by Joe Wallace

Have you started setting goals for the new year? Catherine and I have started the brainstorming process and we’re hoping you’re doing the same. If there’s one thing new freelancers should learn early in the career, it’s to treat your writing like a business–and that means creating a business plan, setting goals and getting organized.

It’s a lot to consider, but there’s a way to break through the inertia you might feel when facing the sheer volume of work you need to do to make the new year as productive as it can be. Start by making a simple list of four areas you want to improve or build upon in 2010. For example:

1. How much money do you want to earn from your writing in 2010?
2. How much volume do you want to take on this year compared to last year?
3. How do you plan to grow your writing business in 2010?
4. How can you network and promote your work more effectively?

You break down your strategies from these four basic sections, and voila! You’ve got the makings of a 2010 battle plan for your freelance writing business. Don’t forget to include a little budgeting for new gear, business cards, and travel expenses. If you’re really ambitious you could also plan on how to maximize your business expenses and deductions for 2010 to balance out your income and expenditures so you don’t get stuck paying an over-large tax bill. Plan your spending wisely and you could mitigate some of your tax bill the legal and government approved way.