Comments on: Freelance Writers: How In-Depth Should Your Business Plan Be?

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:45:41 +0000

Well darn, Jennifer! I’ve done very little planning over my 30+ years of freelancing. I couldn’t figure out exactly what to plan and I had so many wacko ideas about money it’s not surprising it took way longer than it needed to to become truly self-supporting through my writing. Now I make a nice income. I do make what I call a income plan annually.

I start with any contracts that are spilling from one year to the next, and since I ghost books that often happens.

Next I list work I have good reason to believe will come in even though it isn’t signed.

Finally I create a section I call “Wildly Speculative”. Since I track income and expenses monthly the spending plan helps me see what’s really what with my writing business.

Confession time… have downloaded both your templates… I may end up with a marketing plan and a business plan after all.Thanks

And along you come with two great templates for easy planning!

By: Writing Roundup « Jen’s Writing Journey

Writing Roundup « Jen’s Writing Journey — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:15:47 +0000

[...] How In-Depth Should Your Business Plan Be? We know that new businesses need a plan. But we just want to write. Jennifer Mattern discusses the ins and outs of creating a business plan that meets your needs and helps keep you on the right track. [...]

By: Hazel

Hazel — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:59:39 +0000

Jennifer, thanks for this discussion. One of my clients asks me every fall what my goals are for the next year and how her company fits in. I always just make it up. After reading your post I realize that I need to have a business plan so that I can answer such questions.
I’ve always used a “to-do” list in place of a business plan. I’ll put writing a business plan on my list!