WRITER FINANCES

How to Manage Your (Personal & Professional) Writer Finances

I know us creative types don’t always like to talk finances, but ask yourself this: 

​Who is our silence around money actually serving?

I believe it’s beyond time we have more honest, open conversations about the role money plays, and, to be more precise, the role financial (in)stability and (in)security plays in our ability to live the creative lives we crave.

The app and books below have helped me gain that clarity and they might help you too. Some of them tackle personal financial matters while others focus in on financial issues specific to authors.
​​

Disclaimer: I am not a financial professional or lawyer. The recommendations below are based solely on my own personal experience and should not be taken as specific financial or legal advice for your situation. If you have financial or legal questions, please consult professionals.
​

---

You Need a Budget (YNAB) App Review

TheYou Need a Budget app changed my life! 

I know, I know, budget is such a 4-letter word, but the YNAB podcast tagline is SO accurate: "you've never budgeted like this before."

If you've used Mint in the past and think "budgeting doesn't work for me," I'd like to suggest that budgeting isn't your problem; your software is. 

YNAB has a 34 day free trial because they know you'll get hooked on their style of budgeting that fast. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it was 100% #accurate in my case.

YNAB and their "four rules" for budgeting are game changers.

Whatever your financial goals:

• getting out of debt
• tracking your "book buying money"
• making the most of your book advance / speaking fees / other variable income
• purchasing a home 
• planning for your next vacation
• or saving for retirement

The YNAB app helps you get in control of your finances, so you can reach and exceed those financial dreams.
​
​Click here to learn more about the "four rules" and try YNAB free for 34 days. 

There's a learning curb and you do need to stick with it for it to work, but ​if you're anything like me, once you're hooked you'll wonder how you ever lived without YNAB.

try ynab free for 34 days

---

Recommended Books: I Will Teach You To Be Rich Series by Ramit Sethi

Ignore the meh title -- this book is the personal finance 101 you need in your life.
​​
I believe that before you can get a handle on your professional finances, it is key to get a handle on your *personal* finances.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich was transformative for my family because the 6-week program was accessible and actionable.

We made key changes based on Sethi's advice, and we finally wrapped our heads around our current financial circumstances, financial plans, and financial future.

​Getting our personal finances under control gave me the mental space to turn my attention to my writing and writing-related finances.

You might also enjoy the newly released: I Will Teach You To Be Rich: The Journal. ​The activities will help you map out your own RICH life.

Sethi now also has a podcast and Netflix show in case you want to "try before you buy." But for the record, I've been recommending his book since 2021, so I'm ahead of the curve over here :)

---

More Books!

You know me. There's no way I consulted just ONE book when thinking about writing & finances. Mi bookshelf es su bookshelf, so here you go:

Show Me Tho$e Book$

---

Prefer listening to your nonfiction? (Me too!):

Try Audible Premium Plus and Get Up to Two Free Audiobooks

---

Read More

Blog posts related to money and the creative life:

3 Keys to My (Personal) Finances

Business, Bookkeeping & Big Picture

All Money & Writing Blog Posts