| mary
rosenblum |
Good morning,
all!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I hope you all had a
good weekend, and welcome to our Tuesday Forum.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I'm assuaging my guilt
at not having yet gotten all my numbers to my long suffering
accountant, John, by doing this Forum topic today!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You and the IRS....or
the Canadian equivalent!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you're seriously
working on becoming a career writer, you really can begin to claim
expenses that you incur as you work.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And while I am NOT an
accountant, and can't give you specifics on what is or is not
deductable...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
an accountant familiar
with court decisions affecting writers and artists will have to
answer those questions...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I can tell you how to
present yourself as a professional writer to the IRS. And this is
critically important.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Unless the IRS
considers you a professional writer, you cannot deduct ANY expense
related to writing.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
AND...you do not have
to sell anything to be a professional in the IRS's
eyes.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You simply have to
conduct yourself in a professional manner and clearly demonstrate
that you are TRYING to be a pro.
|
| mbvoelker |
I have good news to share
with my writing friends. I've just discovered I'm expecting my 4th
child. So I forsee some personal essays in my
futurel.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Oh, good for you,
MB!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Do them quick, while
you still have time to write! :-)
|
| mary
rosenblum |
This is the Tuesday
Forum with me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction
writer. Today we're talking about being a writer by the IRS's
definition! If you're new here, remember that you need to click on
the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question
icon in order to ask a question. Your regular 'send' bar won't reach
me! You can also type /ask in front of your question to reach
me.
|
| barbg |
Mary, can we deduct the
LR fees if we're not published?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Barb, I"m not sure what
kind of deduction you can use for courses and the like....haven't
had anything like that to deal with on my taxes. You'll have to ask
your accountant.
|
| gskearney |
If you host a website
dedicated to your writing, is it deductible? --gk
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I sure plan to, gary!
It should be deductable...it's advertising after
all.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I'll let you know after
I get my return back from my accountant!
|
| bravo6 |
can you give examples of
deductibles? I know mag subscriptions and paper and even a printer,
if you use it mainly for writing. But what else???
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Well, let's see. Travel
to conferences, expenses at conferences, research materials, trips
devoted to researching a particular book...
|
| speckledorf |
Morning! There is a place
on the forms for continuing education expenses. Part of it is
deductable.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Thought so. Thanks
speck.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I'm very reluctant to
say 'yes' or 'no' to any specific deduction..I'm not an accountant
and I don't want to get someone else in trouble.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Is it necessary to send
letters requesting guidelines and magazine sample
|
| legitimate
expense? Will regular sales receipt listing |
|
|
|
|
|
| mary
rosenblum |
This is a question I
received in advance.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Your cancelled check
should be enough evidence that you purchased that sample
copy.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I also keep a 'mileage
bible' where I list the miles I drive in writing related
business.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And the IRS hates
these, so you need to keep it religiously, not write it all up at
the end of the year from memory!
|
| susannah |
Is a book purchased for
research deductible?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Yes, it is, susannah.
But...you'll have to check with your accountant, because you may not
be able to claim that deduction until you sell the
work.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Tax law changes all the
time, so do find out.
|
| tory |
Mary I think Tanya might
have meant buying mags at a local store? I plan to count mine--as
long as they are in the same genre that I write. For example, at
this point I don't do any car or mechanical
writing!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Same difference...if
you buy through the mail, use your check, if you buy locally keep
your receipt.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Get in the habit of
doing that, especially for travel...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Keep an envelope in
your car or with you when you're at a conference and put all
receipts into it...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
with a clear note so
that you will know, months later when you do your taxes, what it was
for.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I buy a lot of research
books, and I also deduct my subscriptions to 'trade magazines' for
writers....such as 'Locus' the SF trade mag.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Of course your office
supplies and the like are expenses, as are long distance phone calls
to editors and publishers...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
But you need proof of
all this should you get audited, so make sure you keep those
receipts and copies of the appropriate bills.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Membership in writers
organizations is an expense.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
So are copies and
postage for ms...and that can be considerable if you're sending ms
around, especially overseas.
|
| susannah |
then Internet access
should be partially deductible
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Depends on how much of
it is writing related, susannah.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
My internet access is
more than 80% used for business...I just don't use my
computer/access for anything much other than
writing.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
BUT...if it's your
family computer, that's a different story.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Discuss it with an
accountant. The IRS is sticky about
|
| mary
rosenblum |
business use
issues.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Same for home
office.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you have one, you
CAN deduct that percentage of your utilities, property tax, and the
like...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
but ONLY if the room
cannot be used for any other purpose.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you have a sofa bed
in there and a TV and you could concevably use it as a family
room...forget it.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Same thing if you could
put a guest in there overnight.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That's another sticky
point with the IRS.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you want to sleep in
MY office, it will be on the floor or on the file cabinets!
LOL
|
| mary
rosenblum |
This is the Tuesday
Forum with me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction
writer. Today we're talking about being a writer by the IRS's
definition! If you're new here, remember that you need to click on
the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question
icon in order to ask a question. Your regular 'send' bar won't reach
me! You can also type /ask in front of your question to reach
me.
|
| bravo6 |
and remember, if you
drive, KKEP TRAKC OF THAT MILEAGE! They pay like - a mile. And that
can add up after 3000 miles of travel! :-) But again, as mary's
discalimer is staiting - Check with an accountant!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Yes, but if you caught
my earlier refernce to this, bravo...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
the IRS hates this, so
you MUST keep a regular 'mileage bible' and record your mileage with
every writing-related trip.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Guessing at it at the
end of the year, without those stained and rumpled pages, will
probably be disallowed.
|
| bravo6 |
As someone who ran a
computer business out of my home for 10+ years i can says some of my
experiences., My opffice space i was allowed to deduct (a % of my
utilites and taxes), al subscriptions pertaining to my job, Milage
back and forth to clients,
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That's pretty standard,
BUT the more you deduct the more likely you are to be audited, so be
honest. If you are deducting your kids' magazines...good luck
convincing the IRS that you NEED...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Rolling Stone unless
you are writing for them or writing like articles!
|
| bravo6 |
office supplies, software
i purchased for my job - development languages, word procvessors -
nothing like Uncle Sam helping me pay for M Office ;-P), hardware I
used, conventions/conferences I went to. Ink for my printers,
etx
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Yes, business software,
computer, printer...all these are deductable...and probably will be
depreciated...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
at least the hardware
will.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Again...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
two caveats
here.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It has to be mostly for
business use...NOT the family computer....
|
| mary
rosenblum |
and you need those
receipts.
|
| bravo6 |
there were several items
i could NOt get - clothes - I wasn;'t a rock star - yes, this IS
what my acct told me! ;-P) a new car, because I would not be using
it for 80 - 90% of my business but other stuff, Anythign that was
family related...
|
| bravo6 |
as far as audits go, I
have 2 freinds who are, in Tx, Tax Attorneys. They told me taht
onfce, very blue moon, the IRS would audit a small business, just to
say they Do it. But if you are not making 100,000s of , the likely
hood goes down tremendously
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Absolutely,
bravo.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And to be honest, a
home computer or web design business is going to be very similar,
tax-wise, to a pro writer.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
BUT...do NOT count on
that 'they don't audit small business' thing.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If the IRS thinks
you're using your 'small business' writing to deduct a lot from your
big paycheck from your day job...watch out!
|
| gskearney |
I use the poorhouse
deduction...not making enough to have to pay taxes on it.
--gk
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Well, there you go,
gary. :-)
|
| mary
rosenblum |
THat's the best way
out...'long as you can eat.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
This is the Tuesday
Forum with me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction
writer. Today we're talking about being a writer by the IRS's
definition! If you're new here, remember that you need to click on
the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question
icon in order to ask a question. Your regular 'send' bar won't reach
me! You can also type /ask in front of your question to reach
me.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
BUT...the only way you
get ANY deduction is to PROVE to the IRS that you are trying hard to
be a pro.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
What does that
mean?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It means you have
records...you keep a log of what you write and ...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
here you go all you 'I
just haven't sent anything out yet' writers...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
WHERE you SEND
it.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Here's another good
reason to acquire rejection slips. They are worth
money.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you say, well I'm an
aspiring pro, but I"m not sending anything to
editors...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
do you think the IRS is
gong to call you a pro?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That's about as
professional as keeping a personal journal.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you can show the
agent a record sheet or notebook that lists your finished pieces,
where you sent them and when...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
lists your rejections
and/or sales...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
you are clearly TRYING
to build a career, sales or not.
|
| susannah |
I keep a log of what,
when, where and end result-good enuf?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Should
be.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Combine that with
receipts and records of purchases, phone calls, mileage, conference
attendance, mileage...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
what records would you
keep if you were running say, a dry cleaning
business?
|
| tory |
Mary do you think travel
to critique group meetings would count as mileage for buisness? I
know I NEED it.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I do. As long as you
are discussing a saleable work, it counts.
|
| coach |
and don't forget- just
because the IRS doesn't audit small businesses much, doesn't mean
your state won't. My brother in law owns a roofing business here in
CA and the state sends someone almost every year to make sure his
books are in order
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And sometimes you just
get audited...not likely since you're not costing Uncle Sam much,
but it CAN happen.
|
| munchkin |
As a tax professional
during tax season, your "stuff" must b
|
| munchkin |
e !00Kusiness use of you
cannot deduct it on your return.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You'll have to check
with your tax professional on exact numbers...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
and it's a good idea to
make sure that your tax preparer is up to date on
...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
rulings that affect
writers and artists...not every H&R Block preparer, for example,
will know those specifics.
|
| gskearney |
I send my stuff from a
post office where I can get receipts for postage as well. That can
certainly add up.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That's a good way to do
it, gary. I actually record the actual postage when I send short
story ms out, since I prefer to save a trip to the PO and use
regular stamps...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It's in my log of work
in/work out.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Since all novel ms go
by a delivery service like Fed Ex, I get receipts from
those.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Again, you need to
discuss particular deductions with your tax preparer, but the
records need to be there in the first place in order to be able to
deduct anything.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And you will save
yourself money by having those records in a form which will make the
work easy for your accountant.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That is what this Forum
is about...record keeping. If you are a professional writer, you are
essentially a small business.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Munchkin, since you are
a tax person...a CPA?...how do you suggest people find someone who
will find an accountant when needed?
|
| tory |
Mary, do you know if it
will work against us IRS-wise to submit to non-paying outlets to get
started (after, of course, rejections frompaying
markets)?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Tory, you need to
demonstrate to the IRS that you are trying to become a professional
writer...if getting your work published helps you sell to paying
markets..
|
| mary
rosenblum |
that should only help
support your claim.
|
| sol |
How do you find a good
accountant?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You might ask local
writers, or simply call listings in the phone
book...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
and see if you can find
someone who is familiar with writers.
|
| tolkienlvr |
Does anyone know ...is
there a certain
|
| tolkienlvr |
-uctions like this, when
using the 1040A. For those who do
|
| tolkienlvr |
their taxes themselves. ?
:)
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I can't help you at all
there, tolkien.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You chould do a web
search..google...and see if you can find resources for writers who
file on their one.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
own..
|
| mary
rosenblum |
but that's not
something I"m going to even try, thank you. :-)(
|
| speckledorf |
I used Turbo Tax for us.
It has a place for business expenses and is user
friendly.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Oh yes...if you are
self employed and making anything...Bravo said , but, I don't
personally know the number...you will pay self employment
tax.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That can be an
unpleasant little reality, believe me.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Keeping records of your
submissions, the postage each submission cost you, (don't forget the
postage on that SASE), and the dates of return and the
outcome..
|
| mary
rosenblum |
will not only provide
you with good numbers when you're ready to do taxes, but it will
also provide you with a good tracking system for your own
career.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It's easy to forget
where your work has been, once you have five or eight or ten pieces
out.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And DO keep track of
your payments!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
YOu will only get tax
forms from publishers who paid you over a certain minimum
amount...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
if it is less than that
amount, a form is not required...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
but you need to keep a
record of that income and count it.
|
| sol |
I've recently finished
the LRWG course, and am now on my own. Nothing has been published
yet, but should I start keeping records now? If nothing develops
with respect to monies for the next two years, or more, will this
years records still be valid?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Do keep records, sol.
It used to be required that you 'made money' two years out of five
to be considered self employed...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Now you are merely
required to demonstrate that you are seriously attempting to make
money.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And that means behaving
like a professional writer and documenting that
behavior.
|
| geezer |
some professional
organizations have health insurance. Does that exist out there in
writer's land?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It does. A few of the
professional writers organizations offer some form of health
insurance. I believe MWA does, I think Writers Union does or
did...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I don't know about RWA.
Anyone know about that one?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You have to publish to
belong to most of these organizations, though.
|
| gskearney |
Re records: Keep a
spreadsheet or even just a text file with oldest entries at the
bottom. That way it's easy to delete old entries, and for God's sake
make backups just like you do for your writing.
--gk
|
| mary
rosenblum |
No
kidding!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Even a spiral notebook
works if you're low-tech.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It's a good idea -- I
think, at least -- to make periodic print outs...certainly at the
end of the year.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Just incase your hard
drive dies and your backup medium turns out to be
compromised.
|
| lil-duv |
Mary that includes your
paper, ink cartridges for computer, envelopes etc.... as well
doesn't it?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It does if you ONLY use
it for writing, lil.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You cannot deduct it if
your kids are printing out their homework and using the
computer.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
When my kids lived with
me, I had a computer/printer/internet access that were off limits to
my kids entirely.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
We had a separate
family system.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That was mostly for the
protection of my hard drive and ms from viruses...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
but it also featured in
my ability to deduct my computer-related expenses
safely.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
My accountant tells me
that this is where most writers get into trouble...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
trying to deduct things
that are really shared by family.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
This is the Tuesday
Forum with me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction
writer. Today we're talking about being a writer by the IRS's
definition! If you're new here, remember that you need to click on
the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question
icon in order to ask a question. Your regular 'send' bar won't reach
me! You can also type /ask in front of your question to reach
me.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
The issue of 'meals and
entertainment' for example, is a sticky one.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You can deduct some of
it, but not all, and restrictions apply.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you are at a
conference, do keep your receipts, but keep some notes about what
went on at that meal if anything.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
A conference with your
agent is different from lunch with a writer
friend...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
and 'business lunches'
are another sticky IRS area.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Do go read my interview
with John Caton, CPA. He's my accountant and handles a lot of
writers and music artists.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
He DID answer some
specific questions during my interview, and I'll have him back this
coming year for another round of quesitons.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You can find my
interview with him at Surviving and Thriving: Interview
Transcripts.
|
| sol |
Will do. I'll look
forward to his next Question Period.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
He does have good,
specific answers. :-) That's why I pay him.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Keep records even if
you're not making any money and choose NOT to file as a self
employed professional.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Not only will it give
you a clear overview of what you spend versus what you
make..
|
| mary
rosenblum |
when you DO choose to
file as a self employed writer, you'll have those records to
demonstate...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
that you have been
trying seriously to do this for some time...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
and you'll have
established good habits of record keeping.
|
| lil-duv |
would it be possible to
get an interview re:Canadian taxes and writers?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Lil, if you can connect
me with someone who would like to do an interview, I'll be happy to
do it.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I just don't know any
personally.
|
| sol |
Oh, ya. Accountants need
to get paid, too . . .
|
| sol |
Another tax
deduction?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Yep.
|
| lil-duv |
I'll talk to my
friend
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Oh, please do, lil!
That would be VERY helpful to the Canadian students and website
folk!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
This is the Tuesday
Forum with me, Mary Rosenblum, LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction
writer. Today we're talking about being a writer by the IRS's
definition! If you're new here, remember that you need to click on
the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question
icon in order to ask a question. Your regular 'send' bar won't reach
me! You can also type /ask in front of your question to reach
me.
|
| mrsmouse |
Last year I made money
writing; this year I have not...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Well, that's the self
employed writer model, Mrs. Good for you for making money last
year!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And to be honest, the
expenses involved in writing are not huge,
generally...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
so it doesn't take too
many sales to at least come out in the black!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Which is another good
reason to keep records..it's SO nice to realize you didn't cost
yourself money doing this.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Sort of takes it out of
the 'hobby' category right there... :-) If you're feeling insecure
about your status as 'writer'. Nice ego boost.
|
| gskearney |
You may also want to use
income averaging later if you do make a big sale. You can offset
part of that income by applying it to the previous lean years, but
only if you have good records.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Yes, that is something
that can be helpful if you sell a 20,000 novel when you had 3000
worth of income last year!
|
| sol |
And you know,
establishing those good habits will reinforce the belief of BEING a
writer!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That's it, sol, and
this is ...in my opinion...the strongest reason for starting
professional record keeping practices now.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You ae saying to
yourself every day, 'I am a writer'.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And that is a
conversation that will help you in the long run.
|
| mrsmouse |
...should I still file as
a self employed proffessional?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Sorry, didn't get the
second part of your question right away, mrs.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
You don't have to make
money to file as self-employed writer. The current rules state that
you must...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
demonstrate the INTENT
to make money.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Which is why you need
the records.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Now realize, the intent
to make money is a potent statement.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you wrote one short
story and sent it to one market and when it was rejected you tossed
it...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
even a nice clear set
of records isn't going to convince anyone that you are trying to be
a pro.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
What does it mean,
'intent to make money'?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It means you are
writing and submitting...not once a year, but
often.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Now if you're writing
novels only, your submission rate will be much less frequent, but
you need..
|
| mary
rosenblum |
to make it clear that
you are trying to establish a career, not merely write that one book
and see if it ever gets published.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That is a big
difference. Records alone to not mean you are trying to be a
pro...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
they merely document
the process of trying to be a pro to the IRS>
|
| lil-duv |
could it not be
considered that you write the novel this year, receive advance this
year and royalties after that?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
That's how we all get
paid, Lil.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
But you might have a
hard time saying you are a pro to the tax man with only a single
novel sold and out...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
unless you can show
that you have others either in the works, or out.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I can't tell you 'yes,
you can do this' or 'no, you cannot do this'...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
for that you'll need a
pro.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
But if you can say to
an agent, 'Look, I am spending all my free time writing and querying
and submitting and I really mean to make my living this
way'...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
then you are a pro in
the IRS's eyes.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If it's ...well, I work
a forty hour week and every couple of week, I work on a chapter of
my next novel... Want to guess how that agent will likely
respond?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
ARE you TRYING to make
a living writing or are you simply working on something and HOPING
that you'll have that bestseller and make a
fortune?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Trying and hoping are
not the same things!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
And of course, this is
a VERY subjective area...
|
| t
green |
are Trying to make a
living and Trying to supplement my family income the same in the
IRS's eyes?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Subjective, t, but I
would assume that if you can demonstrate that you are putting in
time in an attempt to make money, you're fine.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
A lot of things can go
into 'trying'.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Attending conferences,
meeting editors there, belonging to a local writers organization,
belonging to pro organizations that will admit you, resource books
on writing and marketing...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
these could be called
'trying' and help demonstrate that you are serious.
|
| lil-duv |
attending
LR?
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I'm sure. Attending
writers workshops at conferences...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I don't think there is
a list of 'signs of professionalism'...but use some common
sense...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
and...heheh...this will
also make you think about what you can do to further your
career.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Because these things
don't just impress the IRS...they DO help you become an established
writer.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Yes, they'll get the
tax man to maybe respect you, but they ARE methods of futhering your
budding career as a writer.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
If you ACT like a pro,
you begin to be SEEN as a pro, sales or not.
|
| sol |
Yep. I can see that,
alright!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
It's true. Nobody knows
whether you have sold or not unless you tell them.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
But if you show up at
conferences, hang around with the editors and
agents...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
chat with writers, and
generally act like you belong there...you WILL belong
there.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Nobody asks for an ID
card!
|
| lil-duv |
I meant being student at
LR, not just attending chats
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Oh, I'm sure,
lil.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Any course or workshop
you take to improve your skills is going to help support your claim
that you are trying to be a pro.
|
| sol |
Hmm. This is VERY
encouraging!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Back when I first
started out...I went to every conference that was local enough that
I could afford it...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
shared a room with
three or four other new writers at the hotel, and basically spent my
time learning who was who and talking to everyone in the business I
could strike up a conversation with.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I am NOT comfortable
with people, am essentially shy, and it was VERY hard to
do...especially since I didn't feel I had any right to even speak to
these pros!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
But I darn well did it,
and it really did pay off...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
in networking...tips on
what anthologies were open that were not in the usual market
lists...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
big name writers who
later were happy to blurb my first novel...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
suggestions and help
from established writers...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Aside from any tax
considerations, it's a great way to make yourself a
professional.
|
| sol |
Hmm. Another very
encouraging piece of info. I suffer from similiar 'ailments' that
have caused setbacks for me. Time to forge ahead!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
I think writers are
essentially non-social...most of us...or why would we spend so much
time inside our own heads? LOL
|
| mary
rosenblum |
But it's a welcoming
bunch of people for the most part, and promoting your career is
definitely a good thing.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Networking has its
benefits and as you do begin to sell and establish yourself, it
brings you requests for submissions among other
things.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Whenever you have the
chance...go hang out with writers.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Well, this has been
another good Oregon Hour...and now I have to get back to the novel
course...
|
| mary
rosenblum |
it's nearing completion
and I'm VERY pleased with it!
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Looks lovely in it's
formal typeset.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Do join us for our
casual chat on Wednesday, same time as this forum..
|
| mary
rosenblum |
it's just a chance to
get together anc talk about writing.
|
| mary
rosenblum |
Have a good week, all.
Write
well...
|