Sharon, I'm having a similar situation. Lots in the works that should make February fantastic, but we'll see! Fingers crossed for both of us.

Jake, I totally want to hang out where you do! How do you find them? God, that's an amazing story!

Damaria, I would love to pick your brain about self publishing at some point. I love that you're making it a primary income source – good for you!

Thank you for the support on the resume issue, Paula. 🙂 I think it's totally a personal choice, but I think the notion that a traditional resume is a must isn't true. I do think any list or summation of your experience works. Again, depends on the client.

Sounds like you might to unleash that can of whup-ass if those checks don't arrive….

I also love Jake's serendipitous encounter with a potential new client.

As for my monthly assessment….

Sent one LOI and at least 6 queries – most with multiple ideas. One query was assigned, two more are strong maybes.

Replied to one listing just last week. No reply as yet.

Existing clients: Sent in two columns, and single articles to three long-time clients.

New clients: Having payment issues with a new client. They should have paid by end of 2011, but claimed they never received my paperwork. Resent that all in first week of year, and if their 30-days processing time is true, they should pay soon. I won't pitch another idea to them until I'm paid.

Earnings would have been better had that payment gone through. I have another past-due payment (the excuse being a death in the publisher's family, although I don't see how or why that would prevent the accounting office from cutting checks….) Unless one of those payments arrives today, I'll end January slightly less than $500 shy of my modest monthly goal.

Bottom line: More marketing. Just revamped my résumé, too. (Because freelance writers DO need résumés!)

In terms of marketing, I hired a graphics designer to do a brochure and it's signed off and ready for distribution. Hopefully it will bring me a steady business throughout the year. I'm also working very hard to make self-publishing a viable income stream. Plans are underway to publish 2 ebooks in the first quarter of 2012. Both books are with external editors and the designer is doing covers for me. I know it will take some time before the books start making decent money, but it's a good start for 2012.

My wife and I went skiing in Northern AZ on Saturday and plunked down at a picnic table for lunch–it was gorgeous, sunny, 45 degrees. We start chatting with the folks next to us, and they're mining consultants, which is a fascinating industry to me.

When they found out I'm a writer, the head guy grabs a business card, hands it to me, and says, "Well, I guess I'm writing this off as a business lunch. Our website is awful, do you think you can help us?"

Ya never know where you're going to find business…or where it might find you!

I saw some listings on Media Bistro that gave me ideas for proposals, although I'm not going out after the job as listed. I simply think there's a better way to get the job done than they've set out, and it will serve them best to hire ME to do it!

Retainers are great, aren't they? 🙂