With a substitute writer waiting in the wings to pitch in if necessary, hopefully you won't miss out on any assignments while you focus on the important thing: getting healthy.

Good luck with your surgery, treatment and recovery!

Prayers and hugs, doll. If you need someone to jump in and give you a hand on the projects, just shout. I'm right here. You might even pitch it to them that you do have backup. There are plenty of us here who would help.

Wade, you're getting closer to that leap, aren't you? Good for you!

Paula, you have everything in line – now reel 'em in, sister!

After roughly four weeks of virtually no paying assignments (mid-August to mid-September I had one, count it one, quick, piddly $250 editing assignment) work finally began picking up in late September – naturally I got that pesky cold which is still trying to hang on in the form of congestion, hoarseness and a cough. I'm working through the cold, so it is no excuse for my dismal assessment:

Queries: Sent seven well-targeted queries and followed up on one query and one LOI. Following up on the LOI netted me an immediate offer of an assignment.

Job Postings: Responded to two legit postings in my areas of expertise, too soon to know if either will pan out.

Existing clients: The weekly paper I write my column for finally got current, so I sent in a column. (they've now paid for that, so I'll knock another out for them today). Picked up two quick assignments for Favorite Editor. One has already been turned in (she said it was the first article anyone turned in for the new issue), and I'll have the other one done by tomorrow. (Another reason she's my favorite editor? After excerpting a new book about the founder of The Weather Channel, she sent me the book.)

I also followed up on the chronic late-payer, instituting my new plan of throwing their own words back at them (they said in writing that they pay 30 days after invoices are accepted). I told them that's a long time t o wait, but is acceptable if and only if they actually pay at that time. I told them a "standard 10% late fee" will be added if payment is not made by October 1. They claim to have mailed my payment on Friday. We'll see.

New Clients: I recently added two new magazines to my roster. Both via LOIs. The first editor loved the running list of ideas I sent her for the piece due in November so I know I'm heading inthe right direction; the other new client is the editor who responded immediately after I followed up on the LOI I'd sent her. I hope these are the first of many assignments for each of these magazines.

Earnings: Blech. About 1/3 of my modest monthly goal. Unacceptable.

Bottom line: If the new clients can become regular clients, and if late-payer can be trained to pay me on time (even by their standards), I might be able to set the thermostat higher than 62 this winter!

Isn't it great to have something that nice to report? 🙂 I will say this – keeping up this monthly assessment has caused me to track more closely what I'm doing. I can see much more easily what's working and what isn't. Plus it's a visual reminder of how much I actually did versus how much I think I did. 🙂

Glad you rebounded!

I, too, had a great month. That's my second month in a row with 50 percent more earnings than my average for the first half of the year.

I got almost all of it through existing clients, but it's helped to have that new client who first contacted me, then went radio silent, and then got back in touch. They're pleased with my work, and that's gratifying.

Also have a telephone call on Wednesday to talk to a potential new client about providing regular copy for their redesigned online magazine. However, I'm guessing that my medical "issues" may spook them and they'll prefer to have someone who can absolutely promise that there will be no complications in meeting their deadlines.

I've already informed them of my surgery and post-surgical treatment, and they still want to talk. So maybe I'll be wrong. We'll see.

We'll also see how my earnings are affected by surgery and chemo in the coming months. Hope that's not another kick in the head!

September was my best month yet in terms of receipts and the 3rd quarter blew all others away, despite August being absolutely dismal. There was a lot going on in August, just not much coming in (mostly due to a large project with a client dragging their feet).

But, what it shows is hang in there because sooner or later it pays off. Isn't that a metaphor for freelancing? 🙂