Paula, it's amazing how sometimes you think you're just wasting time until you look at it objectively. The day-to-day for me can often feel like wasted energy, but as long as the invoices tell the true story, I'm okay with that. 🙂

I've also got a tentative total for 2009 earnings. I'm off the 2008 mark by about $4,000, but some of that is because I have a big client behind by three invoices. Of course, I was off 2007's earnings by $4,000 in 2008, so I'm now down $8,000 from two years ago. Considering all the personal issues I contended with this year, I'm still happy overall. It could have been a LOT worse.

Here's to a succesful 2010 for all of us!

Still waiting on about $800 I thought would be paid in December, but now I see it as a deposit on January, and $800 less I'll owe taxes on for 2009.

Krista, a profit is a profit! Just go back over your marketing. Maybe the answer is there.

Paula, you're on fire! I'm impressed with how busy you are. I think the lower rates are to be expected, and they're so much better than losing the job altogether. Let's hope your clients remember your loyalty when the economy improves!

Kathy, I think given your personal situation, any earnings is a plus. You've had a lot to deal with that interfered. I think you did quite well considering.

AnnaLisa, that's fantastic! Not bad at all for a part-timer. 🙂 I love that you got all that work without even trying.

Andrea, happy 2010! I hope it's a great one for you.

That's the attitude, Kim. I'm with you – putting on the positive perspective really makes a difference.

And here's the thing–I wasn't expecting any of this to happen this month. I am in the midst of a major restructuring and wasn't really marketing much at all.

Not bad for a low-hours part-timer. 🙂

And don't feel bad, Krista, I'm almost positive I made less in 2009 than I did in 2008. A lot of that has to do with personal issues I had to contend with, but not all of it. We always have 2010 to look forward to. ;o)

I only wrote three columns this month.

In early December, I turned in a rush article for one of my newest clients.

I did 18 Santa letters on the side. (Hey, don't scoff – the Santa letters paid for at least one-third of my Christmas shopping!)

On the marketing front, I sent holiday cards to all of my editors, and a few editors I haven't worked with for over a year.

I have a stack of query ideas ready to go out to my regular editors.

I only replied to one job listing, which sought someone with my very particular skill set. No reply yet, but I only responded to the ad a day or two ago.

On Ravelry (a social networking site for knitters and crocheters) I met up with a blog editor for a major Canadian yarn company and we're negotiating the details of the blog I hope to do for them come January. (Granted, they only pay in yarn and patterns, but A) I need some blog experience to add to my resume, and B) good yarn and patterns cost a LOT of money! So I'm looking at the blog as a marketing tool, just as if I were doing it on my own. It's only one post per week, so it's not a huge commitment since I'd be knitting anyway.)

My annual income is down quite a bit this year, due a lot to one of my regular markets cutting pay from 75-cents/word to 50-cents word.

On the upside, in the last half of the year, I added two new clients. One has already become a regular market – the editor promised a new assignment after the first of the year. The other, a website, hasn't yet made a second assignment, but the editor said they would likely assign again around the first of the year.

Perhaps best of all: I'm no longer stuck doing the neighborhood's quarterly newsletter! Woo-hoo!

Overall, the year was pretty rough, and, like you, I really started feeling the effects of the recession in May. I'm ready for a new start, though, and I'm hoping things are going to pick up.