The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that our writing expenses be ordinary and necessary in order for them to be acceptable. An ordinary expense is defined as common and accepted in our profession. A necessary expense means we need to spend this money in order to operate the business. The expenses must not be considered extravagant. They must be an essential part of doing business as a writer. It is important to differentiate between personal expenses and business expenses.

Writers are able to realize some unique deductions which may be considered personal for other taxpayers. For example, a book on the history of New Mexico used for researching my fiction manuscript based in that state could be deductible as a writer.

Other potentially deductible expenses include tickets to a ballet used to build the character of a ballerina I am writing about and an instructional DVD used to improve my public speaking skills. Most writers will call these expenses research or professional development. We need to be able to justify each expense if audited, so be sure it is legitimate and has the supporting documents to back up the claim.

Check out my book, Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers, to learn more about deductible expenses and how to reduce the income taxes you pay as a writer. You can read about it on my web site and on Amazon.com.

New Medicare Tax in 2013

Beginning on January 1, 2013, taxpayers earning $200,000.00 single (or $250,000.00 joint)will have to pay an additional Medicare tax.

Jen Singer - Parenting Author

Jen Singer is the author of Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — Baby’s First Year, Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — The Toddler Years and Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — The Preschool Years. For two years, she wrote the Good Grief blog for Goodhousekeeping.com and has written for or served as a resource for The New York Times, The CBS Evening News, CBS The Early Show, USA Today, Associated Press, Parenting, Family Circle, Real Simple, American Baby, Parents and more.

Welcome Jen! Tell us about your books.

In Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — Baby’s First Year readers will find new ways to embrace the roller-coaster of new parenthood, and enjoy the laughs along the way. The book includes humorous sidebars, self-quizzes, and real-life anecdotes from moms who have endured the new-baby trenches. It tackles the practical concerns of baby care, the psychological adjustments of new motherhood, and the myths that can get in the way of the new mom’s quest for sanity. Filled with helpful, sometimes hilarious, yet always straight-from-the-hip advice, this must-have guide will arm new moms with what they need to know to enjoy Baby’s first year.


When it comes to raising a toddler, forget about ‘what to expect.’ It’s the unexpected that transforms calm, collected women into frazzled, fried moms. Days when you’re running on four hours’ sleep and your toddler is melting down on the grocery store floor; times when you’re wondering how to dislodge a small object from your child’s nose; or those minutes when you think it surely must be two o’clock…except it’s only ten thirty. So much for the blessed moments that moms admit to. Welcome to reality.

Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — The Toddler Years is filled with proven real-world parenting tips, moms’ true confessions, and plenty of humor. This validating guide will help you survive the toddler years with more confidence. From bedtime to naps, feeding and potty-training, finding the right playgroup to finding mom-time, it’s all here and more. It’s the field guide to confident parenting that you’ll want to keep in the diaper bag, just in case.

With Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — The Preschool Years Jen shares her must-know advice plus dozens of “what works” tips from other moms. In this manifesto for modern momhood, she gives the girlfriendly skinny on everything that could confound you during the preschool years, from sleep issues to sibling rivalry, from starting school to stopping whining, from potty-training to picky eaters. With candid confessions, prescriptive tips, and a much-needed dose of humor, this must-have resource will help moms like you lose the doubt and gain much-needed advice and a pat on the back.

You can read more about Jen's books and subscribe to her free newsletter (Mom's Coffee Break) by visiting her online at MommaSaid.net.

How to Make Writing Your Book Easier by Melinda Copp

Today we welcome Melinda Copp to Writers in Business.
Melinda helps aspiring nonfiction, business, and self-help authors get clear on their story and book idea, and figure out how to put it all together so their readers love it. She operates the The Writer's Sherpa, LLC based in Bluffton, SC. Melinda has some tips to share with us.

I'm no expert in human behavior, but as far as I can tell, we as a species thrive on routine. I know for a fact that both my sons behave better when they know what to expect. For example, this morning school was delayed for two hours because of the weather. So instead of eating breakfast at 7:00, getting dressed at 7:35, and walking out the door at 8:05, my sons and I lay in bed until 7:15, ate breakfast at 8:00, watched television until 9:45, and then I had to rush everyone to get dressed and out of the house at 10:00. We're adaptable, thank goodness, and everything worked out okay. But the little change certainly made things more hectic. And all my morning chores that are usually done by 8:00 a.m. didn't get done until about 11:00.

So routines are good-they give us a rhythm to follow through key parts of the day. They also make writing big projects, like books, easier to finish. That's the hardest part, you know, actually finishing the book.

Routines get you in the habit and before long, you've done your writing for the day without any struggle or difficulty at all. Writing becomes one of those tasks you do every day, like making the bed or washing a load of laundry. But although most people accomplish more on routines, they aren't always easy to establish. It almost seems like you're the kind of person who establishes routines automatically or you aren't. I fall in the second category for sure. I don't naturally establish routines; I tend to fly by the seat of my pants, which makes it difficult to get things done.

I have to consciously make the effort to build habits that keep me organized and on track, with my writing and other areas of my life. If I want the house to be clean, I have to work straightening up into my routine. If I want my blog to be updated every day, I have to find somewhere to fit it into the rhythm of my life. And if I want to write a book, I have to give myself a deadline, break the project down into small assignments, put the task on my to-do list, pour my cup of coffee, and then show up to write at my desk in the morning. Motivation waxes and wanes, so when I don't feel like doing anything, I have my routines to fall back on, to coax me into productivity.

When I'm working with a client or student and they're struggling to find time to write I encourage them to work writing into their normal routine. I have found for myself, and many other writers, that if you clear calendar days and make writing a big deal, that you won't make the kind of progress you do when you make writing a little part of every day. And you won't be as good at it either.

Here are a few tips for easily incorporating writing into your day.

Put Writing on Your List

Even though I know I'm supposed to be writing every day, I still put it on my to-do list. I don't know why writing things on lists makes them more likely to happen, but it really works.

Ritualize Your Writing Time

I had a teacher in graduate school recommend making your writing time a sort of ritual that you do every day. By making it a ritual, she meant to set up your writing time in the same way each time, not only to make it a habit, but also to successfully transition yourself into it. For example, turn on your favorite music, fix yourself a cup of tea or coffee, light the candle, and then sit down at your desk to write. And then blow the candle out when you're done.

Give Yourself an Assignment

Thinking about what to write when you sit down at your computer can eat away time. So at the end of every writing session, when you're still in that creative flow, take a minute to give yourself an assignment for what to write the next time. Then when you open up that draft on your computer, you'll know exactly what you're supposed to be writing.

Writers write, even though that can be one of the hardest things to make time to do. Successes like getting your book done require doing whatever it takes to make sure you write. And the more you write, the easier it will be.

You can download a free copy of Melinda's "Jump Start Your Book E-course!" by visiting her online at Writers Sherpa and get your book started now!