2019 Freelance Writing Tasks to Take into 2020

It’s quiet this week, isn’t it? Oh, there are a few client projects to wrap up perhaps, and maybe more being discussed, but for the most part, things are calm.

And you’re itching to get earning at a time when the world is on holiday.

I know I am.

But instead of sitting here for six-to-eight hours waiting for …. what am I waiting for? A possible quick project, a slow one, who knows?

I know this: there are other things to do. And a lot of what I do now (and you, my freelance writing friend) can make for smoother sailing in 2020.

I’m starting here:

In Box Zero

It’s a stupid term, but the idea is to read your damned email. “Zero” as in “no unread emails.”

I’m fine with you marking them as read. I’m equally fine with you tagging them with a Follow-up flag. I’m fine if you delete them.

I use the “Unread” messages tab in Outlook to easily find all unread messages (32? Really?).

I decide right now — am I reading it? Then read it. Now. Am I deleting it? Before I do, is it something that comes often that I delete just as often? Time to unsubscribe. Is it spam? Time to label it Junk and send it to the Junk folder.

There. No more unread emails.

Delete Old Emails and Word Files.

Did you just gasp? How can I get rid of that project I did back in 2006?? What if I need that someday?

You won’t. You haven’t looked at it in 13 years, either. Write down the client’s name on your “previous clients” list (I keep one of those in case someone asks me who I’ve worked with), and jot down the project next to the name. Now delete. I seriously do not need the articles I wrote for Business.com from 2004. Neither do you.

Same goes for emails. Do you really need 68 emails from that client whose project you handled seven years ago? How about this — save one. The last one. I tend to save the last in an email chain so I know who this is, what project we worked on, and anything else that’s relevant.

Set Up 2020 Tax Folders.

You can do this on the cloud, if you want. Because for some reason my world is full of paper receipts, I just use file folders. My husband scans things into our shared NAS drive, but the paper is my security blanket. NAS drives fail. Regularly. It’s why I use the cloud (Microsoft is my choice) and paper.

My husband set up the folders to correspond with lines on Schedule C.

• Business Use of Home
• Utilities
• Charitable contributions (this one might actually be on some itemization form and not C)
• Accounts received/Accounts paid (my contribution to the system)
• Estimated tax payments

It works for me. Maybe it will keep you sorted for tax time, too.

Clean the Damn Desk.

That’s my note to myself, but feel free to feel admonished if you need it. Right now, I have on the desk:

• A book to log in my spreadsheet (we have so many, I keep a spreadsheet so I don’t keep buying the same ones, which I’ve done)
• A metal head scratcher (heaven!)
• Two notepads with interview notes
• Stacks of random papers that include invoices (gotta file those), recipes, writing prompts (Bernadette Myer is inspiring), course materials, deposited checks, notes and appointment cards…
• Nail polish
• A coupon for a free Frightened Rabbit album download (Anyone want it? I have them all)
• Things I can’t find that are buried under all of the above

Calculate 2020 Estimated Taxes.

Come on. The formula doesn’t change. And you know what you made this year (you added already, admit it). Take five minutes and figure out what next year’s payments should be. Then figure out how to put that much aside. I tend to pay 20 percent off the top of each check toward my taxes. Not always successful at doing so because some months, you need the cash. But it’s been a good habit that’s kept me close to my needed payments.

If you have a better method, please share. I’m all about anything that makes this process less painful.

Organize Personal Writing Goals.

Devon Ellington has a fantastic site that helps with this — Goals, Dreams and Reflections. Answer the questions and you’re on your way.

For me, it’s also going to include some thought into what markets I want to approach. I want to get a poetry manuscript circulating. I’ve had great feedback on my poems, including an unsolicited one from my toughest critic (the one I’m married to). He had seen one I was working on up on my screen, and said it was great. So I’m ready. I just have to convince a publisher that I’m ready….

What is your personal writing goal this year? Go through Devon’s questions to find your answer.

Kick Resolutions to the Curb.

Because everyone gets their knickers in a twist over New Year’s resolutions that will be forgotten within a week, how about this instead:

Resolve to replace resolutions with plans. Then make a plan to get yourself where you need to be.

How do you plan out something in your freelance writing life? You:

• Define a goal
• Figure out what you need to do to reach that goal
• Research the best ways to do those things you need to do
• Do it
• Repeat if necessary (well, “Do it” you’ll be repeating always)

So let’s say you want to lose weight.

• How much weight?
• What do you need to do, maybe differently, to get there?
• What other things will help? For me, it was a dietician (and most insurance companies offer that service for free).
• How will you stick with it?
• Repeat

Just plan it. Stop saying it.

Writers, how are you setting your freelance writing business up now for better results next year?
Are you doing the same for personal goals?