Tackling Taxes With Carrie Smith

Join Valerie Bordeau as she has an in depth interview with Carrie Smith.

 

Carrie is a financial strategist who specializes in helping freelancers and entrepreneurs change their lives and businesses, through her blog Careful Cents. This blog is designed to help thought leaders and driven solopreneurs implement practices and techniques to create more money in less time — and with less energy. Carrie shares free systems, tools and resources to help businesses run more efficiently through her free newsletter at http://www.carefulcents.com/newsletter/.

 

 

In today’s show, we discuss what everything freelance writers should know about tax time. Gleaning from over a decade of number-crunching experience, Carrie shares her tips and strategies for getting organized, separating your business and personal expenses, and keeping accurate records.

 

We also discuss:

 

-Tax Deductions: What You Can Claim and What You Can’t

 

-Preparing for the Upcoming Impact of the Affordable Care Act Using Health Savings Accounts

 

-The Importance of Having Regulated Tax Professionals Prepare Your Return

 

And a Whole Lot More!

 

If you want to connect with Carrie, you can find her on any one of the following social media links:

 Twitter: @carefulcents

Facebook: Carrie [email protected]

Carrie’s Recommended Resources

 

Financial Tracking Software

Mint.com

Waveaccounting.com

Outright.com

 

In-Depth Articles on Tax Preparation, ObamaCare, and Resources

How to Actually Look Forward to Filing Your Taxes

What the Self-Employed Need to Know About ObamaCare

The Best Health Insurance Options for the Self-Employed

8 Common Tax Questions for Freelancers and Entrepreneurs

Top 10 Apps to Organize and File Your Taxes on the Go

Requirements for Tax Professionals

IRS List of Approved PTIN Tax Professionals

Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions

 

Engaging An Editor From Word One

Join Valerie Bordeau as she has an in depth interview with Kelly Boyer Sagert.

Kelly has an extraordinary list of credits to her name. Besides being a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, She is the author of 11 full length nonfiction books and contributed material to countless magazines, newspapers, online sites, encyclopedias and literary journals. Kelly Boyer Sagert teaches writing classes online at http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com

She served as managing editor of Northern Ohio's Over the Back Fence for four years and served as the contributing editor for the Southern Ohio edition of Over the Back Fence as well, and she also edited five trade magazines and numerous business directories, community guides and travel planners for the company.

Kelly is a playwright, with several of her plays being performed in the Cleveland area. Her most recent play “Trail Magic” tells the inspiring story of Ohioan Emma Gatewood, who, at age 67 in 1955, became the first woman to solo-through-hike the Appalachian Trail in one season.

She speaks regularly at writer’s conferences and workshops, including at the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) conference in New York City, and at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. She also appeared on an ESPN2 program called “The Top Five Reasons You Can’t Blame the Black Sox.”

In today’s show Kelly shares a behind-the-scenes look at her career as a freelance writer/editor. From covering the Civil War to boomerangs to one of the biggest baseball scandals in the sporting world, Kelly has done it all and shares her advice with aspiring writers on how to grab an editor’s attention from word one.

In today’s jam-packed episode, we discuss:

-The Importance of Understanding Your Audience

- Using Magazine Advertising to Hone Your Queries

-Using the “Rule of 7” to Develop Your Topic

-How to Cope With Rejection

And so much more!!!

If you want to connect with Kelly, you can find her on any one of the following social media links:

1. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kbsagert

2. Twitter: http://twitter.com/KBSagert

3. Google+: Kelly Boyer Sagert

4. LinkedIn: Kelly Boyer Sagert

5. Email: [email protected]

 

Kelly’s Recommended Resources

Fab Job Guide to Becoming a Freelance Writer by Kelly Boyer Sagert

Writer’s Market

Freelancewritinggigs.com

Helpareporterout.com

Profnet.com

Kelly's books include:

• Icons of Women’s Sport (co-authored this two-book series, ABC-Clio, 2011)

• FabJob Guide to Become a Freelance Writer (e-book, FabJob, 2010)

• Flappers (Greenwood Publishing, 2010)

• FabJob Guide to Become a Fitness Club Owner (e-book, FabJob, 2009)

• Encyclopedia of Extreme Sports (Greenwood Publishing, 2009)

• American Popular Culture Through History: The 1970s (Greenwood Publishing, 2007)

• All-Time Greatest Hitters: Joe Jackson (Greenwood Publishing, 2004), a look at one of the most talented -- and controversial -- athletes of our century

• Birth of Illumination (2001), a work-for-hire book about the rise of the public library system in Toni Morrison's hometown

• 'Bout Boomerangs: America's Silent Sport (PlantSpeak Publications, 1996), which the Australian boomerang coach called "nearly perfect"

 

 

Selling Your Services Without Being Sleazy

Join Valerie Bordeau as she has an in depth interview with Francesca Nicasio.

Francesca Nicasio is the founder of crediblecopywriting.net and specializes in writing blog posts, web content, and press releases for startups, Internet companies, and mobile app developers. Connect with her on Twitter @francescaSN or on LinkedIn.

Francesca shares the obstacles she faced getting started as a professional writer and shares her advice to writers everywhere on how to overcome feeling sleazy when selling freelance writing services.

In today’ show, we discuss:

How to sell freelance writing services without sounding like a telemarketer or door-to-door salesman

The difference between the Business to Business Mindset versus the Business to Consumer mindset

The importance of overcoming fear and taking action immediately

Tips and strategies for tailoring your pitches for businesses: what to do and what to avoid

How to develop a wealthy entrepreneurial mindset

And a whole lot more…

Francesca will be launching her new Copywriting 2.0 course in the near future. Sign up for her free newsletter at www.beafreelancewriter.com to get updates on when the course will become available.

Francesca’s Recommended Resources

25 Types of Writing Gigs That Pay Well by Francesca Nicasio

The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman

Making a Living Writing/Freelance Writers Den by Carol Tice

The Renegade Writer by Linda Formichelli

Be a Freelance Blogger by Sophie Lizard

Copy Hackers Books by Joanna Wiebe

Social Media Groups on Facebook and LinkedIn

A Writers Bucket List Action Team

Copywriters Guild

Newbie Freelance Writers

Freelance Web Writers

 

 

How to Skip the BS and Start Out as a Well-Paid Writer

Join Valerie Bordeau as she has an in depth interview with Robert Jennings.

Robert is a freelance blogger, ghostwriter, copyeditor and sci-fi novelist. Robert’s blog is The Freelance Rider where he offers a tough love approach to building a freelancing career. His website body checks writers with reality by smashing false perceptions and getting to the root of freelancing problems and fixing them. Robert has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and has been a member of the US Air Force since 2004. He still currently serves in the Air Force Reserve.

Robert shares his own personal struggles and obstacles he faced becoming a freelance writer and how he overcame them. He can be considered to be a modern day King Arthur of freelance writers. Leading the charge with his knights known as the Freelance Riders, he champions the cause to help writers earn what they deserve. If you would like follow the Knights Errant's Guide to Finding Clients and want to know how you can join the calvary, click here.

In this resource-packed interview, Robert shows us “How to Skip the BS and Start Out as a Well-Paid Writer”. We discuss how writers can get paid what they are worth by skipping the concept of working their way up and only pitching well-paying clients. As Robert shares in his post The Greatest Writing Job Ever Posted, “If you want to be a successful freelance writer, you can’t take low-paying jobs.”

In this resource-packed interview, we discuss:

The trouble with content mills and freelance bidding sites and why you shouldn’t rely on them to build clips

A simple exercise you can do to help build your confidence as a writer and overcome the fear of rejection from editors

How to maximize your efforts in using LinkedIn to find freelancing work

The right mindset you need to have in looking for freelancing work

And a whole lot more!

Robert’s Recommended Resources

The 2014 Writer's Market Deluxe will incorporate all the great information writers have to come to expect for 93 years with high profile author interviews, a completely updated "How Much Should I Charge?" rate chart, and thousands of publishing opportunities.

Get the free E-book 7 Resources for Writers by Robert Jennings by signing up at The Freelance Rider.

The Well-Fed Writer & The Well-Fed Self-Publisher by Peter Bowerman- covers commercial writing& self-publishing

Manta- an excellent resource for writers to connect with businesses that may need freelance services

Renegade Writer- Linda Formichelli- help with query letters/letters of introductions and all things freelance writing

Be A Freelance Blogger- Sophie Lizard-Learn to make real money blogging for hire

Make a Living Writing/Freelance Writers Den- Carol Tice- Practical Help for Hungry Writers

How to Start a Blog That Matters- Corbett Barr- This course contains 13 weekly lessons to guide you through starting a blog that matters over 90 days.

How to Kickstart Your Freelancing Career by Robert Jennings is an online course coming soon. The course will be seven weeks long, and will guide you through the first couple of months as a freelance writer. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect:

• Week 1: Determining which markets you’ll write in

• Week 2: Building your website and blog

• Week 3: Branding yourself as a writer

• Week 4: Social media for freelancers

• Week 5: Building your portfolio

• Week 6: Crafting the perfect query letter

• Week 7: Finding clients

Robert also offers a 5-part series of posts to help freelance writers called “5 Reasons Why You’re Failing.” Read the full series here:

Part 1: Why Your Writing is Keeping You From Getting From Writing Jobs

Part 2: Why Your Social Media Presence is Keeping You From Landing Clients

Part 3: Why Your Query Letters Aren’t Getting Responses

Part 4: Why You Can’t Make a Living Doing What You’re Doing

Part 5: Why Nothing I’ve Said is Going to Make a Difference

 

Interview With Sophie Lizard

*Contains Strong Language. Parental Discretion Advised

Join Valerie Bordeau as she has an in depth interview with Sophie Lizard.

Sophie Lizard is a freelance blogger and copywriter on a mission to help entrepreneurs boost their income and professional reputation by blogging for hire.

In this candid interview, Sophie Lizard of Be A Freelance Blogger shares her inspirational story of the personal struggles she faced and the mistakes she made while getting started in the world of freelance writing.

Discover why the UK may be the best place for freelance writers just starting out, how to overcome the most common mistakes and pitfalls new bloggers face, and why your rates are not high enough and what you can do about it. Learn how to effectively build your audience, monetize your blog, and get clients that will pay you what you deserve.

Recommended  Resources Shared In This Interview:

The Ultimate List of Blogs That Pay by Sophie Lizard at Be A Freelance Blogger

Hire Sophie Lizard at Lizard Creative Chaos

Excellent  Time Tracking Software to Hep You Get Things Done-  Get Harvest

Evernote makes it easy to remember things big and small from your everyday life using your computer, phone, tablet and the web. - Get Evernote

Learn How To Effectively Market Your Blog - Fire Pole Marketing

Free Content Marketing Education - Copyblogger

Build a Better Blog/Make Money Blogging- Problogger

Secrets to Building A Popular Blog- Jon Morrow

Keep Track of Everyday Life- Google Calendar

Freelance Writers Academy Episode #1 with Dana Sitar

Join Valerie Bordeau as she has an in depth interview with Dana Sitar.

Dana Sitar is a freelance blogger, author of  A Writer’s Bucket List, and managing editor of WritersBucketList.com, a blog and community dedicated to the pursuit of happiness through writing. She shares resources, tips and tools for writers in search of a path through DIY Writing and on Twitter @danasitar.

Dana is also a contributor to the 2014 Writer’s Market, Guide to Indie Publishing, and the Amazon Bestselling guide eBooks Suck! (but they don’t have to). Her writing has been published by Writer’s Digest, Brazen Careerist, Make a Living Writing, SF Weekly, Seattle Weekly, and dozens more writing and career industry blogs and publications.

Dana answered questions from listeners about how to get started in the world of freelance writing. Her wonderful advice covered such areas as how to get clients, what to charge, how to deal with  difficult clients, how to approach editors, and so much more!