Want to Save Tax? Avoid These Costly Mistakes When Starting Your Business

Want to Save Tax? Avoid These Costly Mistakes When Starting Your Business

In my almost twenty years in the public accounting industry, there were a few questions I got asked almost every day: How can I avoid paying tax? How can I pay less tax? Why do I owe so much? Tax avoidance is illegal, and thank goodness, because there are a lot of essential government services taxpayer dollars pay for. The good news is, there are ways you can reduce your tax bill. For now, I’m going to focus on small business owners and the top three mistakes they can avoid to save tax.

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Top Tips for Creating a Daily Writing Schedule

Top Tips for Creating a Daily Writing Schedule

Okay, I admit it - I like routines! I love knowing what I’m going to do and when I’m going to do it. Having a set time to for work and a set time for fun is really helpful for me. With September right around the corner, and the kids heading back to school, I’m counting the days to get back to a solid writing schedule. Finding time to write is one of the biggest complaints aspiring authors have, so I thought it would be fun to see what tips other writers have for creating a writing routine.

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The Differences Between Revising, Editing, and Proofreading

The Differences Between Revising, Editing, and Proofreading

As little as one year ago, I would have lumped all changes I made to my writing into the category of “editing”. But since taking my first novel through the process of revising, editing, and proofreading, it’s clear to me that these three processes are very different. While revising, editing, and proofreading do overlap, they each serve a different purpose and have different objectives when it comes to improving your writing.

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5 Ways a CPA Can Help You Grow Your Business When You're Just Getting Started

5 Ways a CPA Can Help You Grow Your Business When You're Just Getting Started

If you already have a CPA you work with, then you know how valuable they are. Did you know that most people only visit their CPA when it’s time to file their taxes? If you’re a business owner, this can be detrimental to the health of your business. CPA’s can help you with so much more than just filing your taxes.

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4 Writing Tips I Learned from Stephen King

4 Writing Tips I Learned from Stephen King

I recently read On Writing by Stephen King. Well, technically, I listened to it. It was the first audio book I’ve ever ‘read’. I think the fact that it was Stephen King’s voice I was listening to made it that much more enjoyable. It was only a year ago when I read my first Stephen King novel, and I admit, as someone who isn’t a fan of the horror genre, I was scared. It was ‘Salem’s Lot and overall, I enjoyed the story but it didn’t turn me into a Stephen King fan.

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Prepping for Revision

Prepping for Revision

Guest post by K. Kris Loomis, author of the new book, Surviving Revision: How One Writer Finished What She Started.

One of the happiest days of my writing life was the day I finished the first draft of my first novel. I announced it to the world, drank a celebratory martini (with blue cheese stuffed olives!), and felt pretty smug that I was almost finished with my first long fiction project.

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You Are Enough: Defining Writing Success on Your Terms

You Are Enough: Defining Writing Success on Your Terms

This post is a little different from my previous blog posts. I am participating in the Writing Contest: You Are Enough, hosted by Positive Writer. The goal of the contest is to help writers face their challenges and ignite their passion for writing.

A Google search generates countless inspirational stories about authors who were told they haven’t got what it takes only to make it big later. Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected 30 times before it was published, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was rejected 12 times, and even Dr. Seuss’ first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was rejected 27 times.

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Useful Money Lessons You Can Share with Your Kids

Useful Money Lessons You Can Share with Your Kids

I’m wrapping up editing my lyrical children’s book Scruffy Muffin Loses His Money. It’s a project I’ve been working on with my kids as a way to help them learn about all the different things you can do with money. They created most of the story. I took what they told me and put it in rhyming form.

This summer, we will be writing a second Scruffy Muffin book. As a fun way to start thinking about what will happen to Scruffy Muffin and his money in this new adventure, I decided we would do a fun financial literacy project where I ask my kids various questions about money and record their answers.

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