I have a client like yours, too. It’s not terribly challenging, but it’s steady and it pays well and on time. I want to move into another area, but I can’t give this up. It’s keeping me afloat in the tough times.

I wouldn’t want to be breaking in right now, either!

So far that definitely hasn’t happened. There are very few ads on CL compared to a year ago, and I’ve been getting very few responses back. So…I guess my strategy for now is just to hold on to my existing clients and resign myself that it may be some time before I can move on up to better pay.

Was that an actual retainer (and stated as such at the outset) or was it a payment for services rendered?

It’s that sinking feeling, isn’t it? You know something’s amiss, but until they tell you, you’re stuck in limbo.

Well, it’s an opportunity to find more lucrative work. I’d ask them for a recommendation in writing. Never hurts to start now to gain some added momentum as times get tough.

It’s been clear for a while that I wasn’t going to be getting much more business out of them. But the kicker is he asked me to refund any unused portion of the retainer he’d paid me. I told him I’ll check my timesheets and get back to him. Now I’m trying to craft an email asking if I can work off the time instead.

I’m not feeling much like a titan of industry at the moment.

Jennifer, I’m very glad things lifted for you! I’m sure it’s a temporary thing and directly related to my sluggish marketing. I admit it – I had projects pending (that didn’t quite come through yet) so I stopped worrying about work. That and an ongoing job that pays well. Too easy to become used to one client making up the majority of your work.

I announced my desire to land a new client on Facebook and Twitter in case anyone had a lead to share. One of my follows has a potential lead, but I haven’t heard from them yet. I think the important thing was my attitude shift and my willingess to stick my neck out.

That afternon I heard from a potential client, and I signed the contract later in the week. It’s a referral from someone I’ve been working with for awhile now. (I landed the original client through a post on the services section of Craig’s List, but lately that strategy hasn’t worked for me. I even did an experiment where I posted a different ad on CL every day for two weeks. Nothing!)

I’ve also been getting a few assignments from editors I’ve worked with in the past. Queries to new publications have been tough because freelance budgets are shrinking and editors seem more reluctant to take a chance on a new-to-them writer.

I think my advice is to set a goal and put it out there to the world (the more specific, the better). Then keep doing what you’re doing in terms of marketing and trust that SOMETHING will pan out.

So I guess I don’t have much useful advice except to stick with it! You’re good, so just continue to let people know you’re out there. And hopefully, for you and for all of us, this is only temporary.