Many authors dislike focusing on the business side of writing, but it’s crucial. Whether you're a traditional or independent author, you are a business. The better you manage the business aspects of publishing, the more readers you’ll reach and the more money you’ll earn.

In this course, we’ll discuss the following:

• Whether you qualify for tax deductions on writing-related expenses, as not all authors do.
• Nine factors the IRS uses to determine if someone is a professional author.
• A simple tool to increase your earnings as an author while making your business more audit-proof.
• How to generate writing income even before your first book is published, which can help you qualify for tax deductions.
• Business entities, which you should form and how and when to do that.
• How to create a simple one-page business plan you can use for tax purposes and running a better business.
• 19 tax deductions authors can leverage and five ways to reduce your chances of an IRS audit.
• How to avoid common mistakes that get authors into trouble.

As the saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail.

I’m not teaching this course alone. I’m joined by Tom Umstattd, a CPA with over 35 years of experience, which is longer than I’ve been alive. He’s my dad and has worked with authors and celebrities across the country and clients worldwide.

Tom: It’s a pleasure to work with you, Thomas. It’s always great to do something productive and pro-social with my fine young son. This course is packed with ideas to guide you in the right direction. There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. Each person’s situation is unique. While I’m a CPA, I may not be your CPA. You should consult your CPA to ensure your plans suit your specific needs.

Our first piece of advice is to talk to a tax professional or CPA about your unique situation.

Thomas: Our hope is that this course will equip you to have more meaningful and efficient conversations with your CPA, which will save you from paying by the minute for explanations you’ll already understand from this course. However, this course is not a replacement for professional advice. It’s like health advice: helpful for living a healthy life but not a substitute for a doctor. Every individual and every tax return is different, so do consult your CPA.