I’ve said it before, I like to live my life as a warning to others. Those of you who have aspirations of becoming a professional writer, gather around and hear my tales of woe.

It’s great to work in a creative field, even better to get paid for your efforts. Having a second income is not the reason I got into writing (payment for art is its own contentious issue which you should wade into at your own peril) but finance becomes a fact of life once you’ve been doing anything for a while.

Save your receipts (especially if you’re going to conventions or awards nights). Set up a detailed spreadsheet of how money’s coming in, and where it’s going out. Get an ABN if you’re in Australia. Keep on top of your invoices, politely chase up any money that’s been a long time coming your way, and of course, always pay your own bills on time. Be wise as to what you can claim for a deduction.

I’ve been writing since 2001, and making money from it since about 2004. This is the first year I can honestly say I’m on top of my financials, and the lodging of a tax return wasn’t all that painful. Don’t be a dickhead like me, be organised from the get go 🙂 even if you’ve only got a dribble of money coming in at the moment, it makes good sense to get into practice. After all, you ARE running a small business. And most small businesses get themselves into trouble through disorganisation and lack of forward thinking.

Thus sayeth the Fisch.