I had a lovely birthday that included lunch out with my family, a movie with my husband and I believe there’s to be cake after dinner. I like a low-key birthday so this was just my speed. But next year? When I turn forty? I’m throwing myself a big old party, you betcha!

I decided to answer some of the freelance questions to give me a break from the adoption ones and also because my birthday is yet another reason to assess my world.

Spring (and if you’re interested in fabulous writing or in adoption particularly older child adoption you should be reading her) asked:

Since you asked…what’s your number one tip for making more money as a freelance writer? I seem stuck in the low-to-mid level magazines and would like to move up to higher paying magazines in order to be more profitable. Perhaps there’s a flaw in my logic, because so far, this has not been successful.

Spring, what magazines? I’m just curious — no need to answer if you don’t want to! I’m no big magazine writer (truly) but from friends who have bylines in lots of ‘em and from what little experience I have, I’d say the answer is the same as getting into the low-to-mid level ones: Pitch ‘em, pitch ‘em, pitch ‘em. If you have what it takes to be where you are now then you have what it takes to publishe bigger (and I think you’re writing is lovely so there’s no doubt in my mind that this is true)!

Then Spring said:

Actually, if you wanted to do 10 Top Tips for improving your freelance career in 2009, I’d be very interested.

I’m game.

1. Get focused. Decide what you really want be it money or better bylines or a combination of the two or whatever else you want. But really figure out what you want in your dream of dreams.
2. Get specific. Figure out a path to get from where you are now to where you want to be. If you need to study the industry to understand what success looks like, do that. It’s important to understand the minds of the folks you’re trying to get to hire you/buy your work.
3. Get general. Don’t be hemmed in thinking there’s only one way to do it — there’s not. There’s usually a general direction but the specific steps are different for different people. Understand that industry but bring what you know to it.
4. Resist distraction. I don’t know about you but I struggle sometimes when an opportunity presents itself and I feel like I need to take it even if it’s not something I actually want to do. But if it doesn’t fit into my larger plan, it’s going to end up taking away from my goals so I’ve learned to say no when I have to.
5. Be open to possibilities. You never know where your next great job/assignment/connection is going to come from so don’t dismiss things out of hand; give yourself the opportunity to consider them first..
6. Be flexible. Don’t stick yourself with rigid timetables or unreasonable expectations. Sometimes you don’t know how things are going to work out until they work out.
7. Trust your greater plan. I know that there were lots of times this past year when I felt like I was spinning my wheels but if you’re focused on your goals and saying yes to what fits and no to what doesn’t, you will see forward movement. I promise. Just put your head down and keep doing the work. (I’m still seeing pay-offs from things I did last year — momentum is a beautiful thing.)
8. Give yourself time to stop and assess. See if what you’re doing is working. Note your successes and forgive and learn from your failures.
9. Get some mentors and a sounding board. Find people who do what you wish you were doing and listen to them. Don’t take their words as gospel but appreciate their wisdom and experience. You’ll still need to make your own way but having other people around as support makes a world of difference.
10. Don’t let fear do you in. Whether it’s fear of failure or fear of success, hang in there. If it all seems like too much, put your head back down and ignore what might be coming and focus on what’s going on right now.

Wow, I sound so much more new age-y than I mean to but that’s my touchie-feelie guide to freelance success. The number one thing I think anyone should do? NETWORK. People can’t hire you if they don’t know you (and/or your work). Work begets work. Assignmetns beget assignments.

And because this post seems to warrant it, from my mentor Julia:

If you could choose to repeat the last year or two career wise, would you try the freelance/Brett home thing again? – knowing what you know now.

Oh hell yeah! Only I’d do it smarter so we could have kept him here longer. Now that I’m out of the emotional pit I dug for myself, I feel even more positive about it. Listen, two years ago I wasn’t doing any marcom and now I’ve got a portfolio full. I’ve honed my talents and my interests, met a zillion new terrific people, discovered a whole new career path and side to myself and I’m not done yet! Brett may not be home anymore, but I’m still working and billing out more than I have since my heady ePregnancy days. (I still am not billing as much as I did then but I have high hopes!) I couldn’t have done that part-time — I needed to jump in with both feet and start swimming.

I’m really proud of all we accomplished over the last eighteen months and I feel like we’ve set ourselves on a new course. I feel more confident, less shy about marketing myself and my work and I have a greater belief in my ability to do what I set my mind to. Yes, there are things I would do differently (mainly around our budgeting) and it would have been nice if I figured out how to make networking work for me earlier in the game but ultimately? I think I’ve been really successful so far and I think I have it in me to be more successful as I go. And Julia? There is no way in hell I could have done any of it without you and I am so so grateful for all you’ve done for me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only hope I can pay you back in some way (more than fixing your dang blog — I mean REALLY pay you back)!!