Artwork donated by Pati Nagle. The Freelancer’s Survival Guide: Time Kristine Kathryn Rusch Of course. I’m starting the section on time late. Late in my writing day, late in the course of the Guide. I probably should have had this closer to the front. But as you can tell, I’m avoiding the topic. Why am I avoiding the topic? Simple. When I write about time, I have to face what I’m doing here. And, if I were to look at this Guide in a 100% businesslike fashion, what I’m doing here is an extremely inefficient use of my time. I’ve mentioned this before, but let me delineate it out. I write under deadline on many projects, most of which pay me half up front or right after I finish the project. When I do write … Read entire article »

The Freelancer’s Survival Guide: Employees Part Two Kristine Kathryn Rusch Wow. Deafening silence from the last post. I guess most of you figure you’ll never hire an employee. (Dean says after reading the last post no one in their right mind would hire an employee.) Of course, you’re wrong. You’ll probably hire one or more employees over the course of your business career, because you’ll need them. Certain businesses need actual employees as defined by the tax code. People who stand behind the counter in your retail store. The receptionist who answers your phones and makes your appointments. Those folks are actual employees, who get a paycheck and whose presence requires you to pay half of their Social Security taxes. But what about the rest of us, those who don’t have and never will … Read entire article »

As folks have pointed out to me in e-mail and on the comments section, the Guide is getting hard to track on the site.  So once in a while, I’ll post links to the Guide in order.   First, here’s the link to the entire Guide.  You can also select this under monthly columns off to your right. The Entire Guide Now here are the individual pieces, in order: 1. Introduction 2. Priorities 3. Workspace 4. Illness 5. Vacations 6. Job Description 7. When to Quit Your Day Job 8. Things You Need Before You Quit Your Day Job 9. Staying Positive 10. Insurance 11. Discipline 12. Money Part One 13. Money Part Two 14. Money Part Three 15. Money Part Four 16. Money Part Five 17. Money Part Six 18. Money Part Seven 19. Employees Part One 20. Employees Part Two 21. Time   “Freelancer Writer’s Survival Guide copyright 2009 by Kristine Kathryn … Read entire article »