friday-Eve. Go grab an iced coffee or a chilled white wine (because it’s still 80-plus degrees where I’m sitting on this mid-September day); it’s time to dive into another great podcast episode.
It’s Friday-Eve. Go grab an iced coffee or a chilled white wine (because it’s still 80-plus degrees where I’m sitting on this mid-September day); it’s time to dive into another great podcast episode.
Elisabeth Rourke here, Polly’s editorial assistant and first-chair, middle-school oboist (true story), and today I’m talking about an episode focused on all the things people hate to talk about when starting a freelance writing business.
So if you’re tracking these segments, you might be thinking, “Geez, another freelance topic, what gives?” And I’ll tell ya. I’m a freelancer myself, a beginner at that. So these Simply Write episodes coming from Polly Campbell, an experienced, career freelancer, are GOLD.
Let’s Talk Business
Now, most of you (probably all of you) don’t know that I’m a former accountant. Starting a new business did not intimidate me—my former world consisted of invoicing, budgets, spreadsheets, and the financial know-how required to maintain a business. But most people don’t want to deal with that stuff and it can be downright intimidating.
But if you want to create a sustainable freelance career, you’ve got to handle the business side too.
That brings me to Episode 109 dated December 19, 2022 titled Setting Up Your Freelance Writing Business—What I absolutely LOVED about this episode is that Polly talks about all of that, plus some.
Polly’s been at this for decades—she’s a pro—and in this episode, she basically gives the ABC’s of common workflow, jargon, business setup and maintenance, and the business professionals you might need in your back corner to help you through it all.
A Freelance Writing Business Isn’t All About Writing
Aside from Polly’s tips on diversifying what you offer as a freelance writer—manuscripts, short essays, magazine articles, blogs, and substacks—there’s also the importance of properly setting up the systems that will support your business—registering for your business license, learning about your specific tax obligations—tax deductions, invoice, and budget tracking, estimated tax payments.
Then, it’s worth thinking about continuing education, conferences, marketing, and websites, backup plans for when your power or internet goes out or your computer breaks down—and where is the money for those things going to come from?
Check it out, folks. This episode aired near the end of the fiscal year (#accounting-jargon), which, according to Polly, is a great time to think about your business for the following year. And since we’re only a few weeks away from Q3 (#accounting-jargon), now is the perfect time to throw on a pair of headphones and click this link.
Happy Business-Planning,
—E
Join Polly in Cincinnati
Polly Campbell is speaking at this year’s Writer’s Digest Conference in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Fellow Midwesterners and Skyline Chili lovers, if you’re in the area and are interested in learning a boatload about the writing business, craft, and so much more, register now! Side Note: Paula Rizzo, author of Listful Living and interview guest on the Polly Campbell, Simply Said podcast—Episode 212, is also speaking at this conference.
P.S. If you haven’t heard of Polly’s Simply Said Substack and the Polly Campbell, Simply Said Podcast, I highly recommend it.
Polly Pop-Up Classes
Also— Polly is planning on doing a couple pop up classes this year with you, her fellow podcast and Substack followers, in mind. If setting up a freelance business is a topic you’d like to know more about, drop Polly a line on her Substack!