Writer's Essential Desk Reference

by Writer's Digest (Cincinnati, Ohio)

• ISBN13: 9781582971391
• ISBN10: 1582971390
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books

Summary

This book anticipates questions and gives answers to writers at any stage of their career, covering such topics as establishing a business, researching and polishing manuscripts and selling their work.

Table of Contents

Living as a Writer	p. 1
Finances for writers	p. 1
Health insurance	p. 3
Other insurance needs	p. 6
Planning income	p. 7
Records and accounts	p. 8
Tracking income	p. 10
Going with the (cash) flow	p. 11
Estimated taxes	p. 12
Leveling out cash flow	p. 13
Credit-checking tips	p. 14
Saving for the future	p. 15
Should I incorporate?	p. 16
For further information	p. 17
Taxing matters for freelancers	p. 19
Deducting expenses	p. 19
Home-office expenses	p. 21
Computers	p. 24
Office equipment	p. 24
Depreciation and Section 179	p. 25
Conversion from personal to business use	p. 25
Other expenses	p. 25
Self-employment tax	p. 26
Contractor or employee?	p. 27
Hobbyist or businessperson?	p. 28
Some Schedule C pointers	p. 28
Professional help	p. 29
The dreaded audit	p. 30
Year-end tax strategies	p. 30
IRS publications of special interest to writers	p. 31
Law and the writer	p. 32
Contracts: The best and worst of protection	p. 32
Book contracts	p. 33
Dealing with agents	p. 35
Magazine and other periodical contracts	p. 35
Electronic rights	p. 37
Protecting your rights	p. 38
Copyright	p. 39
Getting paid	p. 40
Small claims court	p. 41
Dealing with bankruptcy	p. 42
Libel issues for freelancers	p. 43
Resources	p. 44
Employment agencies, job banks and contacts for writers	p. 44
Writing-related agencies	p. 45
Standard employment agencies	p. 46
Other fast roads to work	p. 46
Newspaper stringing	p. 47
Writing a column	p. 48
Freelance editing and proofreading	p. 49
Employment and other agencies that use writers	p. 49
Grants, fellowships, awards and contests	p. 51
A Community of Writers	p. 57
Professional associations and organizations	p. 57
Writers' groups	p. 58
Evaluating a group	p. 59
Forming a writers' group	p. 61
Sources for writers' organizations	p. 62
Association and organization listings	p. 63
Union	p. 68
Writers' groups	p. 69
Other	p. 73
The electronic community of writers	p. 73
Colonies, residencies and retreats	p. 75
Resources	p. 78
Listings	p. 78
Conferences and workshops	p. 83
Starting a conference	p. 85
Sources	p. 86
Listings	p. 87
Writing instruction	p. 99
University programs	p. 99
Listings	p. 101
Correspondence schools	p. 105
Teaching in correspondence schools	p. 107
Listings	p. 107
Continuing education programs	p. 108
Teaching in continuing education programs	p. 109
Researching it	p. 111
Libraries	p. 112
Phone and fax	p. 113
Library co-ops	p. 114
Special libraries	p. 114
Newspaper libraries	p. 115
Library of Congress	p. 115
National Archives	p. 116
Other national libraries	p. 116
Finding special collections	p. 117
Serendipitous searches	p. 118
Additional resources	p. 119
Researching online	p. 119
Commercial vendors	p. 120
Magazines and newspapers online	p. 122
Do I need the Internet?	p. 122
World Wide Web	p. 123
Paying for a search	p. 125
Free information online	p. 125
Reporting in the electronic age	p. 127
Additional resources	p. 127
Government documents	p. 127
Titles for sale	p. 128
Titles as reference	p. 131
Scientific documents	p. 134
The numbers game	p. 135
Going to the source	p. 135
Additional resources	p. 136
Bibliographers	p. 136
Commercial bibliographies	p. 137
Listings	p. 137
Permissions	p. 138
Using others' material	p. 140
Permissions services	p. 143
Listings	p. 144
Trademarks	p. 144
Researching fiction	p. 145
Firsthand experience	p. 148
Expert advice	p. 148
Networking	p. 148
Fiction research resources	p. 149
Additional resources	p. 149
Information access	p. 150
Digging out facts without FOI	p. 153
Resources	p. 154
Additional directories	p. 156
Clearinghouses/nonprofit institutions, etc	p. 157
Out-of-print/rare books	p. 157
Other writers	p. 158
Producing and Polishing it	p. 161
Helping hands	p. 162
Finding a freelance partner	p. 163
Contacts across the country	p. 165
What to expect from editors and clients	p. 167
How to contact a freelance partner	p. 168
Freelance fees	p. 169
Proofreaders	p. 171
Translators	p. 172
Indexing	p. 173
Collaboration	p. 176
The ideal partner	p. 178
Finding a collaborator	p. 179
Contracts and income	p. 180
Grammar services	p. 182
Hotline listings	p. 184
Working with artists, designers and illustrators	p. 185
Listings	p. 191
Working with photographers and stock photo agencies	p. 191
Listings	p. 195
The business of publishing	p. 196
Desktop publishing	p. 196
Proficiency	p. 198
Professionalism	p. 199
The products	p. 200
Prices	p. 201
Associations	p. 202
Self-publishing	p. 202
The decision to self-publish	p. 204
Your book proposal and marketing plan	p. 205
Editing your book	p. 205
Page and cover design	p. 206
Manufacturing and printing	p. 207
PAMPering your book	p. 208
Distribution	p. 210
Writing and acquiring other books	p. 212
Printers and typesetters	p. 212
Listings	p. 216
Selling it	p. 217
Newspapers	p. 217
The dailies	p. 217
Daily newspaper listings	p. 223
Weekly magazine sections	p. 225
Alternative weeklies	p. 230
Neighborhood weeklies	p. 231
Weekly newspaper and magazine listings	p. 232
Syndication	p. 234
Syndicate listings	p. 237
Radio and television	p. 238
Radio drama and comedy	p. 238
TV networks	p. 240
Independent and public television stations	p. 246
Cable television	p. 247
Public access	p. 249
Radio and television listings	p. 250
Word markets	p. 250
Corporate writing	p. 252
Advertising and public relations	p. 254
Technical writing	p. 258
Setting fees	p. 259
Finding work	p. 260
Word market listings	p. 261
Promoting yourself	p. 262
Book reviews and editorial copy	p. 266
Trade publications	p. 266
Magazine and newspaper reviews	p. 267
Features	p. 268
Television and radio	p. 270
Bookstores and distribution	p. 273
Publicists	p. 277
Public speaking	p. 278
Promotion listings	p. 279
Writing and Selling in Canada	p. 285
Living as a writer	p. 287
Income sources	p. 287
Setting up shop	p. 287
Records and accounts	p. 287
Avoiding problems	p. 288
Law and the writer	p. 289
Book contracts	p. 289
Magazine contracts	p. 290
Resources	p. 290
Grants	p. 291
Listings	p. 292
Public Lending Right	p. 294
Copyright Licensing Agency	p. 297
A community of writers	p. 297
Author associations	p. 297
Colonies, residencies and retreats	p. 301
Conferences and workshops	p. 301
Researching it	p. 304
Libraries	p. 304
Special libraries	p. 304
The National Library of Canada	p. 305
Archives	p. 306
Databases	p. 308
Government publications	p. 308
Permissions and copyright	p. 311
Trademarks	p. 312
Information access	p. 313
Resources	p. 314
Out-of-print/rare books	p. 314
Producing and polishing it	p. 314
Translators	p. 315
Indexing	p. 316
Collaboration	p. 316
Grammar services	p. 316
Canadian grammar hotline	p. 316
Artists and photographers	p. 317
Self-publishing	p. 317
Additional resources	p. 319
Selling it	p. 321
Newspapers	p. 321
Newspaper listings	p. 322
Syndicates	p. 326
Canadian syndicates	p. 327
Television	p. 327
Listings	p. 328
Filmmaking	p. 329
Regional centers	p. 329
Offices abroad	p. 330
Radio	p. 330
Word markets	p. 330
Book reviews and editorial copy	p. 332
Trade publications	p. 332
Magazine and newspaper book reviews	p. 332
Television and radio	p. 332
Bookstores and distribution	p. 333
Publishers' associations	p. 334
Trade publications	p. 335
Indexes	p. 337
Subject	p. 337
Associations and organizations	p. 344
Business-related resources	p. 346
Books, periodicals and directories	p. 347
Online resources	p. 351
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.